The Arlington Commission for Arts & Culture – ArtsArlington for short – is bringing innovative multimedia public art to Arlington’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution. Arlington was right there with Lexington and Concord, courageously paying the price of rebellion. ArtsArlington aims to explore, illuminate, and sometimes challenge the American history we grew up with by celebrating the untold stories of the village of Menotomy – as Arlington was known at the time. This April, inspiring and thought-provoking installations will appear in Arlington’s streets, parks, and neighborhood exhibition spaces, including:
- Colorful banners with a complimentary audio tour exploring plants, people, and revolution.
- A conceptual timeline connecting past and present, stenciled on sidewalks and accompanied by souvenir art cards.
- Five sculptural pedestals that pay tribute to the ordinary Arlingtonians swept up in the war for independence.
- An exhibit of quilt blocks created in joyful tribute to one of the most important African American fiber artists of the 19th century.
These projects were developed by Cecily Miller, ArtsArlington’s Public Art Curator, with funding from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, Town of Arlington, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and individual donations. Details below; full descriptions at www.ArtsArlington.org/250.
Plants, People, and Revolution
Plants were critical to survival in Colonial New England. Wild or cultivated, native or imported, plants shaped daily life and were a key commodity in global trade. Today, most Arlington homes are made of wood, and you can still harvest wild mulberries along the Minuteman Bikeway. But plants often go unnoticed.
This multimedia project takes a deep dive into how plants were used in the 18th century and how plants connect to the legends and history of April 18 and 19, 1775. Artists Liz Shepherd and Suzanne Moseley designed colorful silkscreens commemorating corn fields, orchards, pasture, farms, and kitchen gardens. A complementary audio tour brings together many voices, combining historic research with interviews with a tree scientist, plant researcher, expert forager, Massachusett Tribal Council member, and environmental activists to consider the situation of plants today. The audio tour was developed by Cecily Miller and Molly Edwards, plant biologist and science communicator.
Key Dates
13 banners on display along Mass Avenue in Arlington Town Center, April 1 – May 30, 2025.
Banners on display in Arlington Town Hall, April 15 – June 30, 2025
Original silkscreen art on display at 13FOREST Gallery (April 5-May 23, 2025) and the Old Schwamb Mill (April 2-May 31, 2025)
Audio tour available online April 5, 2025 through December 31, 2026
Special Events
13FOREST Gallery Opening Reception: April 5, 4 to 6 pm
13FOREST Gallery Artists’ Talk: April 26, 4 to 6 pm
Old Schwamb Mill Curator’s Talk: May 10, 2 to 4 pm
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Stepping Up
Artist Chris Frost has created five sculptural pedestals inscribed with common colonial occupations – farmer, midwife, carpenter, miller and teacher. Cast in cement, the pedestals serve as a reminder that ordinary folk were behind the heroes of the Revolution. Their lives were forever transformed by revolutionary change and bloody battles as well as emerging ideals of liberty and equality. The public is invited to “step up” onto the pedestals and imagine what life was like in the 18th century. How did individuals make the momentous decision to rebel against or to remain loyal to the most powerful empire in their world? At our current time of turmoil, there is a lot contemplate regarding the past, present, and future of America.
Key Dates
- Pedestals on display in Menotomy Rocks Park, April TBD through November 30, 2025
- Portraits of people on the pedestals by Asia Kepka on display at 13FOREST Gallery (April 5-May 23)
Special Events
- 13FOREST Opening Reception: April 5, 4 to 6 pm
- 13FOREST Artists’ Talk: April 26, 4 to 6 pm
- Participate in public art – step up and get your portrait taken with Asia Kepka, date/time TBD.
- Old Schwamb Mill Curator’s Talk: May 10, 2 to 4 pm
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Then & Now: An Arlington Timeline
Nilou Moochhala’s innovative public art project connects events from Arlington’s history with moments from the present time. History did not start or stop in 1775; Moochhala’s piece looks beyond this landmark anniversary. Moochhala paired 25 events drawn from research with 25 stories collected in interviews. The historic moments are commemorated with squares painted on sidewalks throughout town: the death or survival of men in battle; the founding of the first library or neighborhood market; the first woman elected to local government or the Town’s first celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each square is inscribed with the relevant historic date and a single word. Moochhala chose each word to capture the shared theme that connects past and present moments. Next, she designed a series of 25 vivid collectible art cards, bringing the themes and stories alive with text and images. For example, “grow” pays tribute to 19th-century Arlington’s market gardens, pairing them with one of the town’s hidden treasures: an abundant community orchard open to all – established in 2017. Free cards are available at a variety of locations, including Town Hall, Old Schwamb Mill, and 13FOREST Gallery; collect them all!
Key Dates
- Painted squares installed first week of April and on view through April, 2026
- Related artwork by Nilou Moochhala on display at 13FOREST Gallery (April 5-May 23, 2025)
- Art cards on display and available at the Old Schwamb Mill (April 2-May 31, 2025)
Special Events
- 13FOREST Opening Reception: April 5, 4 to 6 pm
- 13FOREST Artists’ Talk: April 26, 4 to 6 pm
- Old Schwamb Mill Curator’s Talk: May 10, 2 to 4 pm
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Paying Homage to Harriet Powers – A Revolutionary Quilter
For three days, the fiber artists of Princeton Sankofa Stitchers Modern Quilt Guild will share quilt block created in homage to the extraordinary Harriet Powers (1837-1910) with Arlington at Mystic Open Studio. Powers’ quilts are considered some of the finest examples of African American art and have made lasting contributions to American cultural heritage. The guild’s thirteen blocks recreate Powers’ “Pictorial Quilt”, housed in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Each block tells a story, interpreted by guild members with vibrant fabrics and contemporary sensibilities. Three artists will be present during the exhibition to share their techniques and insights: Mada Coles Galloway, Lesyslie Rackard & Tarsha-Nicole Taylor. Organized by Juandamarie Gikandi.
Key Dates and Events
- Exhibition hosted by Mystic Open Studios: April 17-April 19, 2025
- Opening Reception: Thursday, April 17, 6 to 9 pm
- Visiting Hours with artists & optional Stitching Bee: Friday, April 18, 2 to 5 pm – bring a project!
