Art Grows Here, at More Than 25 Locations Around Hamilton and Wenham

Looking for summer fun for the whole family? Look into the 5th annual Art Grows Here 10-day event, from July 18 to July 27, at various locations around Hamilton and Wenham. 

Organized by a group of local artists seeking innovative exhibit space and the opportunity to explore new media, the event features over 25 outdoor locations where outdoor art is “installed” for the length of the event, available for walk-by, drive-by, or bike-by viewing. Some installations are interactive. 

On July 18, from 4:30-9 p.m., there is a reception at the Wenham Museum for the opening of Art Grows Here as well as the opening of the museum’s exhibit, Art of the Artifact. Family friendly activities take place from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m.  followed by a cocktail reception from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Installations located at commercial, municipal and residential addresses in Hamilton  and Wenham feature work done in wood, metal, recycled materials, textiles, “found” items, stone and rock, paint and paper. Works include individual, collaborative and family creations, and occasionally separate entries by multiple members of the same family. Some are interactive or participatory. Additional locations feature scheduled performances, please see the web page for the schedule and any updates.

The web site contains biographies of the artists and performers and occasionally descriptions of their projects. If an artist doesn’t describe his or her or their project, you’ll just have to be surprised when you do the Art Grows Here tour! Be prepared to spend at least an hour on the tour. Or take your time over several days, your choice.

Downloadable maps to this year’s installation will be available online closer to event opening, including a Google map with GPS coordinates; larger maps will be available for pickup at designated local sites: for example, the Hamilton-Wenham Library. Ditto the final list of scheduled performances of music, dance, drumming and poetry. If you pick up a map where you start, please recycle it for the next viewer at the last site you visit!

For more information more information and ongoing updates on progress see the organization’s web page, Facebook page,  or follow on Twitter @artgrowshere.