Artists Rallying for Townwide Art Display

Organizers of this summer's "Art Grows Here" self-guided tour of outdoor art installations are seeking artists for the 2011 display.

Last year 10 local artists got together last summer to create the first tour that spanned Hamilton and Wenham. With the success in 2011, the second annual "Art Grows Here" tour is hoping to attract even more entries. This year's display will run from July 15 to July 26.

The display began with small group of artists who met at each others’ homes in the beginning of 2009 to talk about art, share experiences and find support from other artists. After a year of meeting, they found they wanted to see and show art in a way that did not exist in Hamilton and Wenham.

That gave birth to "Art Grows Here" and 10 artists displayed last year.

Now, with a $500 grant from the , the second annual "Art Grows Here" display is looking for additional artists to add to the route.

The deadline to apply and be considered to be part of the display is March 28.

"This is not a contest or a commercial enterprise," said one of the organizers, artist Susan Kassirer. "All artwork on display is solely for the pleasure of passers by and anyone interested to take it in."

The work is juried by the seven artists running the event.

"Our main concern is that the work be appropriate for the public and that it will be plainly visible and last the week of the show in the outdoors," Kassirer said. "That being said, we are opening the show to performance this year so we'll keep an open mind, with the main point being to increase art in the community."

Artists who would like to participate may download the entry form from the "Art Grows Here" web site and is attached as a PDF to this story.