Waltham Mills To Host Open Studios 2017 This Weekend

By Rachel Leaney

When artist Suzanne Hodes first walked into the old mill building at 144 Moody Street, she knew there would be a lot of work to do.

“There was nothing but pigeons and broken glass,” she says, of that day in 1981. “But I saw the height of the windows, and all this space, and I knew it had potential.”

Inspired by a handful of artists who had already begun working on the fourth floor of the 19th century factory five years earlier, she and two friends envisioned their own collective two floors down. They transformed the place into studios, erecting walls and lighting, and brought the old space up to code through their own efforts and perseverance, supported by Ira Gordon, a prominent local businessman.

Those pioneers never could have predicted that today, some 40 years later, more than 75 artists would be on board, occupying every floor, as well as the building across the street. Calling themselves the Waltham Mills Artists Association (WMAA), each artist came to the mill building with their own desire for a working space around other like-minded people, inspired by the city’s industrial heritage.

Once a year, in November, the public has an opportunity to see inside the building and visit the artists who work there. Waltham Mills Open Studios, is a two-day celebration of the arts encompassing not only the two mill buildings at 144 Moody Street, but also the nearby Lincoln Studios at 289 Moody Street.

“I love Open Studios,” says Hodes, who enjoys the sense of community it provides. “It’s a great time for everyone to get together and show their work.”

The weekend, held this year on Nov. 4 and 5, and now in its 41st year, will showcase both established as well as accomplished and emerging artists, working in an array of media and styles. They will be showing examples of painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture, as well as jewelry, textiles, glass, photography, woodwork and film.

The New England School of Photography will have a presence at 274 Moody Street, and artists from Metalwerx, the non-profit school for jewelry-making and metal art, will be on hand at Lincoln Studios. Members of the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra will also be performing.

It’s a big change from the early days, when Hodes would paint to the sound of sewing machines whirring away upstairs, and the third floor was still occupied by a garment manufacturer. Still, despite the changes to the building, and to Waltham in general, part of the charm of Open Studios is the chance for visitors to step into the past for an afternoon.

Alterations have been minimal, after all. The entrance up a ramp and through the heavy service doors is still met by a wide, worn staircase. An old, manual freight elevator is still used for transporting large canvases and heavy pieces of equipment. Brick arches are visible in the walls, and the original creaking wooden floors are still underfoot. The entire space is bathed with the light coming from windows those early artists found so irresistible. And outside, evidence remains of a time when rail cars pulled up directly next to the building to transport the cotton and wool produced there.

The artists of the WMAA have a long history of community involvement as educators, arts events organizers, and community leaders. Open Studios is a welcoming energetic event, with just as much browsing and buying. With easy access to the Charles River bike path and the commuter rail, it is also a popular outing for visitors outside the Waltham area, who often end their day at one of the area’s excellent local restaurants.

Families also enjoy the opportunity to introduce their children to artists—although Hodes, the grandmother of two boys, is aware that the building itself often offers competing attractions. “When they were younger,” she laughs, “they were mostly interested in climbing up to watch the trains out of the window!”

For artists, Open Studios provides a dose of inspiration. “You have a chance to really think about the work you have done over the past year, and how you want to show it,” says Hodes. Her own studio is currently hung with large airy canvases with plenty of color. “I could put up work that’s a lot darker,” she says, “but this year, I feel with everything that’s going on in the world, people will appreciate these ones—ones with more light.”

Spending hours a day meeting visitors can make for a challenging weekend for some artists, who are often solitary, more comfortable spending time alone on their projects. But it is energizing to have an opportunity to meet people, and discuss and show their work. Some people are simply curious about art and how it is made—and enjoy getting up close to the process. But Hodes has also found Open Studios to have been the beginning of relationships with lifelong collectors. All are welcome.

“It’s always a surprise,” she says. “You never know whose going to come, what’s going to happen. It’s different every year!”

41st Waltham Mills Open Studios, Nov. 4 and 5, 2017

Saturday and Sunday 12-6 pm,

144 and 289 Moody Street, Waltham, MA

http://walthammillsopenstudios.com