ACW January Meeting 1/21 7:00pm at the Cultural Exchange
- joyschilling
- Jan 20
- 5 min read
ACW Meeting Agenda:
Recent ACW Events:
December Winter Artisan Sale: 12/5 – 12 /7
Annual ACW Holiday Gathering – No formal meeting on December 17th...instead, it’s our annual snack potluck at 7pm.
Upcoming ACW Events:
February 2026 - Blake Gallery at the Beebe Library – ACW exhibit – 16 participants
February After-Meeting Activity – Art Supply Swap
Bring any art supplies that you no longer want and swap, give, or sell to other artists.
You must take home anything that doesn’t get a new home.
April 2026 – ACW Spring Exhibition and Sale: The theme is ‘Past Tense’. See more info further below
Committee updates
Finalize special exhibit concept
Local Art Opportunities
Blake Gallery at the Beebe Library: Has monthly openings for this year. Contain the library for sign up and further details
Life Drawing Sessions: Creative Arts in Reading. More info further below
ACW ‘Drop In and Art’ Monthly sessions –- 2nd Tuesday and 2nd Wednesday of the month – more info further below
Mailing List and Newsletter: Updates from Andy
Website and Instagram updates/reminders
Update your ACW Website content – send any updates to Joy: joy.schilling@gmail.com
Provide photos to Andy to post on the ACW Instagram account; send to: andy_levine@yahoo.com
ACW Kitty:
ACW Kitty Accounting:
Starting Balance: $850.31
Income: $00.00
Expenses: $00.00
Ending Balance: $850.31
Other Topics?
‘Round the Room’ – Art Events and happenings updates
Additional ACW Info:
‘Drop In and Art’ Sessions at the ACE presented by the ACW
Come join ACW members and friends for some art time in the company of local artists. The sessions are held monthly on the 2nd Tuesdays and Wednesdays of the month. Bring your own art supplies and hang out with other artists to chat, get inspired, help with a bit of creative block, or whatever!
· Adult artists are welcome to drop in for as little or as much of the session as they like.
· Medium suggestions include, but are not limited to: drawing, stitching, knitting, sketch book/journaling, collage, dry felting, jewelry making, carving wood or linoleum, watercolor or acrylic painting.
· 2nd Tuesday and 2nd Wednesday of the month:
o Tuesdays: 10am – Noon
o Wednesdays: 7pm- 9pm
ACW Calendar:
2026
February: ACW Member Exhibit at the Blake Gallery in the Beebe Library for the month.
April: ACW Spring Show. Theme is ‘Past Tense’. Location: ACE building
October: ACW Fall Show. Theme is TBD. Location: ACE building
December: ACW Winter Artisan Sale - 1st weekend of December. Location: ACE building
February: ACW Member Exhibit at the Blake Gallery in the Beebe Library for the month.
February: Art Supply Swap at monthly meeting
February: Paper Landscapes workshop led by Judy Hartman
April: ACW Spring Show. Theme was “Anything Goes”. Location: ACE building
April: Photographing your Artwork discussion. Led by David Kay
October: ACW Fall Show. Theme was “Artober”. Location; ACE building
December: ACW Winter Artisan Sale Dec 5, 6, 7. Location: ACE building
Call For Art
ACW Spring Exhibition ‘Past Tense’ April 2026
In commemoration of fifteen years of the Arts Collaborative of Wakefield, we are pleased to announce our spring art show Past Tense which invites artists to create art using the perspective of the past. Pulitzer Prize winning author Katherine Anne Porter once wrote: “The past is never where you think you left it.” Writer John Banville wrote: “The past beats inside me like a second heart.” We all have a personal past, or a ‘past tense,’ and we are also part of a much larger historical narrative. Explore what ‘past tense’ means to you…Is it about looking back or looking forward? Is it about growth, or loss, or change? Is it about the end of something, or a beginning?
The Past Tense art exhibit, fundraiser and sale is open to all and will be on Fridays on April 3, 10, 17, 24 from 5:00-8:00 and Saturdays on April 4, 11, 18 from 11:00-2:00 at the Albion Cultural Exchange. More information on the drop off, registration, etc. will be shared as those details come together. In the meantime, put on your thinking caps and ponder what ‘Past Tense’ means to you and start your artwork!
Open Item for Meeting Discussion
The April Exhibit Committee considered two concepts for a Special Exhibit within the main exhibit. Below is an initial draft description for each concept. Finalize if we want to move forward with either one.
Wakefield History Special Exhibit
Utilize an aspect of Wakefield's historical industry and landmarks to inspire a contemporary work of art.
For ideas for the special exhibit, refer to the Wakefield Historical Society, which collects and shares information about early settlers, industries, historic maps, artifacts, and prominent local personalities. WHS has organized various walking tours, including a Historic Wakefield Downtown Walking Tour and a Lakeside Walking Tour. Additionally, there is extensive information available about the Floral Way and the Old Burial Ground. Visit the Wakefield Historical Society Facebook Page, where they frequently post about exhibits and local history.
ACW 15 Year Retrospective
What were you creating 15 years ago? Share a piece of art from 2011 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Arts Collaborative of Wakefield.
"15 Years Ago" is a unique exhibit that honors the members of the Arts Collaborative and their artistic journey. Reflecting on past artwork can evoke a mix of nostalgia, embarrassment, and pride, highlighting both personal and technical growth. This journey emphasizes that art is a continuous learning process, where early pieces serve as a record of your personal creative history.
11/2011 - This photo of the original members of the ACW was taken in one of the art classrooms at Wakefield High School before we found our permanent meeting place at the Cultural Exchange.
Life Drawing Sessions
Upcoming Dates:
• Thursday, January 29 | 6:30–9:00 PM
• Thursday, February 26 | 6:30–9:00 PM
• Thursday, March 26 | 6:30–9:00 PM
Cost: $25Register online: Click here to pay Or pay cash/Venmo at the door.
Sessions will begin with quick gesture poses and gradually move into longer poses. Please email or text me to let me know you're coming—surprise drop-ins are also welcome.
Spread the word and forward this message to anyone who you think might want to join. You can also check the Creative Arts website or follow them on Instagram for updates.
Location Details:
The studio is located in the back of the First Congregational Church building in Reading. The official address is 25 Woburn St, but the Creative Arts entrance is on Sanborn St. (Look for the part of the building with the flat one story roof.)There's also an entrance from the Reading Town Hall parking lot. Need better directions or a map? Just shoot me an email or text!
Contact:
A.J. Jerrett
617-548-5738
Creative Arts office phone: 781-942-9600
