A short list of places to look for affordable art in the Greater Boston Area
(please note that this is not meant to be a complete list of everything out there)
ART SALE EVENTS NOT TO BE MISSED:
Open Studios Events
Boston Open Studios Coalition (Boston open studios info)
www.bostonopenstudios.org
Somerville Arts Council (for Somerville open studios www.somervilleartscouncil.org
Cambridge Arts Council (for Cambridge open studios)
www.cambridgema.gov/~CAC/
The Museum School
www.smfa.edu
Annual Christmas sale (the artist gets 50% of the sale).
The school’s annual open studios event in the spring.
The school has regular student shows and the MFA thesis shows.
The MFA students often participate in the Roxbury Open Studios in the Fall.
The School has a side walk art sale in the Spring.
Mass Art
www.massart.edu
Annual Christmas Sale.
The school has regular student shows and the MFA thesis shows.
Icons and Altars at the New Art Center in Newton
www.newartcenter.org
This annual event is in December. Artists are asked to make a small sculpture/icon for the event. A ticket costs $225. Like a raffle, tickets are picked randomly. Each picked ticket holder can take a work of their choice off the wall. The ticket picking is done until all the work is taken home. They also have exhibitions on a regular basis.
The Artists Foundation Fundraiser and Bake Sale
Part of the event are small works on paper for sale $50 each. (The event is usually held in June and watch the website for more info). Currently the AF has over 20 small works by artists they have shown available for $50 each. Visit the Artists Foundation during its regular gallery hours to see the small works (Saturdays 12-5pm during a regular run of a show. CALL 617-464-3561 for show info.
GALLERIES IN THE AREA
For craft based works:
The Society of Arts and Crafts
www.societyofcrafts.org
The Cambridge Artist Co-op
www.cambridgeartistscoop.com
Commercial Galleries:
Boston Art Dealers Association
www.bostonart.com
Includes: Gallery Naga, Chase Gallery, Howard Yezerski Gallery, Alpha Gallery, and many more galleries.
SoWA District - Boston's South End gallery scene.
450 Harrison Ave in Boston.
The first Fridays of each month, many of the gallery in the south end open for joint evening receptions. Some of the galleries in that area: Samson Projects, Bernard Toale Gallery, Genovese Sullivan Gallery, Gallery Kayafas, Allston Skirt Gallery, Clifford Smith Gallery to name a few.
The Kingston Gallery, the Bromfield Gallery, Boston Sculptor's Gallery (a little further down on Harrison Ave) and the BF Annex are in this area and are all artist run.
Also in that area: the Mills Gallery at the Boston Center for the Arts, Space Other, and the Rhys gallery. Some highlights of these galleries:
The Rhys Gallery (www.theRhysgallery.com) a new artist run space that specializes in emerging artists and works that are affordable.
The Bromfield Gallery (www.bromfieldartgallery.com) has a print rack of works that are usually under $400 dollars.
The Kingston Gallery (www.kingstongallery.com) also has a back room area with works that are under $500.
Bernard Toale Gallery (www.bernardtoalegallery.com) houses the Boston Drawing Project that is entirely comprised of unframed works on paper by many artists.
Other galleries that have works for sale under $400 (usually in the back room)- Gallery Kayafas, Allston Skirt Gallery, Genovese/Sullivan Gallery- again many galleries have such works.
Alternative art spaces worth going to for the purposes of collecting art:
(NOTE-most colleges and universities have art galleries and they are another source to collect work from)
FORT POINT
Fort Point Art Community Gallery (FPAC)* 300 Summer St. Boston (617) 423-4299 (MBTA Red Line South Station). The FPAC Gallery was established in 1996. It is located in one of the most interesting artist live/work buildings in the area. The FPAC gallery presents six week group exhibitions of two or more artists based on a theme or concept. Proposals for shows are reviewed once a year and one must use their proposal form. Also notable is the always pleasing 300 Summer St Cafe on the same floor as the gallery. Gallery hours are Mondays-Fridays 10-3 and Saturdays 12-5. (FPAC is a membership organization)
Studio Soto * 63 Melcher St. Boston (617) 426-7686 (MBTA Red Line South Station). This space was founded in 2000 by Gustavo Soto Rosa and Francis X Scire. The space is dedicated to showing work in all disciplines and encourages work that is crosses and combines disciplines. The space is one of the few that shows both Massachusetts artists and artists from all over the world with a focus on artists from South America. They also host poetry readings, music events and even screen films. They are also open to project proposed by guest curators. Call for their policy on reviewing. Hours Th-Fri 6-9 and Sat 2-5pm during a run of a show.
(*all within walking distance of each other)
SOUTH BOSTON
(by car these sites are very close to those spaces
in the Fort Point area)
Artists Foundation* Galleries and Video Room 516 East Second St South Boston (617) 464-3561. This space is also located in the Distillery Building. The Artists Foundation has been in existence for over 30 years. The exhibition site in the Distillery was opened in April of 1997 and features the only video room in the Boston area. Although there has been several group shows at the site, the focus has been mainly on six week one person shows of Massachusetts artists working in all media. Gallery hours are Saturdays 12-5 and by appointment. Call before sending unsolicited proposals/slides or video tapes/DVDs.
Second Gallery *516 East Second St South Boston (617) 413-9395. Info from their website: Second Gallery aims to be an exciting alternative contemporary arts space in the city of Boston. We are most interested in work that engages new approaches to subject matter and media, especially work that remains underrepresented in commercial galleries such as installation, video, performance, and new media. Second Gallery specializes in‹though not exclusively‹the exhibition of three-dimensional and emerging media. Submission guidelines are on their website. Hours are Wed-Sat 12-6pm
Distillery Gallery *516 East Second St South Boston Show the work only of the artists who work and live in the Distillery Building.
(*All within walking distance of each other)
SOUTH END
Kingston Gallery* 450 Harrison Ave. Boston MA (617) 423-4113. (MBTA: Orangeline: Back Bay or Redline: Broadway). The Kingston Gallery founded in 1982 was originally located on Kingston St. in China Town. It moved to its present site in 1997. It is an artists’ cooperative that features three week shows of work by its members. The members work on the whole is very challenging and interesting. It does, however, have a small gallery for exhibitions by artists who are not members. Regular gallery hours are Wed-Sat 12-5pm. Call for information on how to join the cooperative or to show in the small gallery.
Bromfield Art Gallery* 450 Harrison Ave (617) 451-3605. (MBTA: Orangeline: Back Bay or Redline: Broadway). The Bromfield Art Gallery, over 25 years old and an artists’ cooperative, also took its name from the original street it was founded on. It moved in fall of 1996 to the South End. It currently has 17 members and also has a visiting artist program. The work of the members ranges from traditional to non traditional. Hours are Wed-Sat 12-5pm, closing two weeks in August. Call for information on how to join the cooperative and for info on the visiting artist program.
Boston Sculptors Gallery* 486 Harrison Ave (617) 482-7781. (MBTA: Orangeline: Back Bay or Redline: Broadway). This gallery is a cooperative gallery for sculptors and only shows sculpture. It was founded in 1992 in Newton and recently moved its operations to the South End in 2004. Currently it has 28 members. Call for information on how to join the cooperative. Hours: Tue-Sat 11am-6pm.
Gallery 535* 535 Albany St., 4th Fl. (617) 357-0623. (MBTA: Orangeline: Back Bay). This space was founded by artist Jo Ann Rothschild to show contemporary work that isn't being shows in other spaces. Call for hours and submission guidelines.
Space Other* 63 Wareham Street Boston (617) 451-1143 Established in 2005 this space was founded" to promote emerging artists by fostering links to an international network of well known and emerging curators, art historians, academics, collectors, and writers". Call for Hours
Mills Gallery/Boston Center for the Arts* 539 Tremont St. (617) 426-5000. (MBTA: Orangeline: Back Bay or Redline: Broadway). This gallery is one of the premiere places to see contemporary art in Boston. Gallery Director Laura Donaldson is at the helm of this organization. The programing consists of shows she has curated as well as shows organized by guest curators. They now have a project room and will soon launch a video room! See their guide to submissions on their web site. Hours: Wed & Thurs 12-5pm, Fri & Sat 12-10pm & Sun 12-5pm
Piano Factory 491 Tremont St. Boston (617) 437-9365. (MBTA Orange Line Mass Ave.) This space was established in 1974 with the opening of the Piano Factory- one of the first residential artists buildings in the country. It is run by the tenants of the Piano Factory and has one month shows that range from one person to group shows. The gallery is open to all types of work, special events and "Happenings". Call for hours and for the policy on how to submit proposals/slides.
(*All within walking distance of each other)
NEW MARKET/ROXBURY
Hall Space 31 Norfolk Ave. (617) 989-9985. (MBTA Orange Line- Mass Ave. then take the #1 Bus) This charming gallery was established in September of 1996 to feature emerging artists from the area who are not represented by a commercial gallery. It relocated from the South End to the New Market area- near the Boston Medical Center. Shows run from one to two months. The programing is usually comprised of one person shows, but there have been several group shows based on a theme or concept. Please call for hours and before sending slides/proposals. Check the Map on its web site for better directions. Hours Fri & Sat 12-5pm
EAST BOSTON
Atlantic Works Gallery Meridian House, 80 Boarder St. (617) 720-1646 (MBTA Blue Line: Maverick). This space is run much like a collaborative. Presently they have 29 members and on their web site is a exhibition application form. It is worth checking out. Call for hours.
JAMAICA PLAIN
Axiom
Green Street MBTA Station (617) 513-6375.
(MBTA Orange Line Green St) This gallery is the only true public gallery
site in the Boston area. The glass walled gallery, located inside of the Green
St. MBTA Station, shows media based/new media work. It is an artist run space.
They have exhibited one person shows, group shows, traveling shows and have
presented shows by guest curators. Call for Hours.
CAMBRIDGE
Art Interactive*130 Bishop Allen Drive (617) 498-0100. (MBTA: Red Line Central Square) This space was founded in 2001 and its mission is to show work that is technology based and/or participatory in some way. Usually they have shows that are curated by guest curators or are organized by the space's curatorial committee. Call for submission policy. Hours are Thurs, Sat, & Sun 12-6pm
Cambridge Arts Council Gallery* 344 Broadway (617) 349-4380. (MBTA: Red Line Central Square) This gallery was recently renovated this year (2004). They exhibit work by local, regional and national artists. They also presents shows organized by guest curators. Call for submission information. Hours: Tue-Wed 8:30-5pm, Thurs 8:30-8pm, Fri 8:30am-noon. They do not have weekend hours.
Zeitgeist* 186 Hampshire St. Inman Square (617) 876-6060. (MBTA: Red Line Central Square) Zeitgeist was founded in the fall of 1994. The focus has been on one person shows with some group shows from time to time. This exciting space in the summer months also organizes great large scale community based events of performances, film screenings, live music, etc.. Call for submission policies & hours.
(*All within walking distance of each other)
BROOKLINE
Gallery Artist Studio Projects (GASP) 363 Boylston St. Brookline (617) 731-2500. (MBTA: Greenline D Brookline Hills). This great space was founded by artist Magdalena Camps-Pons. It shows the works of international artists, local and regional artists. Call for submissions guidelines. Gallery hours: Thurs-Sat 11-5pm.
MALDEN
ArtSpace@16 16 Princeton Road, Malden, MA 02148. (781) 321-8058. (MBTA Orangeline: Oak Grove) This site, established in 2000, is an artist run space that is very community based. They often have calls for entries and for proposals by guest curators. Their regular gallery hours are Saturdays 12-5pm when an exhibition is up. Check their web site for more info on submission policies.
SOMERVILLE
Brickbottom Gallery 1 Fitchburg St., Somerville. (617) 776-3410 (MBTA Greenline Lechmere). This site, established in 1988, is located in an artists live/work building. This site, established in 1988, is located in an artists live/work building. The gallery has featured one person shows and large group shows of artists at all stages of their careers. There have also been performances/special events of all kinds at the gallery. Call for directions, hours and information on how to submit proposals.[Note: "T" service to Lechmere is suspended until Spring ¹05. Instead, transfer to a shuttle bus for Lechmere from Government Center, Haymarket, or North Station].
Nave Gallery Claredon Hill Presbyterian Church, 155 Powderhouse Boulevard, Somerville, 02144. (617) 625-4823 (MBTA Redline:Davis Square) This new gallery is a collaboration between Artsomerville and the Claredon Hill Presbyterian Church. It is staffed completely by volunteers. It is a venue for local and regional artists. Artists interested in exhibiting should first see the guidelines the organization's guest curators program. It is available on their web site. Gallery hours Thursday 4-8pm and Sat 1-5pm.
ALTERNATIVE SPACES OUTSIDE OF GREATER BOSTON (Commuter Rail access/car)
ESSEX ART CENTER 56 Island St. Lawrence, MA 01840. (978) 685-2343. (MBTA Commuter Rail: Haverhill Line) This art center has two galleries; The Main Gallery and the Beland Gallery (which is more the size of a project space). The EAC has been exhibiting some really interesting artists and organizing group shows as well. The Beland Gallery has been focusing on emerging artists and artists who work in new media and are exploring non-traditional art forms. Call for submission policies and hours.
REMEMBER: MANY CAFES AND RESTAURANTS ALSO HAVE ART EXHIBITS WITH WORK FOR SALE.
Tips for framing art work on a tight budget:
Artists & Craftman Supply in Central Square
617-354-3636 Affordable custom framing (limited choice of frames), do it your self framing kits and ready made frames.
www.artistcraftsman.com
Corners
They have multiple stores in the area. They have a great section on frequently asked questions about framing on their web site (www.cornersframing.com/facts.htm) and they also have ready made frames.
www.cornersframing.com
