Art - Marblehead Current

29 Aug

A new point of connection: Needlepoint shop stitches together a community

Olivia GatesArt, Business, Local News

Hidden a few feet back from Washington Street. in the Old & Historic District is Marissa Dittrich’s store, New England Needlepoint. Since opening July 3, the store has quickly become a destination for Marblehead stitchers and visitors alike. According to Dittrich, the Marblehead community’s response has “been wonderful. Everyone has been so supportive and kind and welcoming.” While New England Needlepoint has quickly become successful, for Dittrich this has been a long time coming. After spending several years working as an occupational therapist, she decided…

27 Aug

Marblehead native comes home to direct first film

Grey CollinsArt, Sailing, Top Stories

For three cold, windy May days this year, a sailboat moored in Marblehead Harbor became a bustling film set. Led by Marblehead native Molly Greville, the cast and crew of the short film “Waspringa” braved the inhospitable conditions to get the job done and send the film to the post-production phase. Greville wrote, directed and stars in the film. The 18-minute movie, which Greville describes as a dark comedy and a coming-of-age story, explores the dynamics between family members on their annual sailing trip in…

26 Aug

‘Flower’ at Transfer Station is harvesting sunshine

Leigh BlanderArt, Environment, Top Stories

If you happen to spot a giant flower blooming at the Transfer Station, don’t worry — it’s supposed to be there. The striking, sculpture-like structure is a SmartFlower, a solar energy system designed to turn sunlight into electricity while making renewable energy impossible to miss. “It’s a pretty cool thing. It’s very eye-catching,” said Matt Lipsitz of Marblehead, who works for SmartFlower. The flower, which stands about one story tall and stretches roughly 17 feet across when fully open, is temporarily on display near the…

25 Aug

CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets coming up

Leigh BlanderArt, Entertainment, Theater, Top Stories

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email the Current at info@marbleheadnews.org. ‘Glover and His Crucial Leadership in 1776’Wednesday, Aug. 26, 7-8:30 p.m.Learn about the crucial leadership of John Glover during his time as colonel of the Marblehead Regiment in this talk presented by Larry Sands, captain of the Glover’s Marblehead Regiment reenactment unit. This event is presented in collaboration with the Marblehead 250 Committee and Abbot Public Library. This program will be hybrid.…

19 Aug

From MLT to Broadway and back: Ari Conte brings ‘The Women We Carry’

Marielle SabbagArt, Culture, Entertainment, Theater, Top Stories

A concert from the past is returning to Marblehead Little Theatre on Friday, Aug. 21. “The Women We Carry” is an original concert reading performed by Ari Conte that explores family, heritage and the women whose stories have become part of her own. Originally from Marblehead, Conte is a theater producer and communications strategist based in New York City. She graduated from Marblehead High School in 2011. Marblehead native and New York City performer Ari Conte is bringing one of her own productions home to…

19 Aug

Johnny Ray to lead new Swampscott waterfront restaurant, entertainment venue

Leigh BlanderArt, Culture, Entertainment, Top Stories

A Marblehead restaurateur is taking his experience in restaurants and entertainment across the town line to help launch a new waterfront destination in Swampscott. Johnny Ray, owner of The Beacon in Marblehead and co-owner of Johnny Ray’s Music Emporium, is leading the operation of the new Swampscott Center for the Performing Arts at the town-owned Hawthorne By The Sea property. Ray is partnering on the project with Richard Messinger, his business partner at Johnny Ray’s Music Emporium. The center is expected to open by Labor…

19 Aug

CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets coming up

Leigh BlanderAbbot Public Library, Art, Culture, Entertainment, Local History, Recreation, Theater, Top Stories

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email the Current at info@marbleheadnews.org. Adult Craft NightThursday, Aug. 21, 7-9 p.m.Join Slime Time Studios MHD for Adult Craft Night, 10 Spring St. Come with friends, make new friends and go home with a beautiful craft that you create. For their first Adult Craft Night you will be making beautiful pressed-flower frames while we chat and have a good time! Feel free to BYOB. Tickets are $35.…

17 Aug

Town’s first Art Crawl opens artists’ studios to the community

Marielle SabbagArt, Culture, Nonprofit corner, Top Stories

Marblehead artists opened their studios to the public Sunday, inviting residents and visitors to step inside their creative spaces for the town’s first-ever community-wide Art Crawl & Open Studios event. The idea was inspired by Marblehead Arts Association Director Xhazzie Kindle, who experienced a similar art crawl while on a trip to London. People check out the art at Arnould Gallery and Framery during Marblehead's inaugural Art Crawl & Open Studios event. CURRENT PHOTOS / MARIELLE SABBAG As organizers developed the event, Amy Hourihan said…

12 Aug

Marblehead Museum to open gate to trove of local treasures

Marielle SabbagArt, Top Stories

Attention shoppers! A treasure trove of vintage, antique and collectible items will be on sale at the seventh annual Marblehead Museum Treasure Sale on Saturday, Aug. 22. “The Treasure Sale is as much an exhibit of Marbleheaders’ passions as it is a yard sale to benefit the museum,” said the museum’s associate director, Jarrett Zeman. This year, items include Victorian-style library stairs, vintage radios and a vintage luggage set from Sak’s Fifth Avenue. Also, a small four-poster bed, antique Lustreware, early Native American jewelry and…

11 Aug

CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets

Leigh BlanderAbbot Public Library, Art, Community Resources, Culture, Entertainment, Environment, Recreation, Top Stories

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email the Current at info@marbleheadnews.org. Road to Independence walking tourThursday, Aug. 12, 4-5 p.m. This walking tour with Marblehead Museum features the history of Marblehead in the early 1770s, highlighting the town’s pivotal role in such famous events as the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Bunker Hill and the resistance to British taxes. The tour will also explore attacks on local Loyalists, and the contradiction of Marbleheaders…