Free Local Arts Festival in 9th Year

Photo by Margaret Weigel, Medford.

West Medford Open Studios Will Feature Readings, Performing Arts this Year

– Allison Goldsberry

The ninth annual West Medford Open Studios will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 10 and 11, and the event is bigger than ever this year.

The local arts festival will feature readings and performing arts in addition to the visual artists’ open studios, with more than sixty artists showcasing their work.

“The artwork this year is bound to engage an even wider audience then ever,” said committee member David Chia.

The diverse array of artwork from local artists is sure to appeal to everyone, with everything from paintings to jewelry to photography to sculpture to furniture.

And that’s just the visual arts- this year for the first time festival-goers can enjoy music by local musicians at the Brooks Elementary School and readings of original material by local writers.

Some of the musicians slated to perform include the rock band the Groove Pops, Spanish language children’s group Sing-a-Lingo, gospel singer Sayida Farmer, and Reflections, a group of talented sixth graders.

In addition, for the second year talented Medford High School students will showcase their work at the festival. The student exhibit, also at the Brooks Elementary School, features the work of fifteen young artists, some of which submitted their work to the Boston Globe Scholastic Art competition.

The festival will take place from noon to 5PM on each day, with maps guiding visitors into artists’ homes, studios, and other spaces in and around West Medford.

For more information on artists and how to get your hands on a map, see the festival website, www.wmos.org.