cacpartmobile

[cacpartmobile]

SAVE THE DATE!

[cacpartmobile]

Join us - Jazz on the Green

🎨  Join sparc! for Jazz on the Green 📍 10 Putnam Street, Roxbury 🗓 Saturday, Sept 13 | ⏰ 1–4 PM

Join sparc! the ArtMobile and The Makanda Project for an afternoon of live jazz and live painting in a welcoming outdoor setting. Come paint with us, let your creativity and the music inspire you. 

🎨 Live painting all afternoon with sparc! the ArtMobile 🖌 Art supplies provided 👥 All ages welcome 🎟 No experience needed

🎷 Featuring guest tenor saxophonist Ricky Ford, with 3 original compositions inspired by poems by Langston Hughes, performed with poet Regie Gibson 🎻 City Strings United cello section joins the program 📝 Poet Vanessa Silva will read during intermission and host an open mic — bring your own poem or one you love

This is a free community event. Come make art, listen to music, and connect.

[cacpartmobile]

August Recap

🎨✨ August with sparc!

This month, we got to be a part of two wonderful community events.

At the Grove Hall Wellness Event with Stop & Shop Nutrition Partners, participants made personalized wellness journals using collage—reflecting on self-care, creativity, health.

Later in the month, we were honored to take part in annual Fern Family Day—a joyful, art-filled gathering that celebrated the life and legacy of sculptor and public artist Fern Cunningham-Terry. We offered face painting, a coloring table, and gave away 50 Art2Go bags to families and children, all in the spirit of Fern’s deep belief in community access to art for all.

Thank you to our partners and community for showing up and making space for creativity this August. 💛

[cacpartmobile]

Fern Family Day!

🎉 sparc! the ArtMobile is excited to join the Fern Family Collective at Fern Family Day 🎉 

Join us for a joyful day of creativity and community as we honor the life and legacy of beloved Boston artist and cultural leader Fern Cunningham-Terry 💛

🗓 Sunday, August 24th 🕛 12–5 PM (sparc! will be there from 12–3 PM) 📍 National Center of Afro-American Artists 300 Walnut Ave, Roxbury, MA

🎨 This year, instead of a hands-on activity, we’re giving out 50 Art2Go bags filled with fun art materials — including air-dry clay — to take home and get creative! 🎨 Plus, enjoy free face painting by Rocelyn, a member of the sparc! team!

This event features: 🎶 Live music 🎤 Performances & public speakers 🍽️ Delicious food 🧒🏾 Kids activities ✨ And more!

Fern’s bronze sculptures celebrate families and children across Boston’s communities of color. Her legacy lives on through art, education, and gatherings like this one.

Help spread the word — we hope to see you there! 💫

 (Fern’s children picture here)

[cacpartmobile]

Join us in the Neighborhood!

[cacpartmobile]

Join Us in the Neighborhood!

[cacpartmobile]

sparc! at Stop & Shop Nutrition Partners Wellness Event

🎉 sparc! is joining the celebration in Grove Hall!Come be part of a day full of creativity, care, and community at the Stop & Shop Nutrition Partners Wellness Event 💛

🗓️ Friday, August 15, 2025 🕚 11 AM – 3 PM 📍 460 Blue Hill Ave (Stop & Shop parking lot)

✨ We’ll be hosting an all-ages journal decorating activity inspired by health and wellness — come make space for reflection, intention, and joy through art!

Plus: 🎶 Music & food 🎈 Kids activities 🩺 Health screens with the Harvard Family Van & Dana Farber 🎁 Giveaways 📚 Wellness resourcesThis event is free and open to all — come through and bring a friend!

[cacpartmobile]

Juneteenth Reflection

🌟✨ What a powerful day in Roxbury! ✨🌟 We showed up, created, reflected, and celebrated at the 15th Annual Juneteenth Emancipation Observance Celebration 🎉✊🏿

Thank you to everyone who joined sparc! the ArtMobile at the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists🎨 Together, we: 🖌️ Collaboratively painted powerful images of freedom 📚 Crafted personal Juneteenth zines and decorated freedom quilt coloring sheets 💬 Shared stories, joy, and creativity across generations

From the flag-raising to the parade, and into an afternoon of music, art, and reflection—this was a day of Black joy, resilience, and imagination. 💥

🖤 Let’s keep honoring the legacy of Juneteenth through art and action all year long.

Photos by: Craig Bailey/Perspective Photo & Jenna Dolber

[cacpartmobile]

Juneteenth Emancipation Observance Celebration

Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists

300 Walnut Ave, Roxbury

Thursday, June 19 @ 12:30 - 6 PM

Join us for a vibrant celebration of the 15th Annual Juneteenth Emancipation Observance! 

At this year's Juneteenth, we will come together to celebrate the journey of Black liberation, resilience, and freedom. All are welcome to enjoy parades, music, community vendors, refreshments, award presentations, and guest speakers. Don’t miss sparc! the ArtMobile’s zine-making and collaborative painting activities amplifying Black voices through creative expression.

Juneteenth is the oldest known observance commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, dating back to 1865. This important celebration is hosted annually on June 19th by the Boston Juneteenth Committee and the Museum of the National Center of Afro American Artists.

For a full schedule of the day's events click here!

Flag-Raising Ceremony @ 12:30PM

Dillaway-Thomas House in Roxbury Heritage State Park 

183 Roxbury St

Parade Start @ 1:45PM

Route: Dudley Street & Warren Street & Walnut Avenue

Start 183 Roxbury St — End 300 Walnut Ave

sparc! the ArtMobile Art-making Activities @ 2:30 - 5:30PM

Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists 

300 Walnut Ave

Observance Program @ 4PM

Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists 

300 Walnut Ave

[cacpartmobile]

Roxbury Sunflower Project Recap

Roxbury Sunflower Project Season 8 — officially launched!  

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Grove Hall Public Library to kick off another year of planting beauty and community care in Roxbury and beyond.

We distributed free sunflower seeds, seedlings, and Kid’s Kits for Young Gardeners. sparc! the ArtMobile brought creativity with artmaking for all ages. From flower crowns and visors to bird feeder decoration, the event was full of joyful energy and sunshine.

Here’s to a season of growth, connection, and sunflowers blooming across the neighborhood!

Photo Credit:  Craig Bailey/Perspective Photo

[cacpartmobile]

SATURDAY!

One day. Two sparc! events. All the creative energy.

Join sparc! the ArtMobile this Saturday, May 10 for a full day of community art and celebration on Geneva Ave!

Morning: Roxbury Sunflower Project Season Opening

10AM–1PM @ Grove Hall Public Library (41 Geneva Ave, Dorchester)  

Celebrate 8 years of sunflowers in Roxbury!  

Pick up free sunflower seeds, seedlings, and Kid’s Kits.  

Join sparc! for joyful artmaking for all ages.

Afternoon: Make Your Mark on sparc! 

2PM–5PM @ Alfredo’s Auto Body (58 Geneva Ave, Dorchester)  

Celebrate 5 years of Back Against the Wall: Graffiti in Grove Hall with  

live mural painting. This year’s event will also feature “Make Your Mark on sparc!” a community collaboration of painting on the new sparc! Van 2.0. Members of the community are invited to paint a temporary mural on sparc! to honor its roots in collaboration and arts engagement. 

Come for the sunflowers, stay for the paint.  

All are welcome. Everything is free.

[cacpartmobile]

JOIN sparc! SATURDAY!

Roxbury Sunflower Project

Saturday, May 10 @ 10AM - 1PM  

Grove Hall Public Library

41 Geneva Avenue, Dorchester, MA

Join us for the 8th opening season of the Roxbury Sunflower Project!

Pick up your free sunflower seeds, seedlings and Kid’s Kits. MassArt’s sparc! the ArtMobile will host artmaking activities for all ages.

Make Your Mark on sparc!

Boston’s Live Art Mural Event Celebrates Five-Year Anniversary

Saturday, May 10 @ 12 - 6PM  

Alfredo’s Auto Body

58 Geneva Ave, Dorchester

Celebrate 5 years of Back Against the Wall: Graffiti in Grove Hall!

Join us for live mural painting, hands-on art, free sparc! the ArtMobile workshops, and community vibes.

This year, we invite you to Make Your Mark on sparc!

Experience Boston’s graffiti culture in action.

[cacpartmobile]

Comics in Color - Chain Link Gallery

💥💫 The Boston Comics in Color festival Chain Link Gallery installation is UP on Columbus Ave!💫💥

As part of the countdown to the Boston Comics in Color Festival, sparc! the ArtMobile teamed up with these long-term partners to create an outdoor gallery featuring bold, vibrant works by local artists who will also be showcasing artwork at the festival!

Take a walk along Columbus Ave near Roxbury Community College and experience this celebration of comics, color, and community — right on the fence!

Then, join us at the festival on Saturday, April 26th (1-4 pm) where sparc! the ArtMobile will be hosting with:  

– Superhero Mask Making 

– Create Your Own Zine

🎟️ FREE tickets — Here

[cacpartmobile]

Boston's Comics in Color Festival !! (4/26)

🎨✨ One Week Away! Boston Comics in Color Festival is Back! ✨📚

We’re so excited to return! sparc! the ArtMobile will be onsite with:  

– Superhero Mask Making  

– Create Your Own Zine

Join us from 1–4 PM on Saturday — don’t miss it!

Boston’s first and only comic arts festival celebrating stories by and about people of color is a vibrant, intergenerational, and family-friendly event featuring panel discussions, hands-on workshops, live art, and cosplay!

SAVE THE DATES:

Friday, April 25 | 6–8 PM

Opening Panel @ Roxbury Community College  

1234 Columbus Ave

Saturday, April 26 | 10 AM–5 PM 

Festival Day @ Reggie Lewis Center  

1350 Tremont St  

sparc! will be there 1–4 PM!

Get your FREE tickets HERE

[cacpartmobile]

Silvia López Chavez - Artist Talk, Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Grove Hall Public Library for an inspiring evening with Silvia López Chavez! 

Silvia shared stories behind her vibrant public art practice—centering community, joy, and the power of place. Her work reminds us how powerful belonging in public art is! 

We’re so grateful to Silvia for sharing her process, and to all who came out to be in conversation with her.  

Make sure to check out her work displayed on Geneva Ave as part of sparc!’s Chain Link Gallery exhibition!

[cacpartmobile]

✨📚Join us for the Hellerstein Lecture, an exciting evening celebrating the art of children's books! This event will explore the legacies, memories, and collaborations that bring inspiring stories to life.

All are welcome for the sparc! led artmaking activity, followed by the presentation and conversation with two incredible creatives in children's literature. 

We're excited to hear from our very own Ekua Holmes, an award winning artist, illustrator, and Director of CACP's sparc! the ArtMobile, and Autumn Allen - an award winning children's book author, editor, and educator.

Together, they will share insights into the creative process and the relationships that make meaningful children’s books possible.

📅 Date: Thursday, April 17  from  5 - 7 pm

📍 Location: MassArt auditorium 

🔗 RSVP https://www.eventbrite.com/e/connected-legacies-the-making-of-childrens-books-tickets-1233051001739?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

This evening is part of the Hellerstein Literary Reading & Lecture Series at MassArt. Established in honor of Professor Marjorie Hellerstein (1924–2005), a longtime MassArt faculty member, the Hellerstein Series engages our community in conversation with the finest living authors, poets, and literary critics.

Brought to you by MassArt Humanities, Creative Writing Minor, sparc! the ArtMobile, the Godine Library, Office of Institutional Advancement, Center for Art and Community Partnerships (CACP), and the President’s Office.

[cacpartmobile]

Silvia López Chavez - Chain Link Gallery + Artist Talk

📣 New Chain Link Gallery installation alert! 📣

We’re thrilled to showcase the incredible work of local artist and muralist Silvia López Chavez as part of the Chain Link Gallery exhibitions on Geneva Avenue! 🎨

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Silvia is known for her bold use of color, geometric patterns, and community-driven storytelling. Her art explores the social and historical impacts on placemaking, transforming public spaces into vibrant reflections of culture and connection.

Join us on Tuesday, April 8th as sparc! the ArtMobile’s Creative Spaces hosts an artist talk with Silvia! Come hear about her artistic process and inspirations.

📅 Tuesday, April 8th, 2025

🗣️ Artist Talk:5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

📍 Grove Hall Library- 41 Geneva Ave, Dorchester

✅ RSVP -

Thank you to the sparc! Team Members who helped install these beautiful pieces on a windy day! If you are walking by, take a selfie and share #chainlinkgallery.