Chelsea Art Walk Expands, Pays Homage to Stained-glass Artist

The Chelsea Art Walk has only gotten bigger and better, and with two sunny days on tap this weekend, organizers are expecting a large, enthusiastic crowd for the two-day, citywide event.

Organizer Joe Greene told the Record that there will be at least 11 venues participating around Chelsea on June 15 and 16 from noon to 6 p.m. – including two new venues of the Residence Inn and the Mystic Brewery.

“We’ve got all our popular venues back, which includes the historic Bellingham-Cary House that is a step back in time,” said Greene. “I liken it to going to Old Sturbridge Village without leaving Chelsea. We always get the crowds around the New England Sculpture Service – one of the few locations on the coast where you can get a bronze sculpture cast. Their claim to fame is casting the bronze ducklings for the artist who did the ‘Make Way for Ducklings’ sculpture on the Boston Common. So, they’ll be doing some live pourings there. Of course, we’ll be presenting at some other favorites like Pearl Street Gallery, City Hall and the Gallery at Spencer Lofts.”

On a solemn note, Greene said this year’s Art Walk is in memory of long-time resident and artist Michael Limberakis – who died suddenly earlier this year. He had also run the stained glass business World Glass from Beacon Street for years.

“In homage to our lost pal Michael Limberakis, the Residence Inn has agreed to be one of our new venues and to exhibit Michael’s work,” said Greene. “It will be the last time you’ll ever be able to see his work. It will be special.”

Another new venue is the Mystic Brewery, which will be running its regular Saturday tours and tastings, but will also exhibit a wide variety of art and sculpture in the brewery over the weekend.

Pearl Street Gallery will celebrate ‘Beauty’ in what looks to be a spectacular presentation by several artists in that space. Greene will be presenting a series of black and white film photography works in the space.

Then, a totally unannounced and unadvertised show will hit the Art Walk for the first time – a presentation of street art at the Pearl Street Gallery Patio by two Chelsea young men, Chris Martinez and William Palacios.

“For the first time ever, we’ll have a pop up art show on the walk – unannounced,” said Greene. “We’re calling it outsider art outside, or even street art on the street. In any case, it’s a couple of local kids who will be painting street art graffiti on canvas outside. They are serious artists and they want to show the public that street art is not about painting on walls. They want people to understand they’re good kids and it’s about making art and not destroying property.”

For detailed information, log on to www.chelseaartwalk.com.

Those currently participating are:

•Pearl Street Gallery, 100 Pearl St.

•Gallery @ Spencer Lofts, 60 Dudley St.

•New England Sculpture, 214 Arlington St.

•Gallery @ City Hall, 2nd Floor

•Bellingham-Cary House, 34 Parker St.

•Gallery @ Chelsea City Coffee Shop, 173 Washington Ave.

•Apollinaire Theatre, 189 Winnisimmett St.

•Chelsea Community Garden, Ellsworth/Hawthorn

•Residence Inn, 200 Maple St.

•Mystic Brewery, 174 Williams St.

•Chelsea Square Drum Circles, Stebbins Fountain