Join Us for Our July and August Events!

We're thrilled to announce the return of in-person free public events at the Growing Center this year!

Please join us!

JULY

Art-Earth Connections, Plants, and Pigments with Candice Smith Corby

Saturday, July 24, 11am-12pm

Join us at the Somerville Community Growing Center for an artist talk and demonstration with artist and educator Candice Smith Corby, co-founder of The Bottega Projects, a creative space for research and teaching about the artistic interconnectedness of place, pigments, plants, and the preparing and sharing of food.

During the talk, Smith Corby will show us some examples of her artwork and how natural pigments inform her artistic process. She will also do a brief demonstration of how to make oak gall ink and other studio recipes related to the garden.

This event is free and open to the public. Please join us! Childcare provided for children ages three and up.

Plein Air Vine Charcoal Drawing Workshop with Danielle Krcmar

Limited attendance, registration required Saturday, July 24, 4-5:30pm

The Growing Center is delighted to offer a charcoal drawing workshop in the Garden. Join artist/teacher Danielle Krcmar in a relaxed outdoors drawing class. Ms. Krcmar will demonstrate basic charcoal drawing techniques, and then time will be given at the end of the workshop for participants to create a complete drawing.

No experience required. Reservation required: Please RSVP to Liza Kitchell to take part (liza@thegrowingcenter.org). This event is free and open to the public. Please join us! Childcare provided for children ages three and up.

Music in the Garden

Thursday, July 29, 6-7:30 pm

A variety of local musicians, coordinated by guitarist (and Growing Center volunteer) Mark Torgerson and jazz and Latin pianist David Rumpler.

AUGUST:

First Generation: Photography in the Garden

A month-long photography exhibit from Iaritza Menjivar at the Growing Center for the month of August.

MOTS: Modular on the Spot

Sunday, Aug. 1, 4-7:30pm

Modular on the Spot is a free and inclusive music community focused on offering a home for modular synth enthusiasts to share their performances with the public. Hosted by Richard Tarantino. This event is free and open to all.

11th Annual Teddy Bear's Picnic Monday, Aug. 2, 6-8pm (Rescheduled from original date in July due to rain)

Bring a picnic dinner, your little ones, and their beloved bears (or other stuffed creatures) and join us for the annual Teddy Bear Picnic! Families and friends of all ages are invited to attend. If kids want to "come in disguise" (according to the song and wear a costume), we're sure the bears will appreciate it.

This event is FREE and brought to the community by parent volunteers. Donations to the Growing Center are very much appreciated.

Dreams and Meditations: Solo Clarinet with Glenn Dickson

Tuesday, Aug. 3, 7-8:15pm

Glenn Dickson performs his "Dreams and Meditations" on solo clarinet outdoors at the Growing Center!

Meditative and cathartic, pensive and emotional, Glenn expands the warm sounds of the clarinet with live digital processing to create music that ranges from intimate whispers to lush symphonic layerings, creating a sensual experience which takes you on extraordinary sound-mind journeys.

Grab your picnic blanket and join us on the lawn. This event is free and open to all!

Music in the Garden

Friday, Aug. 6, 6:30-8:00 pm

A variety of local musicians, coordinated by guitarist (and Growing Center volunteer) Mark Torgerson and jazz and Latin pianist David Rumpler.

Yoga in the Garden Saturday, Aug. 7, 10-11am

Grab your yoga mat and head on over to the Growing Center on monthly Saturday mornings for a free outdoor yoga session! Enjoy the natural beauty of the garden while reviving your body and soul.

Sessions are generously offered by Growing Center friend and favorite Jenn Pici Falk. Yoga in the Garden is free and open to everyone.

Outdoor Movie Series: "Wild Hope" and "Marion Stoddard: The Work of 1,000"

Thursday, Aug. 12, 7-9pm (Opens at 6:30pm for picnicking)

Bring a picnic dinner, and join others in watching two inspirational short films that will excite and energize, provoke conversation, stimulate actions, and connect us to the ways that we can restore nature as we fight climate change for our children’s future. This event is co- hosted by the Mothers Out Front – Massachusetts Healthy Soil, Livable Future Action Group and the Somerville Community Growing Center.

Walk, bike or carpool if possible. Parking is limited!

Photography in the Garden: Artist Reception with Iaritza Menjivar

Sunday, August 15th from 1:00 - 3:30 pm.

“I am a daughter of immigrant parents.” First Generation, a photography exhibition from photographer Iaritza Menjivar about family life will be 'popping' in the Growing Center for the month of August. Iaritza will be exhibiting newer work made before and during quarantine. Join us for an artist reception. In the event of rain, there will be a virtual reception/tour of the exhibit.

Music in the Garden

Tuesday, Aug. 17, 6-7:30 pm

A variety of local musicians, coordinated by guitarist (and Growing Center volunteer) Mark Torgerson and jazz and Latin pianist David Rumpler.

The Growing Center prioritizes the health and well-being of our volunteers and visitors. We will be observing a city-approved Health and Safety Plan, which includes site capacity limits. If you are fully vaccinated, face coverings or masks are not required. The CDC does recommend that people still wear masks in public settings, at events and gatherings, and anywhere they will be around others who are not fully fascinated or unknown vaccine status. If you are not fully vaccinated, face coverings or masks are recommended to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to other people.