Find out what's happening this month at the Armory!
Dear Friends,
With November upon us, we have more great events to look forward to, including events that we produce and present ourselves like the Tobin Sprout concert on November 14th (please see below for more details). As we prepare for more growth and development, we are also affirming our mission, which is to provide free and affordably-priced space for arts, cultural and community events and programming, and thereby bring diverse audiences together, enrich and transform lives, and promote the creative economy.
In that spirit, we are announcing our Performance Opportunity Program (POP) with the first events in the series to be announced starting in January. Once per month, skipping July and August, Arts at the Armory will select an individual or group to host a POP event in our Performance Hall on an off-peak night of Monday-Wednesday. Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis, and will be chosen based on how well they reflect our values of community, creativity, and inclusivity. Events must be open to the public, and feature music, theater, dance, circus, film, media arts or spoken word/literary arts. Arts at the Armory will support production costs and also assist with marketing and promotion. Please click here to download a POP Application Form.
POP seeks to serve local individuals and groups involved in arts, culture and community building, and for whom our regular rental rates for the Performance Hall are too great a financial burden. We believe that arts and culture play an essential role in strengthening the local community we serve, and we know that access to performance and event spaces are one of the most challenging issues facing local artists and cultural workers. Performing arts events that showcase diverse voices promote mental health, well-being and understanding within the wider community. By opening our Performance Hall to arts groups who would not otherwise have access to a large performance venue, we are seeking to provide a welcoming and healing space for local artists and audiences to flourish within the rich multicultural communities of Somerville, Greater Boston, and beyond. Please stay tuned as we make more announcements, and get ready for more arts and culture to POP at the Armory!
With my warm wishes,
Stephanie Scherpf
Executive Director
Photo by Wayne Lake courtesy of Jean Appolon Expressions
November 2021 at Arts at the Armory
*events are in the Performance Hall unless otherwise noted
Mondays 6:30pm-9:30pm Queer Tango Boston (Cafe)
Saturdays 10:00am-1:00pm: Rick and Friends (Cafe)
The Center for Arts at the Armory Presents Tobin Sprout
Join us for a special concert with painter, illustrator, author, songwriter and former Guided By Voices guitarist Tobin Sprout in the Armory Performance Hall on Sunday, November 14th. Doors 6:30pm / Show 7:30pm. Hallelujah the Hills, described as “the kind of punk rock you’d expect on stage at the roadhouse from Twin Peaks” in The Boston Herald, will open.
Sprout will be playing from his latest album, Empty Horses, on which he reinvents his craft with a stark and poignant solo album, taking a dramatic and unexpected departure from his previous work. The album is a meticulously observed study of America and Americana (not the music, but the state of mind)--an alternative American Songbook, a collection of laments to simpler times and the struggle for what’s right, peppered with an examination of faith and the search for a sense of justice. In Guided By Voices, (1986-1997, 2011-2014) Sprout penned classic songs including "Atom Eyes", "It’s Like Soul Man", “Gleemer", "A Good Flying Bird", "14 Cheerleader Coldfront”, and released solo albums on Matador, Burger and Fire Records. On tour, Sprout will be joined by his longtime band with Tommy Schichtel, Steve Vermillion and Gary Vermillion.
We are thrilled to welcome back Queer Tango Boston (QTB) at the Armory Café on Monday nights, teaching the social dance of queer Argentine tango. Queer tango dancers identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, gender-nonconforming, allies, and more. QTB strives to be a safe space for people who identify as such. QTB is part of a global community of queer tango dancers who are committed to subverting gender roles and queering dance spaces.
Queer tango rejects the rigid gender roles, gendered expectations, and hierarchical structure of traditional tango. The roles of leader and follower are more flexible; dancers may lead moves from the follower’s position and vice versa.
QTB Beginners Class starts again this month, every Monday from 6:30 - 9:30pm. There are also more advanced classes for experienced dancers. Please click here for more info.
Hector Velazquez, Love, 2018.
"Outside / In: Graffiti and Street Art Through the Photographer's Lens" On View at ROOTED Armory Cafe Nov. 8 - Dec. 4, 2021
You are invited to ROOTED Armory Cafe to view an exhibition curated by Renana Greenberg Kehoe entitled "Outside / In: Graffiti and Street Art Through the Photographer's Lens." Please join us for an opening reception on Saturday, November 13th from 4-6pm. Exhibiting artists include Ashley Brito, Mary Newell DePalma, Dicky Stock, Jen Tourtellot and Hector Velazquez.
This exhibition features local artists’ photographs of graffiti and street art, many in Boston and the surrounding area as well as some from other locations. By viewing works of art that are traditionally outdoors now inside the gallery, we consider their relationship and place in the larger conversation about public art, street art, and public space. Additionally, viewing these artistic works through the lens of a different artist (the photographer) adds another element to the conversation. The photographs contemplate the impact of this art in its original setting and encourage viewers to consider the dialogue between the various graffiti artists’ intentions and the photographers’ views. What happens when we bring the outside in?
Our B-5 Room Had A Makeover and is Available for Rentals
Our “B5” room got a major makeover! It’s now available for rental for meetings, classes, workshops, rehearsals, events and more. This space cannot accommodate events with food or performances, but it’s perfect for smaller events or meetings expecting 20 people or less. The room is located in the basement of the Armory building and is 400 sq. ft.
B5 rentals cost $30 per hour or an all-day rate of $200. Different rates apply for corporate rentals. Contact events@artsatthearmory.org to learn more. A few highlights of what B-5 includes are included below but please click here for more info.
* Coway Airmega 150(P) True HEPA Air Purifier, pedestal fan, space heater
* Baby grand piano
* Conference table comfortably seating 6
* 20 table / folding chairs
* A seating area with couch, armchair and ottoman
* A dressing table area with mirrors
*A stereo system and blue tooth speaker
* A selection of books and games
* A mini-fridge
* Use of Keurig K-Duo Coffee Maker (Single Serve and 12-Cup Carafe Drip Coffee Brewer), electric kettle, selection of coffee pods, coffee, teas, bottles of water and non-alcoholic beverages, cups and napkins (additional charge applies)
Participate in CHA Community Health Survey
Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) invites you to participate in a new survey about the community health strengths and challenges that matter most to people in our communities. Available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and Chinese, it takes 15 minutes to complete, and you could win a $100 grocery gift card. Your opinions and experiences are important! Please reach out to ereckardmota@challiance.org with any questions.
The Center for Arts at the Armory gratefully accepts donations from individual and corporate donors, businesses and private foundations.
Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
