Somerville Open Studios

Just picked up “Yellow” in Union Square as we marked the close of the Somerville Open Studios 2026 Volunteers Exhibit displayed at @prospectusq . Thank you to the volunteer exhibit organizers @micheleobrienart @staneichner @janethorneart ! @somervilleopenstudios

Another annual Somerville Open Studio event has passed! Thanks to all who turned out to visit Behind The Mask Studio. What a perfect springtime arts celebration, with high value connections and delightful chats. We had several inquiries about workshops. Please reach out for Summer & Fall mask making programs. We also welcome studio interns and volunteers throughout the year. Please reach out to help in the studio and costume shop! 👺🎭🎨🖌️🧣👖🧥🌻 Dm so we can tag u! #costumedesign #costumes #art #artlearning #costumejobboston

SO thrilled that this painting found a new home this past weekend! Thank you @somervilleopenstudios for the opportunity to share my artwork with this city 🥹 #Newenglandart #urbanlandscape #bostonart #artforsalebyartist #somervilleartist

People voted for their favorite paintings among the seven that I showed at @somervilleopenstudios last weekend, and the results are in! So cool to see how different the votes were across different channels: The channels: —IRL - people filled out a raffle slip —Instagram - comments on a post —LinkedIn - comments on a post —IRL verbal comments - I tallied the ones that people who came by my stop said were their favorites (no formal vote). Listed those as their own category just in case I didn’t track them accurately. The results: Overall favorite? Yellow Raffle winner’s favorite? Emanating Glow IRL voter favorite? Tie - Emanating Glow & Yellow Instagram favorite? Yellow LinkedIn favorite? Storm King IRL visitor favorite? Shade Thank you again for joining in! I really enjoyed seeing these paintings from your eyes.

Patchwork poetry stitched into every step. ✨ A celebration of color, texture, individuality and the beautiful art of wearable storytelling — these designs didn’t just walk the streets of Somerville, they turned them into a runway. From bold lettering to vibrant movement, every look carried its own voice while creating one unforgettable visual harmony together. 💜🧡💛 Photographer: @theahtdept Designer: @elisabethanco Hosts: @lexiebutterflyvintage & @sosartwear & @somervilleopenstudios Location: Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theater – Somerville, MA. #SOSArtWear #SomervilleOpenStudios #WearableArt #CrystalBallroomSomerville #RunwayReimagined

Eff the Met Gala, let’s talk about ARTWEAR! Last Thursday was the culmination of weeks of planning, sourcing, designing, sewing, and styling, which all came together for an hour and a half of community fashion joy. Please admire these stunning photos of my upcycled lewks on our gorgeous models by @theahtdept . These pieces were made using vintage textiles like tablecloths and sheets, and were designed to be very low waste. Most of them are available - if you see something you adore, reach out! I love being part of the incredible group of creatives who volunteer each year to put on such a spectacular event. There’s so much positivity, encouragement, and enthusiasm - with some hijinks thrown in for good measure. To celebrate the power of fashion in a way that feels authentic, diverse, and without perpetuating the harmful status quo that’s so prevalent in the global fashion industry - well, that’s something mighty special. Be the change, they say, and I think we’re trying hard to be. Thanks to all the show attendees who lined up and screamed their heads off for us; to the volunteers who supported the show by performing all the behind the scenes jobs, big and small, that are necessary to a production like this; to the models for bringing the runway sass; and to Head Clown @lexiebutterflyvintage for spearheading yet another stellar show! And to my fellow designers, I’m so proud of you! The work this year was truly impressive - y’all knocked it out of the park. If you’d like to see more looks from the show, please go follow @sosartwear . One of my contributions was to head up the show’s social media account this year, and I’ll be posting more photos from the show in the coming days/weeks. ✂️

Electric. Otherworldly. Unapologetically bold. ⚡ This look didn’t just walk the runway—it performed. Sculptural silhouettes collided with shimmering movement, creating a living, breathing piece of art that blurred the line between fashion and fantasy. Every gesture, every flicker of light off metallic textures felt like a pulse—futuristic, fierce and impossible to look away from. This is what happens when imagination refuses to stay quiet. Photographer: @maguire_digital_arts Designer: @graceduval Hosts: @lexiebutterflyvintage & @sosartwear & @somervilleopenstudios Location: Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theater – Somerville, MA #AvantGardeFashion #RunwayPerformance #ArtInMotion #FuturisticStyle #StatementLook

Sheer elegance meets structured edge. A look that whispers romance from the front and commands attention from every angle—delicate textures layered over bold construction, creating a silhouette that’s both soft and unapologetically strong. Under the glow of chandeliers, this moment felt like modern-day noir—timeless, a little mysterious and entirely unforgettable. Photographer: @maguire_digital_arts Designer: SD Amour Hosts: @lexiebutterflyvintage & @sosartwear & @somervilleopenstudios Location: Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theater – Somerville, MA #RunwayEdge #ModernRomance #FashionNoir #ArtOnTheRunway #SomervilleFashion

Playful lines, soft hues and a silhouette that speaks without shouting. This look dances between whimsy and strength—effortlessly structured, quietly daring and impossible to ignore. Under the lights of the Crystal Ballroom, every step told a story of art in motion—where fabric becomes expression and confidence becomes the final accessory. Photographer: @maguire_digital_arts Designer: @jessamy.shay Hosts: @lexiebutterflyvintage & @sosartwear & @somervilleopenstudios Location: Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theater – Somerville, MA #RunwayArt #WearableArt #PastelPower #IndieFashion #SomervilleScene

Soft structure, bold presence. A pastel dream with edge—where playful prints meet a commanding walk, turning simplicity into statement. Every step down the runway carried quiet power, proving that subtle can still steal the entire room. ✨ From the glow of the lights to the hush of anticipation, this moment stitched together art, confidence and individuality—exactly what the runway was made for. Photographer: @maguire_digital_arts Designer: @jessamy.shay Hosts: @lexiebutterflyvintage & @sosartwear & @somervilleopenstudios Location: Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theater – Somerville, MA #RunwayMoments #SustainableFashion #ArtWear #SomervilleStyle #BoldElegance

MAY THE FOURTH be with you today! Met a fellow maker (why didn’t I get her name?!) this weekend at Open Studios, who is learning to sew from her grandmother. YES. We talked fabrics, and things to make, and she picked out this Button VNeck, and knew both references. I gives me hope for the future! @somervilleopenstudios #maythefourth #elisabethan #rebelrebel #princessleia #upcycledfashion

To say I’m grateful, would be an understatement. Being an organizer, a volunteer, a leader…is so hard. Late nights printing programs, shepherding new artists, coordinating models, writing grants, it’s not glamorous. But not only am I an organizer - I am a fan, I’m a cheerleader, I’m an artist too. Somerville is such a special place. A little slice carved out of the universe just for us weirdos. A place where we can create and be adored for the vibrancy we bring to the world. Artwear is incredibly special to me. I had no idea this event would become such an important part of me and my town. It is a great honor to be entrusted with this position. Yes, it takes months to plan. Yes, so many unpaid hours spent. But it doesn’t even matter because our world needs ART. We need art to survive and if I can use my mind and my hands to service that need, I would do anything to make it happen. The reason why we volunteer: - Watching artists like @elramsaydesign grow tremendously over the years not only as a designer, but as an integral part of the show and a dear friend. Are you seeing that dress??? - @ndati.design taking the stage in her final walk and hearing the crowd roar for her. I was moved to tears and struggled to keep it together on the runway. - @stinamaries creating her first collection and seeing what an incredible artists she really is, encouraging that spark. Stina also helped us realize our dream of having models in ALL sizes! - @ezwriter9 modeling for the first time, being encouraged in her insurmountable beauty and rocking the hell out of that sexy clown routine. - @alijersey living in her power as my calm, my muscle, my partner in crime…and faux fur. - @sirena.wanders making the audience EAT IT in every outfit she wears, supporting this show from the very start and never wavering. Just to name a few. It takes so many people to make this show happen. Some of our new designers can’t completely grasp yet just how much love we have for this that we endure their unreasonable requests, we endure their temper tantrums and diva moments…we do it out of LOVE. Pure love. Thank you @theahtdept Connor Mochi for being our rock and capturing us at our best 🌈