Concord Covid Creativity Comes Alive at the Concord Museum!

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Behind the Scenes look as Decorators set up for the Concord Museum’s Family Trees Exhibit…

 

Necessity is the mother of invention and Concord creatives have risen to the challenge in this year’s Family Tree exhibit at the Concord Museum which opened this week.

 

It turns out Zoom and Facetime have powered even more creativity than ever before as artists, families, friends and Girl Scout troops bring children’s stories to life through holiday tree interpretations that will blow your mind.  But what has been even more inspiring is to see the grit, resilience, creativity and laughter that fused behind the scenes to bring us such holiday joy in the absence of holiday parties and family get togethers.

 

In a typical year, creative minds would collect to choose a story to interpret and build a tree together over a series of weeks but in fairly normal tempo and in-person construction.  Not this year.  This year Covid has ignited some inspiring innovations that can’t help but bring a smile to your face in awareness of what we can all accomplish together when we put our minds to it.

 

One  Girl Scout troop used this project to stay connected, as did groups of friends, designing ornaments together over Zoom and having virtual workshop sessions replete with holiday music and bring-your-own snacks.  Parents and college kids, newly working from home, were able to participate in ways that weren’t practically possible and formulated family projects that successfully tugged everybody away from Netflix.

 

Equally impressive has been the creativity, care and insight that the museum staff has brought to bear to create a Covid-aware viewing experience for all of us when we go to see these miraculous trees.

 

 

Earlier this week, we got an inside glimpse of the decorators setting up their trees. It was magical to see the children’s books come alive as their stories were reflected through the ornaments of each tree. Take a peek at our “90 Seconds Behind the Scenes” of the decorators preparing for opening day of the Exhibit.

 

 

In past years, all the decorators would all arrive one morning to decorate their trees together. However, this year, due to the pandemic, a lot of time and thought had to be put into placement of trees, scheduling the decorators and setting up reservations to stay in line with COVID protocol.

 

The staggered slots for decorators to set up the trees allowed each group to be alone in their space for their allotted time. This also gave us a chance to see the different phases.

 

Over the course of two days we were able to walk around the Museum and see the trees in various stages – from decorators lugging in boxes and bags into the Museum, to setting up the actual tree to carefully unwrapping the various ornaments then on to the thoughtful placement of each on to the branches.

 

We look forward to making a reservation and returning to see the Exhibit in its entirety and have a chance to linger at each wreath and tree.

 

 

A change from past years is the amount of space between trees which will allow visitors to feel comfortable as they roam the galleries. Also, plexiglass book stands have been provided with the book opened to a spread that the decorator chose as her inspiration. This will keep it a touch-free zone and safer for visitors. One group found a creative way to display several pages of the book around the base of the tree… See if you can spot this when you visit.

 

 

 

During this pandemic, more people than ever are making sourdough starters and baking bread. All of you bakers will get a kick out of the theme of the tree in the Center Hall. Be sure to take extra time to look at the detail of each ornament. One Concord family worked hard to bring the The Bread Pet book to life on the branches of their tree.

 

 

The adorable children and talented staff of Concord Recreation After School Program and Concord Carousel Preschool found fabulous ways to create a snow globe, complete with faces of the children, modeling their unique face masks. Several other local schools are represented and teachers worked hard to include the children in creating their trees,

 

 

The reservation system that has been implemented is another safe step the Museum has taken to keep its visitors safe and follow COVID protocols. Be sure to book your reservation soon!

 

          

 

Family Trees is on view through January 3, 2021, seven days a week from 10am to 4pm. Timed tickets can be reserved online. (closed 11/26, 12/24, and 12/25)

 

Visit the Concord Museum this holiday season to see 28 trees and wreaths of all shapes and sizes ornamented with inspiration from children’s books.  Brimming with whimsy and charm, this creative twist on Concord’s renowned literary legacy is sure to brighten spirits and warm hearts of all ages.

 

 

Please enjoy some of the in-progress photos and reserve your spot to come and celebrate the holidays in this historic time.  We thank you in advance for supporting  the Concord Museum, the Staff has worked tirelessly, behind the scenes, to make this happen.

 

Concord Museum Galleries:
NOW OPEN!
Open Seven Days a Week from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Purchase timed tickets on the Museum’s website.

 

Tickets are now available for our 25th annual Family Trees: A Celebration of Children’s Literature. To purchase your timed ticket choose the Family Trees Area and select the day would like to visit. Then scroll through the next screens using the gray side bar to select your time slot and types of tickets. As always, Members visit for free! Not a member? Join or renew today

ART for ALL’s Feed the Spirit Fundraiser

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Make greeting cards for ART for ALL’s Feed the Spirit fundraiser!

 

Making, sending and receiving greeting cards; what a great way to keep our spirits up during a pandemic winter! Plus, with the cards we raise funds for the Art Activity Kits for the guests of the local food pantry, and the people of Minute Man Arc.

 

How to participate:
We are collecting handmade greeting cards with a winter theme, now through December 20th.
Use your own supplies, or pick up free blank cards at the ART for ALL display at the West Concord 5 and 10.
Return finished cards to the same display, or to the ART for ALL bin on the porch of 21 Winthrop Street in West Concord.

 

Buy handmade cards donated to the fundraiser, and Greeting Card Kits! Cards and kits are on sale at Joy Street Gift Shop in West Concord. thanks to the generosity of Jen McGonigle, the owner of Joy Street, ALL proceeds from the purchase of our cards and kits goes to the Feed the Spirit Fundraiser. Thank you Jen! Here is a how-to video for making the cards from the kits!

 

Make cards on your own for our fundraiser: Between now and about December 20th, we are looking for winter-themed and holiday cards. Thank You cards are also always in season!

 

 

 

What supplies should I use?

 

  • You can pick up blank greeting cards and a description of the project from the Art for All display at the West Concord Five and Ten. The cards are free, and each one has a label on the back with information about the fundraiser and a place to sign
  • Look around your house. Anything that can go on a piece of paper and into an envelope is potential art material! Paints, colored pencils, papers, glued on beads and sequins. Lots of stuff
  • Not finding what you need? If you are making cards for our fundraiser, you can come get materials for free. We have lots of blank cards, papers, sequins and fun things to glue down. Sign up to come by the Art Room to pick up supplies. Masks on, of course, and we limit the number in the room. If the times don’t work for you write to margie@villageartroom to arrange a time.

 

How do we get finished cards to you? You can leave cards in the Art for All display at the West Concord Five and Ten, or drop them off at the front porch of 21 Winthrop Street in West Concord center. There is a plastic bin on the porch with a sign on it saying Art for All. Put your cards in there. Be sure to have them signed, and make sure we have your contact info. We might just send you a thank you card! 🙂

 

Or, mail cards to Village Art Room, suite #16, 152 Commonwealth Avenue, West Concord, MA 01742

 

How are the cards used? Some cards will be become thank you cards to people making donations, and others will be sold at stores in West Concord.

 

More information on the Village Art Room website at this link.

Art for All is the community sponsored program of the Village Art Room. Our mission is to strengthen the community by building connections through creative projects, for people of all artistic and financial abilities. We believe that the making, sharing and experiencing art improves the lives of individuals, and of our community.

A Beautiful Display of Gratitude and Appreciation for Concord’s Emergency Personnel

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Three months ago, Concord resident, Ned Perry, reached out to Jennifer Eaton (resident and owner of of Copper Penny Flowers) to start planning way to recognize and show appreciation for our First Responders in Concord.

 

Like so many of us in Concord, Ned Perry wanted to find a way to thank our police and fire fighters for all they do for Concord, particularly during this stressful period of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

 

Jennifer went to work, searching for the perfect vase and then developing an arrangement that would be perfect for the event.

 

   

They came up with a plan and placed the orders for 100 cobalt blue vases. When the vases arrived, Copper Penny Flowers staff went to work, filling an arranging 100 lovely bouquets for the November 13th event, enough so every full-time member of the Police Department and the Fire Department would have an arrangement to take home with them at the end of her/his shift.

 

 

 

At 2:30 pm on Friday, November 13th, a small group of representatives of the Concord community gathered in front of the West Concord Fire Station to present the fire fighters with the floral arrangements, formed into a large heart shape.

 

In attendance:

 

The West Concord Fire Station, Ned Perry, Nancy Crowley and Dorrie Kehoe (both long time community leaders work on the fire station window boxes all year long) Maynard Forbes (owner of the West Concord 5 & 10), Jane Hotchkiss as a representative of Select Board, Jennifer Ubaldino, Executive Director of the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest.

 

 

 

Bonus – This event gave the fire fighters an opportunity to show off their brand new sharp yellow jackets – – – made in Concord!

 

Below, Jennifer Eaton puts final touches on the two heart formations.

 

 

An hour later at 3:30 pm, a different small group of representatives of the Concord community congregated in front of the Walden Street Fire Station to present Fire Chief Judge with similar blue vases and arrangements for the fire fighters who work in the Concord Center Fire Station.

  

 

Following the presentation to the Concord Firefighters, the small group of representatives moved over in front of the Police Station and presented a blue heart of flower arrangements to Chief O’Connor to thank each member of the Concord Police Department for everything each employee (from Dispatcher to Captain to Chief) do for Concord every day of the year. Chief O’Connor took a few moments to thank the community for the recognition and support.

 

 

 In attendance were: Police Chief O’Connor, the Concord Police Officers, Jennifer Eaton of Copper Penny Flowers , Peter Lovis of the Cheese Shop, Jennifer Ubaldino Executive Director of the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest, Jane Hotchkiss representing the Select Board and Ned Perry.

 

 

We would like to thank these front line workers for their dedication and service. We are so  grateful for the Concord Emergency Personnel.

 

We’d like to thank Jennifer Eaton & her Copper Penny Flowers staff for all the thought and time they put into making these lovely arrangements.

 

We’d also like to thank Ned Perry. We are so lucky to have people in our community like Ned Perry who take notice of all the people who contribute to making our town the special place we call home. It’s one thing to feel gratitude but quite another to be the one to put it into action.

 

Ned is known around town for being fiercely pro-Concord and a long time advocate of supporting our local merchants while always taking notice of the helpers and those in need.

 

Every town should be so lucky to have a Ned Perry to call a neighbor.