JP Open Studios: Many paths to see art

(Photo by Danielle Shamlian) Glass artist Jay Roberts shows off his work at last year’s Jamaica Plain Open Studios.

The annual Jamaica Plain Open Studios (JPOS), a celebration of the arts in JP that invites the public into local artists’ studios and group shows, is returning next weekend, Sept. 22 and 23.

Maps and detailed viewing information will be available at venues and are already available at jpopenstudios.com. But with over 50 JPOS venues, the question arises: where to go to admire local art?

The answer: it depends on how much walking one is prepared to do. The Gazette suggests the following routes. Venues are usually marked by signs or balloons.

Quick Hits

To get the most artists in the shortest time, visit the five largest group shows. Start at the Cheverus Building group show at the Blessed Sacrament campus (365 Centre St.), followed by the Brewery courtyard display at 284 Amory St. Close with the Eliot School of Fine Arts (24 Eliot St.), the First Unitarian Universalist Church (6 Eliot St.) and the Loring Greenough House (12 South St.).

Short (under a half-mile)

The densest concentration of JPOS spaces is not the Centre/South corridor, but the Stonybrook neighborhood. A half-mile walk reaches about a dozen venues including two galleries, one at the Brewery and one at Jamaica Plain Cohousing at 65 Cornwall St.

Intermediate (under a mile)

Keep to the main drag on Centre and South streets between Carolina Avenue and Pond Street—there are about 20 locations to visit, including seven galleries. Allow plenty of time, as this is where the crowds ago and will likely be very busy.

Advanced (under two miles)

Start at South Street and Carolina Avenue and head north on Centre/South, visiting about 15 of the spaces in the area. Then head east between Greenough Avenue and Green Street, hitting another 10 locations before heading north towards The Brewery. There are another dozen venues in the Stonybrook neighborhood, all very densely packed.

Long

Start early—two venues offer breakfast, but they are further away from the heart of the action. The Cheverus Building group show will offer breakfast on Sat., Sept. 22 between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. The Hope Lodge at 125 S. Huntington Ave. will have free brunch with bagels, pastries, coffee and juice on Sun., Sept. 23 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Follow up by walking down to Stonybrook through Cranston and Forbes streets. Continue through Stonybrook and Centre/South, ending at the Arboretum’s Hunnewell Building.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *