Blog

Connect with Creativity this Holiday Season

It's that time of year where we hold our loved ones extra close and spend quality time together. Join us in celebrating this season with creativity and joy.

2021 Artist in Residence Chanel Thervil with Teen fellow

2024 Artist in Residence Applications Open

We’re excited to invite you to participate in the Artist in Residence program!

Wooden figures carved and painted colorfully by Norberto Fabian

Norberto Fabian, Oaxacan Woodcarver, in our Schoolhouse

Last week, our wood shop was full of colorful wooden carvings in the shapes of animals, people, and fantasy creatures. Norberto Fabian visited us all the way from San Martín Tilcajete, the small rural woodcarving community outside the city of Oaxaca, to teach Oaxacan woodcarving for a day.

Introducing the Paula J. Smith Scholarship Fund

Creativity is everywhere, but resources aren’t. The Eliot School aims to make meaningful connection and excellent arts instruction accessible to all who seek them, no matter their means.

Join us for JP Open Studios, Sept. 24-25

This year, JP Open Studios is happening Saturday and Sunday, September 24-25, 11am-6pm. We are elated to celebrate and amplify the artists and makers we proudly work with every day. They'll display their artistry and lead art-making and live demonstrations. Sunday at 4pm, enjoy the next-to-last concert in our Schoolyard Concert Series, starring the Stan Strickland Trio.

Spaces of Belonging: Artist Talk & Opening Reception

We held the opening reception for our 2022 Artist in Residence exhibition, Spaces of Belonging, on August 5th. At the opening, friends, family, and community members gathered to admire the paintings that teen AIR Fellows made throughout the summer and to hear our artists talk about their experiences.

Thank You for Joining Us for Community Hour!

This past Saturday, Jamaica Plain was alive with music as performances occurred around the neighborhood. We hosted musicians as well as artists throughout the day celebrating community, joy, and togetherness.

Alison Croney Moses and Abigail Norman sitting in the woodshop

Recognized as Visionaries in Craft by the American Craft Council

We are so proud to appear in the Summer 2022 issue of American Craft Magazine! Visionaries in Craft "honor(s) changemakers in craft whose work not only addresses the moment, but paves the way toward a more supportive and inclusive future." (American Craft Council, 2022) Read more...

Registration for JP Open Studios has begun!

If you've visited the Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts during the last week of September, you've seen the school decked-out for JP Open Studios. JP Open Studios is an annual event in Jamaica Plain, allowing artists/makers to showcase their skills and sell their work, often in their creative work-spaces.

John F. Kennedy Elementary School Woodworking Residency

This spring, we experienced the joy of enthusiastic learners at the J.F. Kennedy Elementary School, in Jamaica Plain. For 8 weeks, we measured, sawed, and hammered with all the school’s Kindergarten classes. Our woodworking residency supported the students’ unit on construction when all of Boston’s K2 students focus on what it means to construct music, recipes, dances, stories, and more. We are grateful to the Mass Cultural Council’s STARS Residencies Program for their support.

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