Boston Globe: "Fiber art has long been ‘treated as a little sister’ to fine art"

"Artist Merill Comeau started talking to others back in 2022 about Gather 2025, a monthlong series of events in April exploring fiber arts in the Greater Boston area.

“I was thinking it would be four events over four weekends,” she said in a phone conversation from her home in West Concord.

But interest snowballed. Museums, galleries, groups, and makers jumped in.

Franklin's "art bombing" project anticipated this trend

“Now it’s like 70 events,” Comeau said. When you add opening and closing receptions, it’s closer to 100. There will be panel discussions, maker gatherings, demonstrations, and tours.

Exhibitions include “Art Evolved: Intertwined,” a show connecting basketry and quilting at Fuller Craft Museum, “Interwoven| Textile Arts and Climate Change” at Mosesian Center for the Arts, and “Orange Line: Connecting Neighborhoods North to South” at Piano Craft Gallery."

Continue reading the article online -> 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/03/arts/gather-2025-fiber-textile-art-symposium-greater-boston/

How to access the Boston Globe with your Franklin library card   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/how-to-access-online-resources-with.html 

The Fiber Art event collection -> https://www.gatherfibersymposium.com/events

Reminder: now the requirement for Franklin residents to call SimpleRecycling (or another outlet) no longer can use trash

"Starting Tuesday, Massachusetts residents will no longer be able to throw out mattresses, textiles, or shoes, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

As part of a statewide waste reduction plan, residents are required to recycle or donate such items rather than dispose of them, the department said. That includes clothing, shoes, bedding, towels, curtains, and fabric. Disposal of mattresses is also banned, including full-foam, latex, and “mattresses in a box.”

MassDEP issued a 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan in October 2021, aiming to reduce disposal statewide by 30 percent over the next decade.

The plan also lowers the threshold on the disposal of commercial food and organic waste to a half-ton of waste weekly per facility. Restaurants are instead required to process food waste by composting, among other methods, according to MassDEP."

Continue reading the Boston Globe article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/31/metro/ban-disposal-mattresses-clothing-shoes-starts-nov-1-mass-heres-what-know/

2030 Solid Waste Master Plan ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/14vwElz1Co8b1prwSt5WqTfbJ5OFLxrce/view?usp=sharing

From the Town of Franklin page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/recycling-solid-waste/webforms/curbside-clothing   (Note: There are other clothing recycling or donation vendors to use)

Simplerecycling has been recycling clothes and other items in over 30 towns in Massachusetts and many more across the country (click here to see what is accepted).

To schedule collection, call 866-835-5068 or online @ simplerecycling.com. 

For more information please go to Simplerecycling.

Reminder: now the requirement for Franklin residents to call SimpleRecycling (or another outlet) no longer can use trash

Attention: knitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners, dyers, and anyone curious about fiber crafts

For the fiber crafters amongst us, a good event this weekend at MIT.

FiberCamp Boston is a PodCamp like community un-conference for fiber craft enthusiasts including knitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners, dyers, and anyone curious about fiber crafts. Fibercamp is based on the fact that everyone has something to share and teach. Connect with the community by sharing your passion.

More about FiberCamp on their website


You can register via Eventbrite here


The FiberCamp blog with information from last year's event can be found here




Franklin, MA