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

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, March 7, 2025 ???

Friday, March 7

• "Look Up" Gallery (during open hours)

10:00am  Knitting Group (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

3:45pm "Look Up" Gallery - Opening Event (Franklin Public Library)

7:00pm FHS Jazz Cafe (Franklin High School)

7:00pm Friday night West Coast Swing Lesson (Franklin Elks Lodge #2136)

8:00pm Friday night West Coast Swing Dance (Franklin Elks Lodge #2136)

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events -> https://franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

** NO Town Meetings today   **

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Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin? 

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

Chunky Knit Blanket Workshop 3/20

Don't miss this unique event!

Learn to hand-knit a blanket within just a few hours! Come to this therapeutic, meditative, and fun workshop. For information and to register, visit: Community Learning Workshops and Special Events

Lifelong Learning Institute - Franklin Public Schools | 218 Oak Street Room 137 | Franklin, MA 02038 US

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, January 31, 2025 ???

Friday, January 31

• Fiber Art Installation (Franklin Public Library) 
• Last days to buy Music Booster calendar raffle for February 
• Fudge Fund Raiser for Friends of Franklin Library 

10:00am Knitting Group (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

9:00pm Two for the Rode (live music) (3 Restaurant)

**  NO  Town Meetings today   **

--------------

Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin? 

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

Ben is now dressed for success!

Ben is now dressed for success!

"Sassy Ben Franklin showing off his new leg warmers outside of the heart of Franklin @franklinpubliclibrary!

This is part of a new public art piece knitted together by the Friday knitters group that meets weekly at the library.

Click our link in our profile to read more about the yarn installation and listen to a podcast by @franklinmatters.ma sharing the inside scoop of this project featuring knitter and Cultural District Committee member, Sue Cass" along with Anne Frye.

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DAbUstqR4OT/

Interview audio can be found -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/09/sue-and-anne-talk-about-yarn-project.html

Sue and Anne talk about the yarn project that will dress the Ben Franklin statute (audio)

FM #1269 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1269 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Sue Cass and Anne Frye. We had our discussion at the Franklin TV Studios on Monday, August 19, 2024.

Sue & Anne are members of the Knitting group that meets at the Franklin Public Library on Fridays from 10 AM to noon, the group sits to knit or crochet and have a conversation. 

We talk about the yarn installation coming at the end of September. The yarn will be used to dress up the bronze statue of Ben Franklin at the Library. There will be other yarn creations in the immediate vicinity and these will remain until mid-December.

The recording runs about 25 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1269-knitting-group-project-08-20-24/

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The Knitting Group meets each Friday at the Library from 10 AM to noon. Anyone wishing to knit or crochet is welcome to join. 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Sue and Anne talk about the yarn project that will dress the Ben Franklin statute (audio)

Franklin Library: Knitting Circle - Tues, Jan 12 - 6:30 - 8:30 PM

"Whether you knit, crochet or spin, all fiber enthusiasts are welcome to share their craft at the Franklin Library Knitting Circle. Open to all skill levels. Meetings will take place on the second Tuesday of the month"

For adults

Franklin Library - 2nd Tuesday of the month

This was shared from the Franklin Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2016/01/knitting-circle.html