Ali Rheaume talks about the creation of "Buddy The Brain" (video & audio)

FM #1703 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1703 in the series. 

This episode shares my conversation with Franklin author, educator, and disability advocate Ali Rheaume. We met virtually on Thursday, March 19, 2026 to discuss her new book “Buddy The Brain”. 

Ali Rheaume talks about the creation
of "Buddy The Brain"  (video & audio)

We cover 

• The book is available in multiple formats

• The origin story of the book

• Ali’s recovery journey and advocacy

The video runs about 23 minutes, let’s watch (or listen)

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gLJIk2cRT0

Audio link -  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1703-ali-rheaume-on-buddy-the-brain-03-19-26/

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The landing page for Buddy The Brain https://alirheaume.com/buddythebrain 

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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 FM 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

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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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Reminder: Franklin Art Assoc Mtg features guest artist Charles Guay - October 1

The Franklin Art Association warmly welcomes the public to it’s next monthly public meeting at 6:30 PM on October 1. Our guest artist demonstrator will be Charlie Guay at the Franklin Senior Center where he will be demonstrating oil painting with Cold Wax Medium.

Charles Guay’s style is varied and ranges from representational images to abstract design. He received his BFA in Painting from UMass Dartmouth and continued his education by earning a MFA at Maine College of Art. Charles has been a featured artist for a variety of demonstrations and workshops in the local area. His work has been shown in New York, Maine and area galleries in Southeastern Massachusetts. His paintings can be found in many private collections in the US and Europe.

“Beachcomber”, oil and Cold Wax Medium, 12” x 12”

Charles Guay teaches classes in the local area, both virtually and in-person. He is also available for commissioned work. 

Contact him at 

www.charlesguayart.com

www.facebook.com/artworkcharles/ 

http://instagram.com/charlesguayfinearts/

The Franklin Art Association takes pride in offering a student scholarship yearly to a local art student wishing to continue their art career in art instruction after high school graduation.

Please join us at our monthly meetings. 

Refreshments are offered at our meetings during intermission.

Franklin Art Association monthly meeting October 1 features guest artist Charles Guay

The Franklin Art Association warmly welcomes the public to it’s next monthly public meeting at 6:30 PM on October 1. Our guest artist demonstrator will be Charlie Guay at the Franklin Senior Center where he will be demonstrating oil painting with Cold Wax Medium.

Charles Guay’s style is varied and ranges from representational images to abstract design. He received his BFA in Painting from UMass Dartmouth and continued his education by earning a MFA at Maine College of Art. Charles has been a featured artist for a variety of demonstrations and workshops in the local area. His work has been shown in New York, Maine and area galleries in Southeastern Massachusetts. His paintings can be found in many private collections in the US and Europe.

“Beachcomber”, oil and Cold Wax Medium, 12” x 12”

Charles Guay teaches classes in the local area, both virtually and in-person. He is also available for commissioned work. 

Contact him at 

www.charlesguayart.com

www.facebook.com/artworkcharles/ 

http://instagram.com/charlesguayfinearts/

The Franklin Art Association takes pride in offering a student scholarship yearly to a local art student wishing to continue their art career in art instruction after high school graduation.

Please join us at our monthly meetings. 

Refreshments are offered at our meetings during intermission.

Hiran Jani’s art work showcases at Creative Corners Retail

Hiran Jani’s art work

via Amy Galose

"I am so excited to have Hiran Jani’s art work showcased at Creative Corners Retail !

So excited to announce Hiran to be apart of our creative artists at Creative Corner Art Studio.

She will have her art creations floral designs for sale in the retail part of our studio and also be teaching seasonal wreath making and flower arranging classes. More to come so much talent in Franklin"

www.creativecornerartstudiofranklin.com

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1GHVD6Zb3F/

Creative Corner opens local artists gallery

Creative Corner opens local artists gallery

LOCAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Creative Corner is proud to be home to a local artist gallery. We have a lovely group of local artist who are selling their work at the studio as well as teaching classes and workshops.

Keep an eye out on our social media and website to see what offerings these wonderful artists are hosting at the studio.

Read more about our artists and their work at our website: www.creativecornerartstudiofranklin.com

Do YOU want to sell your art or teach class? Reach out to marycreativecornerartstudio@gmail.com

Local Artists

• Paulina Teng @comertengstudio
• Caryn Swenson @upcycledreworks
• Heather McNamara @hedgeandheatherapothecary1
• Toni Carbone @fromthesoul333
• Maria Saganis @thetipsywitchy

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GsZcvpNHs/

Town of Franklin issues a "CALL FOR ARTISTS" + Includes Stipend Opportunities

Let's get your artwork published!

Call for Artists | Fairy Trails & Franklin Tales The Town of Franklin's Department of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy invites artists and creators of all ages to craft an environmentally friendly fairy house for display in the Franklin Sculpture Park! As part of our Fairy Trails & Tales of Franklin exhibition, we're looking for imaginative and sustainable designs that harmonize with the park's natural beauty. Click here for more details. Call for Artists| Artsy Boxes ARTIST STIPEND AVAILABLE Call for Artists – 2025 Artsy Box Project | Join us in adding color, creativity, and culture to Franklin's streets!  The Franklin Cultural District Committee is excited to announce the 2025 Artsy Box Project, inviting artists to transform a utility box in downtown Franklin into a vibrant public art piece! This initiative celebrates Franklin's creativity and history by showcasing art inspired by nature and community. We welcome artists of all backgrounds—established and emerging—to submit their most uplifting and colorful designs. Click here for more details.   Call for Artists| Micro Galleries ARTIST STIPEND AVAILABLE Franklin's first public art micro gallery is a unique, small-scale exhibition space housed inside a repurposed neighborhood library box. This innovative initiative transforms a traditional book-sharing box into a miniature art gallery, bringing accessible, rotating exhibitions to the heart of our community. Located in an accessible public space, the micro gallery will feature small, original artworks created by local and regional artists. Much like a traditional gallery but on a smaller scale, this space will showcase diverse artistic voices while encouraging engagement, curiosity, and creativity among residents and visitors alike. Click here for more details. Call for Artists| The Art of Play: Franklin's Cornhole Project ARTIST STIPEND AVAILABLE The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy is seeking artists to create/share vibrant, pieces of artwork for cornhole boards that will be used at town festivals and events for years to come! This is a unique opportunity to bring public art into an accessible, interactive setting, allowing the community to experience and enjoy local creativity in a whole new way. Upcoming events these boards will be featured: Strawberry Stroll, Farmers Markets, PorchFest! Click here for more details. Call for Artists & Writers | Featured in Printed + Digital District Guides Who We're Looking For: Visual artists: illustrators, painters, photographers, printmakers, digital artists, muralists. Writers: poets, lyricists, flash fiction authors, and storytellers Open to creatives who live, work, or create in Franklin or nearby communities. Artwork or short written pieces (poems, lyrics, or very short stories) that reflect the essence of Franklin—its community, creativity, culture, seasons, and shared spaces. Themes can include nature, community connection, public gathering, small-town life, cultural expression, or the passage of seasons. Selected Creatives Will Receive: Featured placement in the seasonal printed guides Artist/writer credit and short feature with your name and contact/social info + artist statements Promotion via Franklin Culture's digital platforms Timeline: Submission Deadline: Wednesday, May 21st Summer Guide Release: Mid June 2025 Fall/Winter Guide Release: October 2025 How to Submit: Email 3–5 art samples (JPEG or PDF) or 1–2 written pieces (under 250 words each), along with a short bio and why you'd like to participate, the Director of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy Cory Shea, Cshea@franklinma.gov with the subject line: FCD Creative Submission 2025 by Wednesday May 21st Town of Franklin Franklin Culture District | 355 East Central Street | Franklin, MA 02038 US

Calling all artists - first public art micro gallery is here - YOU can be part of it

Calling all artists! Franklin’s first public art micro gallery is here, and we want YOU to be a part of it!

We’re inviting local and regional artists to submit proposals for original, site-specific artworks to be showcased in a unique neighborhood art space.

This small but mighty gallery will transform a repurposed library box into a dynamic space for creative expression. 

Calling all artists - first public art micro gallery is here - YOU can be part of it

Submit your proposals by May 1st to contribute to Franklin’s cultural vibrancy. Let’s bring art to the heart of our community! 

For more details -> https://www.franklinma.gov/1098/RFP-MicroGalleries

RFP details -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4780/MicroGallery-RFP-May-2025

Announcing the 1st Annual Fakes and Forgeries Exhibit: Call for Artists

CALLING ALL ARTISTS:  The Franklin Art Association is collaborating with the Franklin Historical Museum to present the 1st Annual Fakes and Forgeries Exhibit.  This exhibit is open to all artists including student artists in Franklin and the surrounding areas.  There is no entry fee to participate.   

The exhibit will be held at the Franklin Historical Museum June 7 - June 22, with a registration deadline of May 23rd.  

Artists may request an entry form and exhibit guidelines by emailing the Franklin Art Association at faasecretary@gmail.com.  

So get those brushes and paints out and help make this first of its kind Franklin community event a huge success!

FAA meeting to feature Shilpa Aduri

The Franklin Art Association's 2025 season will begin with our Wednesday, January 8 meeting, when our Guest Artist will be Shilpa Adduri, who will be giving a fine art, water-based media demonstration. 

Shilpa Adduri works in the technique called “One Stroke”, which combines shading, blending and highlighting in a single brushstroke.  She is a Master Elite Director of this style, which is central to her teaching.  Her lessons are aimed at helping others to uncover their art potential, while fostering joy and connection. Her approach offers creativity and moments of tranquility. She offers lessons locally. 

Shilpa Adduri

Wanting to be inspirational, Shilpa says, “My art captures the beauty and serenity I find in the world, expressed through acrylics and watercolors.”

FAA meetings are held at the Franklin Senior Center at 6:30 PM, on the first Wednesday of each month and are always free and open to the public. Refreshments are served at the break.

There will be an ongoing sale of raffle tickets for our raffle of works donated by FAA members to raise money for our annual art scholarship, which goes to a student choosing to continue their education in the study of the arts.

Please come by to see the wonderful creativity of local artists as they demonstrate their skills and support our scholarship fund. 

The FAA is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Franklin Cultural Council, Franklin Cultural District. 

You can find us online at www.franklinart.org, on Franklin Matters, Facebook and Instagram.

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15hEmkafG6/

You can also listen to Shilpa talk about her Artsy Box work here ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/01/shilpa-jeni-julia-talk-about-their-work.html

Holiday Shop & Artist Meet - Greet Event - Nov 23

I'll be hanging out and selling tons of handmade items:

Holiday Shop & Artist Meet - Greet Event - Nov 23

- embroidered beanies (which sold out within 45 minutes last year)

- embroidered ornaments

- embroidered wall hangings

- original watercolors

- various handmade cards, including Christmas cards (which sold out last year)

- original acrylic paintings

- hand painted bookmarks

- hand pointed rocks

- apparel

- and more!

» This is the only time every year that I hold a shop in person, so come check it out!

*Bonus points if you share about it!

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/evBamwMh2NL4fJ3X/

Franklin Cultural District selects its Artists for the Utility Box Artsy Initiative

The Franklin Cultural District is pleased to announce it has selected the artists for the first ever Utility Box Artsy Initiative! We were excited to see so much interest in this public art initiative from local artists.  We thank all the artists for their submissions.  

Each artist selected has submitted a winning design and over the next few weeks will re-create their concepts on selected utility boxes throughout Franklin's Cultural District. The designs were created to reflect the local area and surroundings of where the boxes are located and the artist's interpretation of these surroundings.  

Weather permitting, we hope to have the unveiling of these public art projects late April, early May 2023.

The selected artists for this initiative are as follows:

• Shilpa Adduri 
• Molly Dee
• Julia Dwinell 
• Greyson Higgins
• Jeni LaBollita 
• Bridge Powers 
• Ren Schultz 

We are excited to work with these incredibly talented local artists, as we continue to promote and encourage arts and culture throughout the Franklin community!

Note: The listing of the utility box locations was included in the post announcing the call for artists -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/01/call-for-artists-please-join-us-in.html  The boxes are supposed to be primed by DPW (this week?) and once primed (painted white), they should be easier to pick out.

Three of the boxes are shown here: 

An Artsy Box Project comes to Franklin

Franklin Cultural District: Arts are happening here!

Call for artists -"Please join us in the Artsy Box Project!!!"

We are excited to announce, Franklin Cultural District is joining in the movement of creating aesthetic utility box art to share with the Franklin community. 

Franklin is a vibrant supportive town with lots of historical value. We want to highlight some of its beauty by sharing your interpretation.

Franklin artists of all backgrounds, established or emerging are welcome to submit. 

We want to see your best uplifting works of color to fit the locations they will be featured in.

Selected artists would receive a stipend between $500-$1000 dependent on location to cover time, transportation, artistic development and labor. 

Artwork and assignments will be evaluated by the Franklin Cultural District committee and Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) for the Town of Franklin.

Below are the location of the six boxes that are available for painting

•  Union Street & Beaver Streets 
•  Main Street & Pleasant Streets
•  Dean College, Main Street
•  West Central Street & Union Street
•  West Central Street & East Streets
•  Main Street & Cottage Streets

If you are interested in being considered, please review the guides (document linked below) and submit your request along with a sketch of your proposed art work.  Please consider visiting the locations and ensure your proposal incorporates the surrounding area. 

Call for Artists Request Form

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13kpI3aoez8LMJHwKKtn37v-HUBxaDkFC/view?usp=share_link

Franklin Cultural District: Arts are happening here!

67 Degrees welcomes new resident artist Dobritte Norris

"67 Degrees Brewing is pleased to welcome our new Resident Artist 

Dobritte Norris @wesley_the_minifrenchie 

Mrs Norris is a local to Franklin and her work is displayed in our taproom. 

She specializes in canvas pours and her work is delightful and vibrant.
Link to her page -> https://www.etsy.com/shop/FlowbyDobritte  

An Art Reception is planned for the first week of March. Please stay tuned for details."

Shared from Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZsIDiol9Om/?utm_medium=copy_link

Visit 67 Degrees online at https://67degreesbrewing.com/  or in person on Grove St

67 Degrees welcomes new resident artist Dobritte Norris

Amy Adams: "planting seeds of love to grow hope" (video)

Franklin artist Amy Adams was the "Artist in Residence" for Natick in2021. In this brief video she reflect on her experience there bring art to Natick.

Direct video link -> https://youtu.be/XocjFL_HxZo

Shared from Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1942928382554954&id=243620642485745