Local artists will have their artwork honoring soldiers who have fallen in the line of duty on display in a special Memorial Day Exhibition inside Chelsea City Hall Gallery beginning May 18. The artists and their artwork will be appreciated alongside public officials, community members, and family and friends during an opening reception in the gallery on Wednesday, May 20, from 5-7 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
This exhibit was initiated by Ron Robinson—a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran and Chelsea resident. Many of the pieces in the exhibit have been created by City employees who are veterans or have family members in the military, as well as veterans who reside in the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Chelsea. Active duty military service members and veterans—and their families—as well as Gold Star Families are invited to join the event and partake in conversation, reflection, and refreshments.
In preparation for this exhibit, the City of Chelsea put out a call for art that was open to any Massachusetts artist of any age. Artists were strongly encouraged to incorporate materials from the local archive at the Chelsea Public Library into their work. They were also encouraged to engage with the living history embodied in the memories of veterans who bear witness to their fallen comrades.
The exhibit will be on view May 18 through June 19, 2026, in Chelsea City Hall’s Art Gallery, located on the second floor of Chelsea City Hall, 500 Broadway, Chelsea. Viewing hours are as follows: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday: Closed.
For more information, contact Delia Harrington, Manager of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy for the City of Chelsea, at [email protected].