The Chelsea ArtWalk organizers took a big step this year in calling in coordinator Jordy Brazo to help bring the event together and market it within the city and outside of the city.
The walk, which takes place on June 13 and 14, will feature several locations around the city to display artwork – all accessible via a shuttle that take folks around to each location. The laid back and fun weekend has become a summer favorite for residents young and old.
However, for the artists themselves, the walk has become more than just concentrating on showing their own artistic talents. Rather, it’s been an exercise in organizing and coordinating. That looks like it could change this year with Brazo, 24, a former Phoenix Charter School teacher, on the case.
“Up until now, the Chelsea ArtWalk has been organized by the same people showing artwork or creating artwork for the ArtWalk,” he said. “That took a lot away from them being able to concentrate on the work. They wanted someone to come on whose sole talk was coordinating the event and thus freeing up the artists to to concentrate on their art and exhibitions. They wanted someone to focus on the nuts and bolts so they could focus on producing their artwork. That’s what I’ve been doing.”
Brazo grew up in Cambridge and always had friends and ties to Chelsea.
He attended college at Syracuse University and returned to Boston, teaching at Phoenix for one year.
He said as a young man he began creating art by his love of skateboarding. He often became the videographer and photographer for his friends.
“That was in high school,” he said. “Then I got involved in a youth program in Cambridge on community access television producing. I made documentaries and sports videography. Later on, I began doing photos too.”
Bravo said he has been spending quite a bit of time differentiating Chelsea’s art walk from the many others that are out there. While art walks were unique at one time, they no longer are such an exclusive activity. Brazo said he has been heralding how Chelsea’s walk is actually different.
“I think art walks in general are no longer a unique event in Boston,” he said. “Every neighborhood and community has an open studio and art walk. We hope we can make the case that the Chelsea art walk is unique and create it’s identity in a saturated scene…Chelsea hasn’t changed in the ways that East Boston or the South End have. It’s important to have people see that there’s a long tradition of creativity and the arts here.”
Some of the highlights this year will be a live sculptor at the PORT Park, and also a film shown to explain where the salt comes from and the process that takes place to get it to Chelsea.
“There will be lots of activity this year at the PORT Park and it won’t just be the place to park and catch the shuttle,” he said.
Spencer Lofts Gallery will continue to celebrate its return to the scene with a resident group show.
Pearl Gallery will feature unique paintings of Chelsea by former coordinator Joe Greene.
The Community Garden will feature a scarecrow contest and a drum circle on both days.
At Apollinaire Theatre, Chelsea C
Jordy Brazo has been out and about over the last month or so coordinating the Chelsea ArtWalk, which takes place June 13 and 14. It is the first year that the Walk has hired a coordinator to organize the show.
ity Treasurer and talented playwright, Bob Boulrice, will feature an original showing of ‘Back, Schweitzer and the Wives.’ The show is free and will go on at 4 p.m. both days in Apollinaire.
Also involved will be the Residence Inn, the Bellingham-Cary House, One North, Chelsea City Cafe, Mystic Brewery and other sites as well.
For complete information on the Art Walk, visit www.chelseaartwalk.com.