We make a constant effort to create connections within our community. Recently, we hosted an Art Show Brunch in our Pembroke location, inviting local artists to display their work. The art show was the brainchild of Lucia Ventura, our manager in Pembroke, who, as an artist herself, wanted to host a new kind of event in the store. I spoke to Lucia and the artists to hear their perspective on this outstanding event.

How it came together

The idea came about when Rita Berkowitz, an artist and old friend of Lucia's, dropped by the store to buy furniture. Together, they came up with the idea of an art show, and the rest came together naturally. "It all fell right into place, and all of the artists that I spoke to about it were so excited" Rita explained. Lucia wanted to include a variety of different styles and mediums, and it was especially important to feature local artists who are tied to the community. The artists featured were Rita Berkowitz, Maureen Spinale, Margo Cascella, Sally Dean, Lucia Ventura, and Catherine Willey, our resident artist in Framingham. We encourage you to visit their websites and explore their beautiful, vibrant work. Sally Dean described, "I was inspired to paint large works that would complement the beautiful furniture. It was so nice to see how well they integrated together."

Art and Furniture

As for the pairing of art and furniture, "it came together organically" Lucia said. The beauty in displaying artwork in our stores is that the color in both the artwork and the furniture comes alive. Lucia made an effort to make the paintings pop and to make it feel like you were in someone's home. "The artists couldn't believe how well the art looked with the furniture. Usually, they're in a gallery with white walls and there's no accessorizing. This experience was completely new and eye-opening to them" Lucia explained. Margo was thrilled with the event, in particular how well the art paired with the furniture. "The artwork confirmed the beauty of the furniture and the furniture confirmed the beauty of the art" she described.

The Event

The event was, in Rita's words, "an overwhelmingly warm, congenial place to be." We had 125 guests come and enjoy the artwork, along with mimosas, apple cider donuts, and homemade waffles. They were blown away by the feeling of the store, the varied styles of artwork, and the color. It was a coming together of artists, their families, and Circle clientele, all gathering to witness how much life artwork can add to a space. "Many guests were returning to Circle as past customers and many were being introduced to Circle for the first time.   What a wonderful way to experience a new store in your community" Margo described.

If you missed out on this event, don't worry, there will be more in the future! Join our Inner Circle  to stay up to date on future events and happenings. In the meantime, most of the artwork will still be displayed in our Pembroke store  through the month of November, so come in and check it out in person.

Learn more about our ties to the community:

• Local Manufacturing: Why It's So Important to Us
• Spotlight on a Charity We Love: Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
• Handmade Furniture: A Tour of a Local Woodshop