Art Week In Harwich Starts On Saturday

 HARWICH – Art Week 2025 gets underway in town on Saturday with more than a week of activities that will celebrate local culture. It’s about connecting the community and visitors with the world of art in Harwich, said Cultural Affairs Director Kara Mewhinney.

The annual event will provide a Plein Air Fest, an expressive arts workshop, wine and watercolor bouquet painting, a spring fling, a scavenger hunt, gallery hunts, music and open studios at the 204 Cultural Arts Municipal Building. There are a number of self-guided activities, including visiting a local cemetery where many local writers and poets were laid to rest. 

Art Week continues to expand, as evidenced by the addition of the Plein Air Fest this year, Mewhinney said. An immersive art experience for all to enjoy, the fest invites people to come outdoors and watch and learn as artists create scenes from around the town. Artists will be painting in locations throughout Harwich during the week; a list of where and when the artists will be working will be posted on the 204’s website, www.HarwichCulture.com.

“Grab the list of available viewings and head out to see through the lens of artists, and learn about locations around town,” said Mewhinney.

Then save the date of May 10 at noon at the cultural center for the open market for all of the Plein Air works created.

On Wednesday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be an expressive art workshop at the center. Mewhinney is urging people to come and express themselves while joining with artist Mitzi Bramble, an expressive arts therapist, for a creative “trust in process” experience using expressive arts techniques. It’s a free workshop and anyone is invited, Mewhinney said.

A Spring Fling open reception is scheduled for Friday, May 2 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the center. It will be a creative Art Week exhibit of multiple medium works by 25 of the artists with studios in the 204. Mewhinney said there will be more than 50 pieces of work displayed and light refreshments will be served.

The following day will be open studios day with artists available to meet with members of the public from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mewhinney urged people to attend and learn more about the cultural affairs department, the two town cultural districts, and the creative artists in the cultural center. 

The local artists will be joined by the Guild of Harwich Artists on that day for a community art project. The public will be encouraged to paint a small square that will be attached to a four-by-seven-foot replica of a whale.

“Bring your creative ability,” said Mewhinney.

 On Wednesday, April 30  at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium there will be a featured performance by the Sound Dunes Big Swing Ensemble. The concert is free and light refreshments will be served.

 There will also be a host of activities around town during the week, Mewhinney said. All week long she is encouraging people to explore the many art galleries and exceptional talent in Harwich. 

Join the social media movement by locating great “selfie spots” in town and take a picture and share it with the cultural center. There will be a list of great selfie spots on the center’s website, but Mewhinney said there are many more, so people should get out and explore. Send those photos to the center, but be sure to tag them @harwichculture and #inspireharwich.   

 “We can’t wait to see what you come up with,” said Mewhinney.

 Art Week also features a Wine and Watercolor Bouquet painting event led by artist Jodi French, but that event is already sold out.

 Art fans who want to learn more about the artists and writers who lived in Harwich in years past, there is a self-guided tour of Island Pond Cemetery that features writers and poets who are interred there. The exact burial locations and their history can be located on the 204 website.

 Mewhinney also encouraged people to watch social media to stay informed of any additions to Art Week programming.