Boston PILOT payments

July 11, 2008

The following is a sample of payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) made by Boston nonprofit institutions in Fiscal Year 2008.

Body-burning killer convicted

By JOHN RUCH July 11, 2008

The man who strangled a Roxbury woman to death in 2006 and burned her body in Franklin Park was convicted last week of second-degree murder.

Forest Hills Lantern Festival celebrates 10th anniversary

By JONATHAN CLARK AND CECILY MILLER July 10, 2008

Photo by Tanit Sakakini
Lanterns drift on Lake Hibuscus during a recent Lantern Festival at Forest Hills.

Ten years ago, when Forest Hills Cemetery organized its first Lantern Festival—a memorial event inspired by the Japanese Bon Festival, a traditional event held to honor ancestors—no one knew quite what to expect. About 200 people gathered to participate in a ceremony of remembrance by inscribing simple wooden lanterns with personal messages to friends and family who had passed away. At sunset, they lit candles in the lanterns and let them float across lake Hibiscus. The ceremony was both deeply moving and very beautiful, and the cemetery decided to make it an annual event. Word spread, and the next year 600 people gathered at the lake, and the following year, more than 1,000.

JP Open Studios Preview

By KRISTIN BONELLI July 10, 2008

courtesy photoWe Like Waterfalls" by Amy Hitchcock is a 11" x 16.75" x 4" found object assemblage.

Amy Hitchcock: Assemblages

The art of Amy Hitchcock is full of vintage toys, plastic animal figurines, old nails, tools, sewing accessories, hinges and cutouts from old magazines and books. The Jamaica Plain resident uses these treasures to construct her assemblages, which she defines as “an attempt to tell a story based upon found objects, photographs, postcards and other things with wooden boxes as the frames.”

JP Open Studios Preview

By KRISTIN BONELLI June 26, 2008

Courtesy Photo
"Wearable Art Designs" by Ifé Franklin is made using eleko, the Yoruba word for wax resist.

Ifé Franklin: Adire Artist

A visit to fiber artist Ifé Franklin’s studio yields emotion, power, beauty and a new outfit.

Franklin started out as a photographer and holds a degree from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. She worked with master fiber artists, fell in love with the artistic processes and never looked back. She is employed as an arts educator for area youths, teaching students the art of adire, an ancient technique of constructing textiles and dying fabrics in intricate patterns using wax-resistant materials.

Local actor in free production of “Look Back In Anger”

June 13, 2008

Courtsey PhotoGeorgia Lyman will paly Helena Charles.

Lifelong Jamaica Plain resident Georgia Lyman will be starring in The Orfeo Group’s upcoming production of John Osborne’s play “Look Back In Anger.” The play will run Thursdays through Mondays at 8 p.m. June 19 through July 6 at The Factory Theatre, 791 Tremont St. in Boston.

Lyman was nominated for the prestigious Elliot Norton Award for best actor in both the 2007 New Repertory Theatre’s production of “White People,” as well as the Lyric Stage Company’s recent, critically acclaimed production of “The Scene.”

JP Open Studios Preview

By KRISTIN BONELLI June 13, 2008

Courtesy Photo
"Wat er binnen zit" (What's Inside") by Jason Healy is 72 inches x 48 inches and made with oil, pencil, pastel and collage on canvas.

Jason Healy: Color and Landscape

Art therapist and teacher Jason Healy shows his clients and students how to express themselves creatively and affectively. Though acutely aware of the importance of the arts while growing up, Healy did not pursue his own talents seriously until the age of 29. Healy shows two styles of representation in his paintings. His large, textured color field studies are abstract, and his landscape and interior scenes are painted with a dreamlike realism. Both beg for stories to be told.

In his color field studies, Healy explained, “I start with a color—maybe yellow and white—and then I try to get a conversation going with the colors… What are they asking for in terms of movement? Then the colors start getting into an argument and then come around again to a resolution.”

It seems old. I like it. But is it valuable?

June 13, 2008

Photo by Lori DeSantis
Textile vollunteers Allison Cook (left) and Mary Ellen Erenreich proudly show off some of the Loring-Greenough House's cllection. Appraisal Day will raise money to cover costs of documenting the collection.

Expert appraisals June 21 will benefit historic house

MONUMENT SQ.—All those attic finds, family heirlooms and flea market treasures Jamaica Plain people have been hanging onto may be valuable. To give people a chance to find out and to support its historic textiles collection at the same time, the Loring-Greenough House will hold an Appraisal Day on Sat., June 21 on the grounds of the historic mansion. From 1 to 5 p.m., professional appraisers will be on hand to evaluate antiques, fine art and collectibles.

Free chamber music concert June 15

By Joel Ochenheim June 13, 2008

The renowned Fibonacci Quartet will present a free concert of the chamber music of local composer John Warren at Central Congregational Church on Seaverns Avenue on Sun., June 15 at 7 p.m.

Olmsted Park to host new family-oriented festival

By SARAH DANIELS May 29, 2008

PONDSIDE—The Sounds and Scenes Festival, a new outdoor family event celebrating music and landscape at Olmsted Park in the Emerald Necklace, will premier on Sat., June 7, presented by several Brook