Brush Strokes Spring 2023

Brush Strokes

Your Support of HCA in Action

Winter into Spring!

Bears may hibernate during the winter, but HCA was filled to the brim with activities and programs throughout the winter season and into Spring! We’d like to take this opportunity to highlight a few special events that were made possible by supporters like you.

In March 2023 we were delighted to have our resident theater company, Enter Stage Left Theater, produce the compelling drama, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The story follows its autistic teen protagonist, Christopher, who overcomes obstacles to solve a mystery — leading to surprising outcomes. Audiences were invited to experience the world from Christopher’s perspective to better understand the stresses of interpersonal relationships among people who are neuro-divergent.

While it is not always possible for theater groups who produce this play to cast a neuro-diverse actor to play Chrstopher, ESL Theater was fortunate to have 17-yearold Jacob Zinno of Sharon, MA, who is on the autism spectrum, in this pivotal role.

Winter/Spring 2023

Directed by Paul Champlin, who is one of the founders of ESL Theater, we saw record attendance for this dramatic theatrical piece! In fact a young lady and her mother, who were visiting the HCA for different reasons and unaware of the production, decided to extend their visit and watch the performance. They were so moved by the similarities in the play to their own lived experiences, that they returned the next evening to see the closing performance.

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Karen Dinehart (Judy) John Alzapiedi (Ed) Jacob Zinno (Christopher)

HCA News

Thank you for supporting quality HCA programs and the gifted teaching artists who lead them!

Over the last several years, the HCA has partnered with the Michael Lisnow Respite Center to provide its clients with instruction in visual arts and ceramic classes. HCA instructors Marion Buricatu and Cheska Kommisar cite these classes as some of their favorite to instruct.

After several classes of work, enough material was produced to host a Respite Art Gallery show in February. For many, it was their first time having their artwork on display for a public gallery exhibition, and they and their families were simply thrilled!

February and April school vacation weeks were hopping at the HCA. Parents were pleased to have their children take part in a variety of visual arts, theater and music programs offered by HCA.

The HCA February and April school vacation workshops have been some of the most engaging programs my daughter has ever participated in. Not only were the people fantastic, but the activities fostered a joy in the arts. This was the first school break program we have ever attended where my daughter would come home and continue the activities from the day, like practicing the Ukulele or writing a screenplay for the other students to perform.

According to Lily, “The best part was the friends and the acting. It gave me a chance to express myself by writing my own screenplay and bringing my thoughts and emotions to life!”

She’s already asked to participate in the summer workshops!

— Parent, Stephanie Penley

One such workshop was called Storybook Theater and was under the direction of HCA instructor Alyssa Rae Surrette. Kiddos ages 5–7 participated in acting out stories and learned about sequencing— story beginning, middle and end. They also did imaginative play by making puppets and then acting out the characters. In addition they learned teamwork through creating a project together based on the book Monster Needs A Costume.

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Respite Artist Katie Rose Chaves with her painting Explosion

Break Away

In honor of both Women’s History Month and the Boston Marathon, artists Chelsea Bradway and Bobbi Gibb joined together to present Break Away in the Lotvin Family Gallery.

Bobbi Gibb is known to many as an icon of women’s empowerment as the first woman ever to run and complete the Boston Marathon in 1966. She exhibited a selection of her bronze figurines of the human body in motion, impressionistic paintings, and abstract paintings. The exhibit also included historical photographs and articles about Bobbi and her barrier-breaking 1966 run.

Chelsea Bradway is an award-winning New England photographer drawn to photograph people in situations that bring the viewer’s awareness of their strength, beauty and everyday struggles. Bradway presented over 200 photographs of women of all ages, displaying different views of female empowerment. This exhibition was featured on WBZ and WCVB television.

HCA was pleased to feature the painting of Spencer the dog by Tom Mosser. We were grateful to Spencer’s family Dorrey and Rich Powers for loaning us the painting.

Spencer gained worldwide fame as an enthusiastic spectator along the Boston Marathon course. Rain, shine, or “freezing deluge,” Spencer dutifully held a “Boston Strong” flag as tens of thousands of runners streamed by, and hordes of fans stopped mid-race for hugs and photos. In 2022, he was honored by the Boston Athletic Association, the race’s organizer, as the official dog, the “Grand Barkshal” and a “V.I.P., Very Important Pup.”

Spencer unfortunately past away February of this year and will be remembered by Boston Marathon runners, spectators, and Golden lovers for years to come.

HCA took the opportunity of the Break Away exhibition to draw attention to Dignity Matters, a non-profit organization that collects, purchases and supplies feminine hygiene products, bras and underwear to women and girls who are homeless or disadvantaged, in order to help them stay healthy, regain self-confidence, and live with basic dignity. Visitors to the gallery were encouraged to make donations of such goods.

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L to R: Artist Chelsea Bradway, Director of Visual Arts Sarah Alexander, WBZ reporter Levan Reid, and HCA Executive Director Kelly Grill

Mark Your Calendar

The Patchwork and Paver campaign that was launched in 2022 will once again be a featured opportunity for supporters seeking to “make their mark” for the HCA.

In other naming news, we were honored by the generosity of Ruth and Dave Cote, who showed their support through naming one of the music studios in the newly renovated farmhouse. If you’d like to make your mark with a room naming, paver, bench, rocking chair or picnic table naming, please reach out to Executive Kelly Grill for more information.

In February, we held our second annual “Soupah Bowl” fundraiser specifically for our Ceramics department. Through a generous matching donation, we were able to raise $4200!

Other good news so far in 2023:

• A covid-program tax credit of $153k (courtesy of the work of Courtney McFarland)

• Town of Hopkinton Covid relief grant of $5k

• Mass Cultural Covid relief award of $64k

• HCA Boston Marathon charity runners: $80k

• Rockland Trust award of $2500 for summer program scholarships

• Local cultural council awards totaling $4k for summer concerts.

It’s May Member Madness!

This month is a great time to renew or become an HCA Leading Partner in the Arts! An annual Leading Partner gift of $1,000 or more can help transform lives throughout Metrowest by:

• Supporting scholarship assistance for a student each semester

• Attracting top-level teaching artists who nurture the novice and inspire the pro

• Offering free concerts and exhibits that make the arts more accessible and inclusive and so much more!

COMING UP: As you may be aware, HCA just announced its Celebrity Spotlight Fundraising event coming up on September 9, 2023 featuring legendary artist, John Oates. Tickets are on sale now, and we hope to see all our supporters there for what is sure to be a terrific night!