April First Friday, Teen Art Show, and Upcoming Exhibitions

by Joan Clifford

The Milton Art Center is proud to present its upcoming First Friday, Teen Art Show, April 3rd, 6-9pm, a vibrant celebration of the creativity, perspective, and talent of local young artists.

The Teen Art Show highlights work from students who have been developing their artistic voices through classes and independent exploration. What always makes this event special is that it is teen-led and produced; this year by Teagan Sweeney who has helped develop the Teen Art Show at the art center for the past three years. Teagan is a senior at Milton High School  and a longtime art student at the Milton Art Center. Teagan has been accepted to multiple colleges and universities, an exciting milestone for her that points to a bright future ahead.

Art is still being accepted on Thursday, April 2, 3-5pm, drop off at the Milton Art Center.  The theme is open to choice and any medium; drawings, paintings, photography, multimedia are eligible. A people’s choice vote with prizes will decide the favorite art works. Voting starts at 6pm and ends at 7:45pm. Members of  ECHO, Milton High School’s Art and Literary Magazine will have a table at the show selling mini art works for the benefit of ECHO magazine. Come by to support this award winning magazine and buy a small work of art. 

Musicians and poets, email info@miltonartcenter.org for a place on the roster. Spoken poetry and music performances start at 7:30pm.

“This show is always one of the most inspiring of the year,” said board member, Christine Schoettle, of the Milton Art Center. “It’s an opportunity for teens to be seen and celebrated, and for the community to experience the energy and originality of young artists.”

Looking ahead, the Milton Art Center will continue a full season of exhibitions that highlight both community participation and artistic excellence.

In May, the Center will host the return of its Members Show, with the Small Works Show, on view throughout the month. This will mark the first time the members exhibition has been held in several years. This revived exhibit invites members of the art center, artists of all levels, to share their work and gather all local artists together for a convivial evening.  Any local artist can become a member, sign up on the gallery website page. 

Artists can submit up to 3 works of art, under the long side of 24” and must be ready to hang, wired, for display. Drop off for this show will be Friday, April 25th, 1-4pm and Saturday, April 26th, 9am-Noon. 

The First Friday Members show, May 1, will also showcase a special performance by comedian Will Noonan’s students as they debut their original five minute sets, a fun culmination of their creative work. 

First Friday June 5th, will again celebrate Pride Month, as the Milton Art Center showcases LGBTQ+ voices in poetry and musical performances. Building on the warmth and strong community response of last year’s event,  all are invited to join in this vibrant and affirming night at the Art Center, organized by Jennifer Raymond. 

Also in June, our last exhibit will partner with the Milton Public Schools Art Teachers to present a special student exhibition curated by the art teachers. This show will feature art selected by the teachers as top choices from classrooms across all the town schools, offering a compelling snapshot of the work that has been created this past year in the visual arts. A public opening and reception will be held June 11, 6-9pm to celebrate the students, the art teachers, and their artistic accomplishments.

These exhibitions reflect the Milton Art Center’s ongoing mission to educate, encourage, and empower artists of all ages, while fostering a strong connection between the arts and the broader community.

All are welcome to attend the upcoming Teen Art Show reception and all the First Friday exhibits and events this spring. For more information on gallery hours, receptions, and programs, visit the Milton Art Center website for information.