Milton Art Center First Friday on May 1 Celebrates New Beginnings with Art, Music, and a Comedy Showcase

Camille's art spans textiles, prints, and paintings, unified by a deep fascination with nature’s forms, patterns, and subtle transformations. Rather than depicting specific places or objects, she responds to the sensations and impressions they leave behind—the textures of growth and erosion, the movement of water and wind, and the layered narratives embedded within the environment.

by Joan Clifford, Executive Director

The Milton Art Center invites the community to gather for a vibrant evening of art, laughter, and music at its upcoming First Friday on May 1 from 6:00–10:00pm. Fittingly held on May Day, a date that has long symbolized both the renewal of spring and the value of creative work, this month’s event embraces the music theme of new beginnings and celebrates our Artist Members Month, a Small Works Exhibit of the artists and supporters who make the Art Center’s work possible.

Doors open at 6:00pm, with guests invited to first explore the Small Works Exhibit by MAC Members.  At 6:30pm, the spotlight turns to what promises to be a lively, entertaining, comedy showcase led by Will Noonan. Will, a well-known Boston comedian, (Milton native,)  actor, and radio personality who has performed on stages across the country and appeared on television and film. Known for his quick wit, relatable storytelling, and sharp observations about everyday life, Will brings both professional experience and an encouraging teaching style to his work.

After five weeks of honing their craft, Will’s students will perform original five-minute sets. Performers include Ryan Kiah, Nestor Matute, Mike Davis, Maureen Peterson, Pete Hoy, Martha Madden Payne, Kate Billman-Golemme, June Desmond, Ed Hayward, and Celsey Lumbra, each bringing their own voice and perspective to the stage. 

The Art Center’s Small Works Exhibit brings together a diverse group of painters, photographers, and mixed media artists, reflecting the breadth of creativity within the Milton and surrounding community. Participating artists include Camille DeMarco, Ken Lewandowski, Beth Neville, Derric Crothers, Christine Schoettle, Jess McDaniel, Joseph Ingelfinger, Joe Spitz, Nancy Boyle, Nathalie Coughlin Fitzgerald, Laura Kessler, Sue Hoy, Mairead Dambruch, and Adam Cote, among others.

Following the comedy showcase, guests are invited to a special sponsor spotlight with photographer Jess McDaniel, the artist behind Boston Baby Photos. For more than 20 years, Jess has photographed families across the Boston area, from newborn sessions to Baby’s First Year portraits and seasonal mini shoots. Many in the community will remember her Milton Front Steps Project during the pandemic, an offering she donated to the Milton Art Center during a difficult time, a gesture for which the organization remains deeply grateful.

Jess is also one of the co-founders of Connect Milton, a group created by a group of local residents to foster connection across the community. Their mission is to bring people together, connecting neighbors to one another, to civic engagement opportunities, and to community resources, offering values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Jess’s work, behind the camera, is grounded in a simple belief: that emotion is what gives an image its lasting power. Jess encourages people to capture everyday moments when they feel most connected, because those are the images that hold meaning over time. That same sense of connection carries through her newest offering, the Grandparent Legacy Project, launching in time for Mother’s Day. This project pairs a grandparent–grandchild portrait with Words That Last, a written message the child can keep for years to come. Guests are invited to stop by her table to learn more and to begin their own project.

From 8:00–10:00pm, local musicians take the stage. Inspired by the theme of New Beginnings, performances promise an eclectic mix of interpretations, an opportunity to experience the talent of our local musicians and their song choices of which music captures change, hope, and possibility for each of them.

The Milton Art Center exists to make creativity accessible, welcoming, and meaningful for all. Through classes, workshops, exhibitions, and community events like First Fridays, the Art Center offers people of all ages and experience levels a place to explore, learn, and grow. Just as importantly, it provides a space to connect, with neighbors, with artists, and with one’s own creative voice. Rooted in values of inclusivity, curiosity, and community, the Art Center believes that art is not just something to observe, but something to experience and share. Whether someone is picking up a paintbrush for the first time or exhibiting their work on the gallery walls, the goal is the same: to foster creativity, build connection, and create a sense of belonging through the arts.

First Fridays are free and open to the public, with refreshments provided. Whether you come for the comedy, the art, or the music, the Milton Art Center offers a welcoming space to gather, reflect, and celebrate creativity in all its forms.