The Coffee Shop Artists Present Visions of a Sustainable Future at the Beebe Estate
Written and Photographed by Ellen Putnam
Sally Bowman Gordon, left, led the discussion on Friday evening
This month, the Coffee Shop Artists are presenting a new show, Visions of a Sustainable Future, at the Beebe Estate. Visitors can enjoy the gallery on Saturdays in September from 11am to 3pm.
The Coffee Shop Artists are a group of artists based in Melrose, Malden, and the surrounding communities. They have been presenting shows in Malden and at the Beebe Estate for the better part of the last decade. The group includes some artists who are active in the Melrose art scene - Sally Bowman Gordon and Carianne Roche among them.
Bowman Gordon, who facilitated a discussion during the show's opening reception on Friday evening, explained that Visions of a Sustainable Future is the third in a series of shows about climate change that the Coffee Shop Artists have presented, starting with a show in response to Malden's Climate Action Plan in March.
Bowman Gordon noted that the artists responded to the show's theme in different ways, with some images suggesting ways audience members could be more sustainable in their daily lives - such as riding a bike instead of driving - and others showing what's at stake, with images of aspects of nature that could be at risk due to climate change.
Audience members shared ideas for creating less waste and being more sustainable. One of the artists noted that, growing up in India, there was a culture of repairing broken or damaged items, rather than throwing them away. Some brought up resources like Lend and Mend's Repair Cafes or local Buy Nothing groups on Facebook. Zero Waste Melrose collaborated on the exhibition, providing some recycling and sustainability tips as well.
The artwork on display reflects a huge range of media and styles, from oil paintings to photography to mixed-media works. And in addition to the works from the show, some weekends will feature pop-up art sales, starting with Constance Festo Lafond's wearable art on Saturday, September 6th.
Stop by and see the show for yourself!
