Local Art Happenings in Central Mass... and a few thoughts!

I teach a ceramics class at a local arts non-profit. As part of my class I try, every few weeks or so, to give them some updates about things happening in the local arts scene. I figured I might as well share it here as well!

Jeffrey Gibson, Powerful Because We’re Different on view at MASS MoCA

Art Happenings Coming Up… 

Worcester Center for Craft

25 Sagamore Rd. Worcester, MA 01605

Gallery hours: Tues- Sat 10-5

Flux & Form: Worcester Public Schools Art Teacher Show

• Opening TONIGHT 3/13 5-7

• March 13-27

Worcester State University: The Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery

486 Chandler St., Ghosh Science and Technology Center, Worcester, MA 01602

Vitamin Chlorine featuring works by Aaron Brudeur

• March 12- April 11, 2026

• Gallery Hours: W-F 11-5, Sat. 1-5 or by appointment

Hunchback Gallery

75 Webster St. 2nd Floor. Worcester, MA

Stroke by Stroke : The artworks of Bill Griffith

• Opening Reception 3/13 6-9PM

• Gallery Hours: Fri 4-8PM Sat 12-6pm

JMAC

https://www.jmacworcester.org/events.html

20B franklin street, worcester, ma 01608

Gallery hours: Wed- Sat. 2-6PM

Time Warp (pop up)

• Mar. 4 - Sat. 14

A Message to the Gods (pop up)

• March 18-28

Landscape of the Home and Maps of the Heart Exhibit (pop up)

• April 1- Sat. 11

Other Galleries/Art Spaces in the Worcester Area… 

• The White Room

• Cantor Art Gallery at Holly Cross

• ArtsWorcester

A little Farther Away… 

Fuller Craft Museum 

455 Oak St, Brockton, MA 02301

Hours: Tues - Sun. 10AM-5PM

More Clay! The Power of Repetition - March 28, 2026 - Feb 7, 2027

Mass MoCA

Address: 1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247

Hours: Wed - Mon 10-5

Current (Temporary) Exhibitions

Vincent Valdez… Just A Dream (on view til April 5, 2026)

Alison Pebworth … Cultural Apothecary (on view til Sept. 7, 2026)

Jeffrey Gibson … Powerful Because We’re Different (on view til Sept 7, 2026)

MFA Boston

Address: 465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115

Hours: Wed - Mon 10-5

Current (temporary Exhibitions)

Divine Color: Hindu Prints from modern Bengal (til May 31, 2026)

One Hundred Stitches, One Hundred Villages - The Beauty of Patchwork from Rural China(til May 3)

Faces in the Crowd: Street Photography (til July 13)

Reality and Imagination : Rembrandt and the Jews in the Dutch Republic (til Dec. 1)

Quick Notes on the exhibtions' I've seen so far!

Worcester Center for Craft: Flux & Form is a show of works by the Worcester Public Schools are teaching depicting a range of media to create an interesting snapshot of whats happening on a local level and a sneak-peak into the potential (great) influences the young minds of the area are receiving in their education.

Mass MoCa : *disclaimer, I last saw these in June 2025. Additionally, aside from these temporary exhibtions, Mass MoCA has an extensive permanent collection of contemporary art laid out across an old factory buidling.

Jeffrey Gibson … Powerful Because We’re Different : Gibson's exhibtion, Powerful Because We're Different, looks at queer indigenous identities through a lense filled with personal experience and historical context as he utilizes a range of media including, but not limited to, light and sound, videography and textile work. The exhibtion is evocative, and allows the viewer time and ample space to digest the works from multiple angles of view, picking up new information with each look.

Here is a link to Gibson's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffrune/?hl=en

Vincent Valdez… Just A Dream (on view til April 5, 2026) : In the exhibiton, Just A Dream" Valdez's mixed media show the public is invited to explore the polical sphere of America today from the perspective of a Mexican-American artist native to Texas. The show acts both as a celebration of everyday people and commentary on the injustices placed on and done to minority groups of color. Aside from the powerful content in his work, I'd be remise to not take note of his incredible mark making ability - whether it be oil paint, charcoal, oil pastels, lithogaph tor something else, Valdez is able to control his media to the point where you might find yourself wondering if a piece or two are actually a photograph (they aren't).

Here is a link to Valdez's website: https://www.vincentvaldezstudio.com

Alison Pebworth … Cultural Apothecary (on view til Sept. 7, 2026) : Pebworth's Just a Dream exhibiton is a whimsical, interactive take on critiquing America combining classic Americana elements like roadside attractions with ideas of old world medicine. The small exhibtion features artistically made oddities, paired with research and self-reflective activities to enage the viewer both physically and mentally - from a meditative Golden Root tea ceremony to communally yet anonymously sharing your experiences.

Here is a link to Pebworth's website: https://alisonpebworth.com/home.html

Alison Pebworth, Cultural Apothecary currently on view at MASS MoCA