“The purpose of art is washing the daily dust off our soul.” — Pablo Picasso
If you’ve been looking to get out and need to dust off your soul, stay in town for the next couple of days, because the arts will be sprucing up Newton’s soul all weekend.
With Newton Open Studios bringing music and visual art all over the city all weekend, there’s a bounty of opportunity to bask in color, harmony and creative energies. Have a weekend art sightseeing day trip in your own city, as more than 30 locations are included in Newton Open Studios. There will be a few concerts on Saturday as well.
And for the kids, there’s a special event for kids hosted by the Newton Police Department.
And at the end of the weekend, you can head over and donate some of your extra or unwanted clothing to a good cause, as giving is also great for the soul.
And the weather is expected to cooperate nicely, with temperatures in the high-60s all weekend and sunny skies Friday and Saturday (overcast Sunday, possible shower).
Here are five things to do in Newton this weekend.
Friday, April 26
- At 8 p.m., organist Peter Sykes will perform a concert, his version of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets,” featuring orchestra and choral pieces celebrating the cosmos. From Timothy Takach’s “Helios” to a newly commissioned piece by Patricia van Ness, at Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill. The concert, cosponsored by the Boston Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, will be live and in-person as well as on livestream.
Saturday, April 27
- Starting at 11 a.m., Newton Open Studios 2024 will be popping up in more than 30 locations all over the city. The two-day celebration of art will showcase Newton artists exhibiting and selling a variety of works including paintings, photographs, ceramics, woodwork, crafts, jewelry, and more.
- From 3 to 5 p.m., the Newton Police Department will host their Sensory-Friendly Touch a Truck event at the Newton Police Headquarters. There will be games, activities and snacks for this family-friendly event, which is also sensory-friendly for those on the autism spectrum.
- At 9:30 p.m., Cappella Clausura will perform a concert, “Vespers by Chiara Margarita Cozzolani (1650),” featuring the H&H Youth Choruses’ Chorus of Sopranos & Altos, along with an organ, two gambas, three theorbos, and choruses of men and women. This will also be Amelia LeClair’s last performance as artistic director for Cappella Clausura.
Sunday, April 28
- From 3:30 to 6 p.m., there will be a complimentary screening of the documentary “Inundation District,” a feature-length film about a city ignoring climate change and the consequences that brings, at West Newton Cinema. After the film, there will be a discussion with producer/director and Boston Globe environmental reporter David Abel, moderated by Charles River Watershed Association executive director (and former city councilor) Emily Norton.