SOLIDARITY FOREVER: ARTISTS AGAINST APARTHEID workshop and postering session using some of the hundreds of Palestine solidarity posters curated by Artists Against Apartheid. In locations across Roxbury, Dorchester, and the South End, passersby can now see vibrant posters with important messages standing with Palestine on vacant buildings and walls. No longer can business continue as usual while genocide takes place—as artists, we make the call for an end to the occupation for a free Palestine loud and clear.
In the last three months, more than 11,000 artists from over 60 countries signed onto the Artists Against Apartheid letter, including Kehlani, Kid Cudi, Noname, and more—firmly standing with the Palestinian people. An excerpt of the letter reads:
“Part of being a revolutionary is creating a vision that is more humane. That is more fun, too. That is more loving.” —Assata Shakur
THIS PAPER IS AN ONGOING PROJECT OF BRAIN ARTS ORGANIZATION, INC., A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT. PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO, VOLUNTEERING OR OTHERWISE SUPPORTING US: BRAIN-ARTS.ORG
We, the undersigned artists, stand in firm solidarity with those resisting occupation and fighting for their right to selfdetermination. We commit to using our platforms to challenge at every turn the massive misinformation campaigns waged by those who have a vested interest in the destruction of the Palestinian land and people without fear of repercussions. We dedicate ourselves to standing in solidarity
The list of artists signing the statement continues to grow as people around the world recognize that we cannot sit idle while Palestinians are being murdered in the tens of thousands, but must become part of the movement for a free Palestine. Out of the letter, Artists Against Apartheid has built an emerging network of artists & cultural workers who stand with Palestine—marching together at the National March in Washington DC, creating an international art call, holding events and exhibitions across the world, and more. Artists Against Apartheid will host a Week of Art For Palestine on January 15-22, 2023, and invites artists and cultural spaces to participate! Learn more at againstapartheid.art. If you are an artist committed to using your practice in the movement for liberation, join Artists Against Apartheid and sign the letter by visiting againstapartheid.art or scan the QR code below. S CA
For over 75 years, the Palestinian people have been subject to a violent and racist occupation by Israel. Right now, we are in a crucial moment in the fight for Palestinian liberation and one in which the harsh brutalities of Israeli apartheid are under an international spotlight. For decades, the Palestinian people have valiantly resisted, and today, despite the influential Israeli propaganda machine, we see the people of the world standing with Palestine.
Artists have always played a critical role in standing on the right side of history, using artistic practices to communicate the truth and to shape public opinion through our loud solidarity. In the 1970s, a global movement of artists under the banner “Artists United Against Apartheid” helped to defeat apartheid in South Africa. Today, that legacy is furthered by a global movement of “Artists Against Apartheid” using their practices to deepen the movement for a free Palestine! Over the last few weeks, Artists Against Apartheid has been holding events across the country to elevate the demands verberating across the world for a free Palestine. One such event was held in Boston at the Boston Liberation Center in Roxbury. Artists and community members joined together for a free wheatpasting
“As artists and cultural producers, we join hands with the people of the world and with the heroic people of Palestine, to stop this genocidal war and put an end to 75 years of occupation. We understand the power that our work has in shaping public opinion in our time. As artists, we have a unique responsibility to use our voice and artistic practices to protest apartheid and amplify the just cause of the Palestinian people and their resistance against occupation and oppression.
with the Palestinian people and to use our artistic and cultural practices as tools of liberation in the struggle for sovereignty, dignity, and self-determination.”
N
HER
E!
DESIGNERS:
Phoebe Delmonte: p.1,4,5 Hannah Blauner: p.2,3,7 Adrian Alvarez: p.6,8
THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE BOSTON CULTURAL COUNCIL, A LOCAL AGENCY WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL COUNCIL, AS ADMINSTRATED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ARTS + CULTURE
NEW RELEASES AND DARK SECRETS Lily Piette at O’Briens Pub
Looking back on a year of music, it’s one of the easiest years in recent memory for me to quickly pick out my favorite releases. Luckily for me, just in the past month some of my personal most-highly-anticipated singles have been released into the world, one in particular being “Sister!” by Lily Piette, a bouncy crowd pleaser during her set last week at O’Brien’s Pub.
of airiness that can be traced through “Tales of Butterflies” and Piette’s 2022 EP, Back to 5. It’s a wispy, whispery element that gives the single an edge running parallel to the outright punchiness of other releases. What’s constant in Piette’s music is a kind of build, drawing the listener in from multiple dimensions with thrumming repetition and sharp peaks and shrieks.
What’s so clean about “Sister!” is how it leaves little room for buildup, with the heavy post-punkish beat playing off insatiably catchy vocals that make you catch yourself unconsciously bopping your head along. It picks up and builds, kind of this spiral upwards as the pace veers into a spectacular crash. Repetition and call-and-response gives the whole track a sing-songy sensibility, elevated with the lightness of Piette’s voice and captured in the playful energy brought by Piette and co. to the O’Brien’s stage.
These many sides of Piette’s discography are reflected in her performance, bringing in lilting jumps and audience participation in between songs. Whimsical choreography, two-stepping, and confessions of dark secrets all come into play with a surge of shouts and laughter from the room. One of your standard Allston five-bands-on-a-Monday-night bills, the upbeat camaraderie and unflagging energy of performers kept the night going strong until the very end. Piette was joined by Medford favorites Chowder and Big Moss, as well as a solo acoustic set from Eli MihalyBaker and a ear-splitting rock n’ roll blowout from Brighton’s own Ohio State Fair. Only one word feels like it can appropriately sum up both Piette’s “Sister!” and the collective performance dished out by a menagerie of indie rock acts: good, clean, fun! For fans of the up and coming, the fresh, and most importantly, the FUN in Boston Music: look no further.
“Sister!” marks one of several releases from Piette in 2023, including her second EP Tales of Butterflies with the single “Melody’s Backyard” and the A-Side (or B-Side? Who can say, they’re sisters but surely not twins) to “Sister!” and “Mordor.” “Mordor” is the cool to “Sister!”s warmth, evoking a steadiness that brings the same hypnotic energy. Lyrically and vocally, there’s a thread
MASSACHUSETTS MINUTE Meech Bold and Jon Glass Team Up For GOD SEE MY WORK
Bold. The four letter word is far more striking than its not-so-imposing spelling suggests. Perusing through Webster’s dictionary, some of the words most commonly associated with bold are assured, confident, impudent, adventurous, and free. For Brockton rapper Meech Bold, the meaning of the word that resonates the most is the one centered around fearlessness, specifically the nature of being “fearless before danger.” As one of the prominent members of the South Shore’s infamous Van Buren Records, Meech Bold has amassed a growing following over the years by way of his grandiose ensemble of raps and hooks. His discography is filled to the brim with examples of his artistic prowess, with singles such as “BOLD Willow Tree,” “MMM”, “UNITED STATES VS. MEECH BOLD,” and his various works alongside his Van Buren Records interlocutors being exemplary of his wide-ranging talents. Though he initially started out under the moniker Meech, over the years he gradually began to incorporate bolder ideas and sentiments into his works, ultimately sparking the sensible transition to his current naming convention—Meech Bold. Hip-Hop, Rap, and R&B are the three genres that most closely encapsulate the sound that Meech Bold’s catalog encases. His innate skill set within this realm of music is impressive, leading to a powerful collection of sonics that has grown with formidability since the debut of his first project in 2019. Though some of his notoriety may certainly be attributed to the larger success of Van Buren Records, Meech Bold would be on the radar’s of Rap fans everywhere regardless of these connotations. He’s genuinely one of the most impressive creators coming out of Massachusetts right now, and with time he’s managed to unearth a brilliant onslaught of creative ideations that have impressed listeners everywhere. In terms of creative output, 2023 has gone on to be his biggest
solo-year yet, with two full-length projects, a handful of singles, and a number of visuals debuting throughout the year. Just when it seemed as though Meech Bold would begin to slow pace, he decided to turn things up another notch. Continuing his creative journey, Meech Bold recently enlisted fellow Massachusetts native and producer, Jon Glass, to help create a collaborative and powerful unit of songs titled GOD SEE MY WORK. Though just four tracks in total length, this project sneaks in as one of the most notable to exit Massachusetts’ music scene this year. From beginning to end, GOD SEE MY WORK is furnished with prominent displays of lyrical integrity, a superior quality of soundscapes, and sentiments that revolve around intrepidness, hope, and of course—being bold. Beginning with a reworked version of The Isley Brothers’ hit-song “Work To Do” that’s infused with Hip-Hop sonics, Meech Bold details his aspirations, and how he’s certain that all of the work that’s he’s currently embarking on will not be for nothing in the end. Track two is titled “BLOOD THICKA THAN WATA.” and features fellow Brockton native, Garrett Merk. Arguably one of the best songs in either of their respective catalogs, this soulful, heartfelt track is the perfect energizer for those cold January mornings. “YOU AIN’T GOTTA DO DAT.” featuring Boston’s Macky Ukiyo is the project’s third single, and evokes a dynamic and enthralling energy that captivates and awes listeners. “WON’T BE LONG, ‘TIL I RETURN.” packages up the project, and is a high-energy, hopeful closing to the EP. A truly experiential listen that insists on inspiring the masses and motivating change, Meech Bold’s music serves a much larger purpose than just artistic expression. He’s on a mission to make an impact, and so far he’s doing exactly that.
------------------------------------------------ SHAMUS HILL
------------------------------- GEORGIA MOORE
22 YEARS TO THE GAME “You wanna know where it all started?” Back in 2002, Termanology dropped a single with only two years in the music game. At the time he was still in high school so he did a mixtape called Hood Politics and after all the singles from his mixtape dropped he began gaining popularity—even in other cities, like New York. Term kept bumping into Pete Rock who he loved so he would ask for beats every time they were together. Pete always gave him the run around like “Yeah yeah, I got you.” Until Term shouted him out on Unsigned Hype—a premier spot in The Source magazine for unsigned talents looking to gain exposure. When Term & Pete Rock came together for his album Politics As Usual they were recording in Jay-Z’s studio, Term felt like since their first song together came out good, why not do a second song which later came to be “Hold That,” on Time Machine. Termanology stumbled across another one of his favorite producers Conductor Williams, who was making beats on instagram consistently. Term later gave Conductor his first two placements on Vintage Horns. “I love Conductor, that’s my dawg. Super proud of him for all his success, we got a secret album in the tuck too.” As you can see, this Massachusetts native heavily believes in collaborations, with albums featuring Busta Rhymes, Conway The Machine, Nas, Styles P & Paul Wall. As we have heard throughout Termanology’s 49 projects, working around different tastes and styles brings out tons of inspiration during studio sessions for him and listeners everywhere.
Growing up in Lawrence in the 80’s and 90’s, Termanology came up from one of the poorest cities in Massachusetts. The height of the crack era was a crazy struggle—that nobody will understand unless you lived it. Termanology invested everything he earned from his deals right back into his music career and always had faith in himself. He knew deep down if he did it for the love of hip hop and not the money that the riches would come eventually. It made the artist into the man he is today, and he’s very happy to see the growth of the world being in a better place. When it comes down to the commitment of his artistry, Termanology has some reflective advice to offer: “I never really thought about quitting music. This is my job. I gave it my all and turned it into a career, the music industry will always try you and test you. It’s never gonna stop, there’s always gonna be a hater, heart breaks and people promising you things they know they can’t keep. There’s so many heartbreaks that come with it, just tough it and stick through it. I’m just starting to get my flowers after 20 years. I always heard that from my hood but now it’s a whole new thing, it’s my 50th year off hip hop and I appreciate all my fans and followers.” Be on the lookout for Term in 2024 with the possibility of five projects dropping—maybe 10. If you really wanna see all of what the artist has to offer, check out his 49 projects on band camp (termanologyst.bandcamp.com) and his flourishing website (gooddadgang. com).
-------------------------------------------- POETIC PATTIE
promises to be an all-evening indoor extravaganza, offering an unforgettable experience for hiphop enthusiasts and music lovers alike. @ Roxbury Community College 6pm-10pm 18+ $40-$90 1/21 Boy Jr, Medusa, Mint Green @ Deep Cuts Deli 7pm-11pm 18+ $15 1/25 Hush Club, Winkler, Little Fuss @ Brighton Music Hall 7pm $32 more at bostoncompassnewspaper.com
music & audio Wally's Jazz Club Every Night! At Wally’s, they have live music 365 days a year! They feature three different bands a night, one at 5pm, one at 7pm, and one at 9pm. The first set is typically a jam session and the second and third sets have different music themes depending on the day of the week: Monday: Blues. Tuesday: Funk, Wednesday: Funk, Thursday: Latin Jazz Salsa, Friday: Jazz, Saturday: Jazz, Sunday: Funk. Come vibe at one of the oldest family owned and operated jazz clubs in existence! 1/5 The Femmes are an all women and non-binary band in the Boston area that performs songs by women and non-binary artists @ Midway Cafe 9:30pm 21+ $15 1/6 The Michael Character, Jesus the Dinosaur, Chris LeeRodriguez, cancer szn @ O'Briens Pub 8pm 21+ $10
the music and electrifying live performances of rock n’ roll’s chameleon alive. The event sells out every year, so get your tickets early. @ The Burren 7pm 21+ $20 adv/ $25 doors 1/13 The Junior Rodigan Show presents Big People Ting: The Ultimate Oldies Party Join Boston's Veteran Caribbean DJ's for a night of PROPER Caribbean Classics. The best in Dancehall, Soca, Lover's Rock, Roots, Soul, R&B and Top 40 classics that we all love and grew up with. @ Aspirers Club 10pm $15 1/14 Lupo Citta, Hidden Fountain, Killer Motorcycle, Pledge Pins @ O'Briens Pub 8pm-11:30pm 21+ $15 1/14 Illegally Blind Presents: Pleaser, Nurse Joy, Zowy, Kremlin Bats @ Lilypad 7pm-10pm All Ages @illegallyblindpresents 1/14 IBOOKTHINGS presents Mercy Ruin, Black Beach, Will Tell Aim @ The Silhouette Lounge 8pm 21+ $12
1/7 Any Given Sunday (BVD) ft. King Collins, Dutch, Tris A True Day Party Experience @ Hava Nightclub and Lounge 21+ FREE
1/17 Graveyard Shift: Metla DJs and Karoake Metal DJs. Metal Bands. Metal Guys and Gals, sometimes even Metal Karaoke. Come get it. @ Zuzu 6:30pm-10pm 21+
1/10 Fully Celebrated Orchestra with Quantum Banditos, Fenno Street Jazz Every 2nd Wednesday see Fully Celebrated Orchestra with special guests! @ Midway Cafe 7:30pm 21+ $10
1/18 Content Brakes presents Lovelorn ft. Dwelley, No Nations, Crescent Ridge The psych-gaze drug pop homies coming back through Boston with a new live lineup @ O'Briens Pub 8pm 21+ $15 @content_brakes
1/11 Punk Rock Karaoke We play....YOU sing! Pick a song, we give you the lyrics. We call your name and voila! you are the singer in a punk rock band backed by the finest hand picked side men. @ The Middle East 4pm-10pm 18+ $30
1/19 TM Presents: Stephen Haynes, Kit Demos, Pandelis Karayorgis, Eric Rosenthal This Music (TM) Series is a Boston musician’s initiative to recognize the creativity of many who haven’t been given the stage as leaders, often younger than the Jazz scene veterans; those with acknowledgment who can create a new project and musical ideas; and the unsung “gems” who aren’t in the public’ eye and deserve to be. The emphasis is on the freer forms, the adventurous (to help find a “home”). @ Lilypad 7:30pm-10pm All Ages $15
1/11 Get To The Gig Boston presents Rick Maguire solo (from Pile) @ The Rockwell 7pm 18+ $15 1/12 IBOOKTHINGS presents Gone, Husbands, Main Era @ The Silhouette Lounge 8pm 21+ $12 @justmainera 1/13 Dark Spring Boston presents: Dead Leaf Echo, The Veldt, Iceblynk, The Spearmint Sea @ O'Briens Pub 8pm 21+ $15 1/13 Bowie's Birthday Celebration The third annual celebration of David Bowie’s birthday. The Young Americans perform 2 sets of beloved songs from the Starman’s vast catalog. The band formed in 2016 after Bowie’s passing with a mission to keep
1/19 Mayhem at the Middle East ft. Wargraves, Marianne Toilet and the Runs, Scarecrow Hill, Auzzy Blood @ The Middle East 8pm 18+ $15 1/20 BattleMode, No Detour, Pretty Late @ The Jungle 7pm-11pm 21+ 10 1/20 Live From The Tape Deck Get ready to immerse yourself in the nostalgic vibes of 90's Hip-Hop at the inaugural Live From The Tape Deck event. Brought to you by the creators of the already established Beats & Barbecue Festival in Worcester, MA, this event
1/27 Diva Karr, A Constant Knowledge of Death, Prayer Position, The Cost ov Living @ O’Briens Pub 8pm 21+ $15 @prayer__position 1/28 Freestyle Clinc Test your cypher skills with this rap community, every last Sunday of the month @ The Middle East 7pm 21+
video & film 1/4 An ‘80s Scorcese double feature with After Hours and Goodfellas @ Brattle Theater $18 1/4 Fall in love with the sultry, lovelorn world of Wong Kar Wai on the big screen with the ‘90s masterpiece Chunking Express @ Coolidge 7pm $15.50 1/7 Julie Dash’s stunning and influential Daughters of the Dust depicts the generational assimilation of the formerly enslaved Gullah people in South Carolina @ MFA Boston 2:30pm $15 includes museum admission 1/8 Kubrick’s cult classic, Cold War comedy Dr Strange love or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb hits the @ Coolidge 7pm $15.50 1/11 Head to the Coolidge for Cheryl Dunye’s debut film Watermelon Woman brought black queer culture to cinema in the ‘90s. @ Coolidge 7pm $15.50 1/19-2/25 A rare chance to see the works of Senegalese novelist and “father of African film” Ousmane Sembène whose powerful commentary on colonialism, patriarchy and capitalism made his films constantly censored. OUSMANE SEMBÈNE, CINEMATIC REVOLUTIONARY screens for a month at @ Harvard Film Archive 1/20 The often imitated, ‘90s Japanese blockbuster horror film, Ringu screens at @Coolidge After Midnite 11:59pm $15.50 1/23 Pump up the volume to 11 for the hilarious rockumentary, This is Spinal Tap playing at @Coolidge 7pm $15.50 1/31 DON’T MISS Fritz Lang’s 1927 groundbreaking sci-fi flick of working-class rebellion, Metropolis, with live accompaniment by The Anvil Orchestra @Coolidge 7pm $27
theater Thru 1/21 Apollinaire Theatre Company new play gathers a group of public defenders to create the Lunch Bunch in this comedy at @Chelsea Theater Works $30 Adult/$15 student 1/23-1/28 Norwegian Theater company, Plexus Polaire brings
their epic retelling of Moby Dick to Boston with puppets, projections, an orchestra and a life-size whale @ ArtsEmerson $25+ 1/25-2/25 Francisco Mendoza’s play Machine Learning is as much about family as it is about potential consequences of artificial intelligence @ Central Square Theater $90/student $26 1/26-2/24 Company One joins forces with Boston Public Library and The Theater Offensive for the premiere of The Interrobangers, both a classic whodunit and queer coming of age story by M Sloth Levine @BPL Copley, Rabb Hall FREE/Pay-what-you-want
visual and performance art 1/20 Lani Asunción: Duty-Free Paradise Curated by J.R.Uretsky This show explores the colonial history between Boston and Hawai’i through Asunción’s queer, multiracial, Filipinx identity and lived experience. On view at the Mills Gallery 1-6pm, Wed – Sat. Opening reception 1/26 from 6-9pm @ Boston Center for the Arts All Ages @lani.asuncion 1/19 Celebrity Series presents: Ashwini Ramaswamy performs "Let the Crows Come" This project brings together three dancers from different traditions (Bharatanatyam, Afro-Caribbean modern, and Gaga) to explore the transmission of memory and idea from person to person, generation to generation, and culture to culture. At the Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre. @ New England Conservatory (NEC) 8pm All Ages $67 Sol.Inspired Open Mic Open mic & safe space where one may come to Be. &/or express, unapologetically. Find @solinspiring for more details 1/13 Live Jazz with Spoken Word & Yoga Asana Get ready to unwind and recharge at this exclusive in-person retreat, where you can relax with live jazz music in a cozy studio setting. Join Banswomb, MK Anderson & Monia Fernandez for an unforgettable in-person event at 11 Bow St . Immerse yourself in a rejuvenating retreat that will ground your mind, body, and soul. Experience the soothing sounds of live jazz music, creating the perfect ambiance for relaxation and introspection. @ MOTA Fitness, Wellness & Spaces 6pm-11pm 21+
advocacy Labor on the Line is a new podcast rooted in the need to build a fighting labor movement, hosted by Boston Liberation Center’s Rachel Domond and Husayn Karimi. Many of us, young people included, don’t view ourselves as part of the “labor movement”. But the reality is we are all working class people working to pay our bills and survive. Our labor holds immense power in society. No more can we allow the labor movement to be characterized as anything other than bright, YOUNG and dynamic, rooted in class-struggle politics. Listen at laborontheline.org. National "Rent for Moms" Campaign An effort poised to raise $100,000 to support single Black mothers across the United States in maintaining stable housing during the holiday season. The campaign's focus goes beyond traditional holiday giving, aiming to provide more than just temporary relief. By directly putting funds into the hands of those who need them most, Rent for Moms is changing the narrative around holiday giving and tackling systemic issues head-on. Visit www. rentformoms.org to donate Sign the Letter: Artists Against Apartheid All artist and cultural workers are welcomed to sign this letter to stand in solidarity with those resisting occupation and fighting for their right to selfdetermination. Voices of Liberation Call for Community Support The mission of Voices of Liberation is to up rise and uplift the community. In order to be able to continue providing our community with care, healing, and opportunity at this scale, they need your help. They are asking for financial contributions to this fundraiser in any capacity you can and to also share with friends, family, and coworkers. To donate visit www.secure.actblue.com/ donate/hoc
opportunity The Downtime Review The mission of the Downtime Review is to publish works of impressive creative expression from folks who don’t have the time to make creative work their day-to-day. Their first issue is now live on their site! downtimereview.carrd.co
Writing Group Do you always intend to write that novel (or your thesis, etc.) but never get to it? Sit with others in a sunlit room and quietly work at the gallery. It’s so much easier. Hot coffee and desks are available every Friday from 8 to 11 am. Life Drawing Boston All levels of experience and skill are invited. This is an uninstructed event for anyone who enjoys or is curious about drawing from a live model. Get creative and have fun. Life Drawing Boston provides a laid-back and professional environment. Great tunes will be played, great models will be hired, and fantastic artwork will be made. Tuesdays from 6:30-9pm Castle of Our Skins Black Composer Miniature Challenge Composers who identify as Black or part of the African Diaspora are challenged to compose pieces for COOS friend Seychelle Dunn-Corbin , saxophonist par excellence! Each piece must be 30 seconds or less. We strongly recommend pieces to be inspired by Black/African indigenous themes. Deadline to apply is 2/18 Harvard FSC-LEF Fellowship Boston-area directors who are not affiliated with Harvard are also encouraged to apply to the Harvard FSC-LEF Fellowship with a short or long-form nonfiction project that will be in production or post-production for the 2024–25 academic year. This opportunity, which is separate from the Moving Image Fund, includes a $10,000 grant, access to a pool of production and post-production equipment, and the ability to participate in the Harvard FSC community through work-in-progress screenings, workshops, and other activities. Deadline to apply is 2/8 Cultural Equity Learning Community (CELC) Registration CELC is a two-unit, 12 session, asynchronous anti-racism course with wrap-around supports, open to arts and culture leaders committed to building intersectional racial equity. The CELC is a program of Arts Connect International, funded by Mass Cultural Council, and filmed by HipStory. Deadline to apply is 1/24 Studios at Mass MoCA Residency Applications Apply for a residency at the Studios at MASS MoCA and get space and time for your work, plus a whole lot more. As always, this is a FREE application, and there are lots of financial aid and fellowship opportunities. Applications run multiple times a year. Learn more at assetsforartists.org/studios-atmass-moca Dunamis Boston Resource Roundup a thorough list of grants, jobs, events, opportunities and workshops for artists and creatives in the Boston area. Check it out at dunamisboston. org/resource-roundup Call for Art: Pickleball-Themed
1/8 Madonna - The Celebration Tour @ TD Garden 8:30pm 18+ Starting at $133
Art Contest This is a call for art on the theme of Pickleball. Pickleballs take a beating and this is a moment where we give them their due. Be creative: portraits, landscape, still life, action shots, in 2D or 3D. Submit at tinyurl. com/ysbsx7pj Deadline to apply is 2/14 Club Passim Office Hours Office Hours is a new program that offers artists the chance to come into the club during the day to test out equipment with one of our sound engineers. More than just rehearsal space, we want to be your resource for testing new gear, playing around with new stage setups, or simply getting more comfortable on stage. The idea is to give you low-stress, playground time with good equipment and a friendly engineer. Any questions? Email club manager Abby Altman at abby@passim.org. Make and Mend Secondhand art & craft supplies based in Somerville. Shop online or in person at their shop in Union Square! www. makeandmendshop.com 1/9 Belly Dance for Beginners! Learn to belly dance! This 4-class belly dance course is open to people with or without dance experience. All body types and ages welcome. @ José Matteo Ballet Theater 8pm All Ages $80 2/10 Get on Board Workshop Led by Jim Grace, Get on Board! will prepare you for the rewarding experience of volunteerism, nonprofit leadership, and board participation. You’ll learn about the different types and structures of boards as well as the roles, responsibilities, and legal obligations of nonprofit board members. @ 10am-1pm $275 2/21 Cultural Organizing for Artists Join Assets 4 Artists for this FREE virtual workshop hosted by Shey Rivera Rios. This workshop will present participants with various ways in which artists collaborate with city government and policy-making, what it means to have a civic role in our community and how to build more robust cultural ecosystems together. @ 6pm-8pm
WHBoston’s BIG THREE: 1. Travis Scott on 1/12 2. Madonna on 1/8 3. 50 Cent on 1/13 What’s Happening Boston is a black owned cultural marketing group that uplifts the local minority business owners, community organizations, creatives, and inventors by driving tourism to urban communities and curating unique experiences and excursions that enhance the cultural education of residents, tourists, and transplants as they explore our city. 1/4 ICA Free Thursday Night The ICA is free for all visitors every Thursday from 5 to 9 PM. @ Institute of Contemporary Art 5pm-9pm All Ages FREE 1/5 SoWa First Friday Come meet the artists of SoWa in person. You’ll be the first to see their new works. You can start the year with a purchase that will change your whole outlook. And don’t forget to visit any Sunday, 11am-4pm. @ 5pm-9pm All Ages FREE 1/5 Pro Wrestling Supershow New Years Bash Family-friendly all ages pro-wrestling @ VFW Post 1046 Brockton 7:30pm-10:30pm All Ages $25 1/6 BIPOC Nature Walk Are you a person of color that's eager to get outside and connect with nature this autumn? Then look no further! This program is open to all adults who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color, and are looking to enjoy nature in community with other BIPOC folks! During this program, we will come together to walk the trails at BNC, find a sitting spot, and use art as a vehicle to explore nature and ourselves @ Mass Audubon's Boston Nature Center 8am-12pm All Ages FREE 1/6 Madonna Drag Brunch Madonna Celebration Tour is in town! Let's celebrate with a drag brunch devoted to all things MADONNA. Our queens will bring you shows from ALL of Madonna's eras. Hosted by Neon Calypso. Two shows one at 11am one at 2pm. @ Summer Shack 21+
1/8 Real Women Have Curves: The Musical - Relaxed Performance Summer 1987, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. After eighteen years under the roof of her immigrant parents, Ana is ready to spread her wings. Her dreams of college and a career in New York City are bursting at the seams, but her family’s expectations would keep her home, working at their garment factory. Is it worth sacrificing the dreams of her family, who have sacrificed everything for her? Based on the play by Josefina López that inspired the iconic hit film, Real Women Have Curves: The Musical is an empowering new show that explores life’s unexpected curves. @ Loeb Drama Center 2pm-4pm 18+ $30 1/11 MIT After Dark: Beyond the Fold Come explore the art of the fold! Collaborate on large scale origami models, create Japanese kusudama out of wooden tiles, and check out a machine that creases all on its own. Plus, learn how to fold dumplings from the experts at Mei Mei. Tasty dumplings from Mei Mei and local brews from Remnant available for purchase. @ MIT Museum 6pm-9pm All Ages $20 1/11 Sofar Sounds Concert Each Sofar features different musical styles and you won’t know who’s performing until they take the stage. Once they do, you just might fall in love. From museums and boutiques, to rooftops and private homes, they keep the location secret until the day before the show. @ Inman Square 8pm-11pm 21+ $26 1/12 Che Durena: The Rawdog Tour @ Wilbur Theater 7:30pm9:30pm 21+ 1/12 Travis Scott @ TD Garden 8pm-11pm 18+ 1/13 High Performance Comedy Night Comedy Party Presents: High Performance, our classic 420 comedy event at secret locations in Boston! @Chinatown 7pm-11pm 21+ $22 1/13 50 Cent comes to Boston @ The Grand Boston 9:30pm 21+ $95
1/14 Dinosaur World Live Dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live in this roarsome interactive show for the whole family. @ Emerson Colonial Theatre 2pm-3pm All Ages 1/14 Transform E-Waste into Art Workshop Are you looking for a fun, creative way to spend a Sunday afternoon? Why not try making sculpture using disassembled computers and recycled imagery? Fall in love with the process of taking apart technology and seeing the variety of incredible and inspiring shapes and materials. You will gain skill in construction and assemblage. @ Artisans Asylum 12pm-2pm All Ages $55 1/15 Get in FREE to the Museum of Fine Arts Admission to the MFA is free on Monday, January 15th (MLK Day). @ The Museum of Fine Arts 7am-2pm All Ages FREE 1/15 Boston Children's Chorus presents: In The Name Of Love: 21st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert Boston Children’s Chorus takes the stage at Boston’s Symphony Hall to celebrate “love’s victory is a victory for us all” and raises the voices of civil rights activists, including Coretta Scott King and Bayard Rustin, who developed the blueprint for modern-day activists. @ Symphony Hall 4pm9pm All Ages $15-$75 1/18 Modern Party Art Paint Night Join for a kid-friendly paint night celebrating the love of Boston! No worries about supplies; Modern Party Art has got you covered with all the materials you'll need. Plus, you'll receive expert guidance from an experienced artist to help you create your masterpiece. @ Sam Adams Brewery 5:30pm-8:30pm 21+ $60 1/19 The Taylor Party - Taylor Swift Tribute Night @ Big Night Live 7pm-11pm $30
SEASON 6
Thinking & Feeling & Growing by Roden Ovak
@rodenovak
Little Crumb & The Dungeon by Hunter Savage
@hntrsvg
Thoughts of A Bi Demigirl by Angela Krieg
@akriegstudio
Kenny Combs by LJ-Baptise
@xscapistlj
Get Elbit Systems out of Cambridge!
NEW LITERARY JOURNAL SPOTLIGHTS WRITERS WITH DAY JOBS only time some writers had to work. It began to feel like a kind of rallying cry for workers everywhere to protect their passions from the ever-encroaching demand for “productivity.” There’s a reason their logo is a pillbug: sometimes you have to roll up into a protective ball of non-compliance if you want to stay sane. So “what if we started a lit mag?” turned into a lit mag. But the mission was never just to start a publication. Jones and O’Grady aspired to “support the improvement and platforming of emerging authors.” This led them to ask, while preparing their submission guidelines for the inaugural Fall 2023 issue, “what if we sent feedback for every submission, for free?”
“What if we started a lit mag?” A question posed out of boredom between co-workers at a job that has nothing at all to do with literary journals, publishing, or anything of that kind. Almost a year later, the “why not?” that followed is preparing to publish its second issue as The Downtime Review, a Boston-based literary journal dedicated to promoting the work of “writers with day jobs” and providing free feedback to everyone who submits. Jack O’Grady and VJ Jones, the founding editors of the Downtime and co-workers at a consulting firm downtown, began their collaboration as writer and editor on a few short stories. They quickly discovered that they shared not just a love for writing, but also an interest in how creatives working jobs outside of their passion could stay connected to their chosen artistic community. This desire to nurture their own writing practice—and a bit of extra space on their calendars—brought them to the idea for The Downtime Review, a magazine made to highlight the work of writers like them, people who could only put pen to paper in their downtime. As they explored the concept, downtime evolved into more than just a recognition of the
This commitment to providing constructive feedback to every single author who submits has become the core of the Downtime, its primary means of giving back to the literary community while drawing the focus, always, to the craft of writing. Everyone who submits work, whether it’s accepted or rejected, gets at least three points of feedback: what the editors loved, what could use work, and an idea for something to try during revisions. The Downtime published their first issue in October 2023 with eight stories by retired and current teachers, an environmental hazard inspector, small business owners, and a “recovering journalist.” Artwork for the issue was provided by Ananth Udupa and Elaine Zhang. The magazine’s second issue is open to submissions until February 15th for publication in April 2024. Looking forward, the Downtime is hoping to continue asking “what if” and answering with more “why nots” as they explore new avenues of support they can offer the Boston literary community. They encourage anyone with some downtime and a story to tell to submit their work at downtimereview.carrd.co. They can also be found on Instagram at @the.downtime. review.
THE DOWNTIME REVIEW
MEET THE ARTIST: DANIEL SMELANSKY
BDS Boston is a group of activists in the Greater Boston area dedicated to the liberation of Palestine. In addition to boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS), we also support Palestinians' right to resist colonization, occupation, and genocide, by any means necessary. We first came together in the campaign against international boycott target Hewlett Packard, then spent a year and a half picketing Puma headquarters in Somerville and targeting them for boycott due to their sponsorship of the Israel Football Association (IFA). BDS Boston joined the international campaign against Elbit Systems in early 2023, building on the successes of Palestine solidarity groups around the world in physically shutting down Elbit facilities and weakening stock prices. BDS Boston sees Elbit Systems' Cambridge-based subsidiary as a necessary and strategic target. Elbit is Israel's largest weapons developer; though there are several weapons developers in Cambridge, we chose to target Elbit first because of its role in everyday harms faced by Palestinians, and its use of Palestinians as a captive population on which to test technologies. Elbit-made missiles, bombs, tanks, drones and drone-guided missiles are a central part of the machinery of colonialism against the Palestinian population and the ongoing acceleration of genocide in Gaza. Elbit Systems markets its weapons and surveillance technologies as "battle-proven,” meaning, proven in battle against captive Palestinians, then exports them to repressive governments worldwide, including Azerbaijan, the Philippines, Myanmar/Burma, Chile, and the United States for its militant border policing and surveillance. Elbit's fully-owned Cambridge subsidiary, KMC Systems, markets itself as a "medical contract manufacturing, engineering and design firm," but in
a January 2022 podcast interview, KMC vice-president Derek Kane suggested that there are “synergies” between KMC and Elbit's work. Kane said that “for Elbit, there’s a lot of adjacency technologies with what KMC does, and what our parent company does in terms of thermal cycling, and electro optics and imaging, etc." Also, in response to a Mondoweiss article about a protest outside their Cambridge offices, Elbit did not try to differentiate itself from its subsidiary, but took the opportunity to be direct, stating "we stand with Israel" just as Israel began a steppedup genocidal campaign against Palestinians in October 2023. We are a fairly new campaign, and so far our primary focus has been on educating and mobilizing the local community around Elbit and its brutal reach. Our tactics have included canvassing Cambridge residents and surrounding businesses, stand-outs in front of the office at 130 Bishop Allen Dr, and calling Elbit's landlord and co-tenants, following efforts by Palestine Action, who have also been targeting Elbit Systems in Cambridge through powerful direct action. This past Saturday, we held an event to bring community members together for art, song, education, and action-building around Elbit. As we are at the beginning of our campaign, our strategy is still evolving. So please consider joining us and helping us evolve our tactics and our vision! You can also sign onto the Elbit campaign by signing our petition at bit.ly/ElbitPetition.
BDS Boston
that are otherwise inaccessible. While some parts are light and playful and others are angry and explicit, the through-line is humor. I aim to provide people with a giggle that opens the door to explore more complex feelings.
When I draw, much of my process is intuitive and improvised. I use drawing to move through emotions and process my experiences. The characters and subjects of my work externalize parts of myself
If you like what you’ve seen in this issue and want to work together or just chat— feel free to reach out!
Where To Find Us Stony Brook Orange Line
Roxbury Dudley Cafe
Dorchester
Fields Corner, inside DAP
Boston
Old State House
Allston Twin Donuts
ALSO! City Feed & Boomerang's (Jamaica Plain)
1369 Coffee House (Central Sq)
Midway Cafe (Stony Brook)
High Energy Vintage (Somerville)
Who are you?
Take our survey
JamaicaPlain
IG: @danielsmelansky
Scan the QR
`Hello! I’m Daniel—a queer artist, illustrator, designer, and ballpoint pen lover. I was born in Belarus and grew up in a blend of Russian and American culture. This duality of culture along with the experience of growing up queer informs the dichotomies in my work.
For the cover of this issue, I’ve created a narrative that combines different ideas and feelings about the New Year. Some characters celebrate the transition—breaking through walls and welcoming in the dragon. While others reflect on the past— petting rabbits and napping by the fire. The coming of Spring threatens the reign of Winter and the passing of time never ceases to be overwhelming.
LET US KNOW!
issuu.com/ bostoncccompass
@bostoncompass newspaper
brain-arts.org
bostoncompassnewspaper.com