Haverhill, MA —  Haverhill Art Walk brings an eclectic mix of offerings to downtown on Saturday, June 12th, 3-7pm.

Kick off June Art Walk at the historic Buttonwoods Museum, 240 Water Street, for the Greater Haverhill Arts Association annual Members’ show. Continue downtown to Wisteria Montessori School at 76 Merrimack Street where you’ll find artists Angie Cheung, Mike Mai, Alexandra Yattaw and Atlas Moon Rodriguez-Decker set-up.

Moon Rodríguez-Decker is a Puerto Rican, transgender ceramicist and oil painter based in Brighton, MA. His sculptural and performance work is inspired by abstract expressionism, and consistently challenges the sanctity of historically elitist materials such as porcelain, oil paints and gold leaf.  Moon’s functional works are inspired by the natural textures and island-rainforest landscapes of Puerto Rico, featuring robust colors with a maximalist approach. The themes of the work are derived from the artist’s experiences at the ‘borderlands’ of gender expression, multicultural latinidad, and poverty. 

Grab a slice across the street at La Pizza Di Forno to see photography by Nick Rao and then hop over to the boardwalk overlooking the Merrimack River where you may find plein air painters and musicians busking.

June is Pride month, and Stem is celebrating! Visit the dispensary at 124 Washington Street for an exclusive experience with local legends and drag queens Selina Kyle, Britney Cox and Vanessa Sweet. Note: only adults 21+ with valid ID are allowed entry. Faith Benedetti will be set up at Columbus Park for a community hula hoop and spin jam from 5-7pm, an event for all ages!

Wingate Street features fused glass art at The Winged Rabbit and live painting at Peddler’s Daughter. Walk to the end of the block and grab a coffee at Wicked Big where you can enjoy work by featured artist Amy Roberts and listen to live music. Kreuger’s will feature Michael LaBranche set-up, while the Burgess Building at 143 Essex invites interactive experiences. Make a small alcohol ink with Lisa Hertel for $1 and try out a 15 minute Zumba Class at Rise.

With a long void of live music, it was the intention to offer an opportunity for musicians to busk during Art Walk. The performance of local band Jonee Earthquake during the May Art Walk confirmed this need and the result of accessible performances. Washington Square will be a hub for music during Art Walk, in addition to spots chosen by bands and acoustic performers along the route. A full map of the event’s programming can be found in the Art Walk Facebook event.

Haverhill Art Walk highlights local businesses and underutilized spaces with plein air painting, exhibitions, demonstrations, and music performances. This indoor and outdoor program takes place on the second Saturday of the month from 3-7pm and runs through September.

This program is being coordinated by Hailey Moschella in conjunction with Creative Haverhill to support the local arts community. Haverhill Art Walk is supported by a grant from the Haverhill Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, as well as the Mass Cultural Council Cultural Districts program.

Submissions are ongoing for artists, musicians and performances. Those interested can learn more at creativehaverhill.org/haverhill-art-walk. All downtown businesses are invited to participate and can email Hailey Moschella at haverhillartwalk@gmail.com to get involved.