Medfield Cultural District Launches New Season of “First Thursdays”

"First Thursdays" is a free monthly event that helps promote Medfield's Cultural District and cultural offerings.

Medfield’s cultural organizations will be on hand to launch a new season of “First Thursdays” on Sept. 6 outside the library at the gazebo (or inside the library in bad weather). "First Thursdays" is a free monthly event that helps promote Medfield's Cultural District and cultural offerings. For this month's event, Zullo Gallery will remain open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. where patrons can also enjoy the last week of its exhibition “Four Artists” as well as its popular grilling on the deck. At 6:15 p.m., Town Historian Richard DeSorgher and Public Art Consultant Jean Mineo will lead a 45-minute walking tour along Main Street to discuss the poetry installation “Thoughts Are Free” and several historic properties in the District. A brief tour of …

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Medfield Cultural Council Launches Community Survey

The Cultural Council asks Medfield residents about cultural events in Medfield. The deadline to take the survey is August 17.

  The Medfield Cultural Council has launched a short on-line survey for Medfield residents to voice their opinions on cultural programming in town.   “The survey is 10 questions and should take about three minutes to complete” said Council Chair Jean Mineo. “One goal is to understand how people hear about cultural events in Medfield so we can best advise grantees and help promote their events.” The Medfield Cultural Council is one of 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCC) across the state that is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, humanities and sciences annually, according to the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The Massachusetts Cultural Council provides …

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Zullo Gallery Seeks Artists for September Show

Artists looking for visibility are invited to submit artwork for the Zullo Gallery’s 18th Annual Juried Exhibit in September.

The Zullo Gallery is looking for artists to showcase in its next exhibit. The exhibition is open to artists who are 18 years or older, and working in any medium.  Artists can submit up to three works created within the past two years.  The submission deadline is August 22. “The juried exhibit is one of our most popular shows, and this one is extra-special because it marks the start of our 25th season,” said Zullo Director Bill Pope. Jean Mineo is this year’s featured juror. Mineo has managed arts organizations in the Boston area since 1994. She is coordinator of the Boston Sculptors Gallery, coordinates the Jamaica Plain Open Studios event featuring 220 artists each year, and provides public art consultation to the City of Boston. Prior to…

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Selectmen Meeting Notes

Selectmen Notes: Town's Average Tax Increase is 2.6 Percent; Officials Support Timilty's MSH Amendment

The Medfield Board of Selectmen met Tuesday to discuss the following town business.

Town Administrator Michael Sullivan reported that the average tax increase, from fiscal year 2006 to present, is about 2.6 percent. “It shows that we are not spending excessively,” said Sullivan. “Our problem right now is a decline in revenues, particularly from local receipts other than property tax and state aid.”  Sullivan said that many people, if asked, would estimate the tax increase to be between five and six percent when it is actually less than half that amount. He said the town will save an additional $150,000 in interest when, this week, it refinances $13.8 million in bonds, including $12 million for three school projects, $1.4 million for water main replacement on North and Green Streets, and $400,000 for additional work on the…

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Edgar Allan Poe Foundation Selects Sculptor for Boston Statue

The Edgar Allan Poe Foundation received consultation from Medfield resident Jean Mineo, who helped the foundation during the art selection process to arrive to three finalists before it chose its sculptor for the project.

Medfield resident Jean Mineo, the director of the Boston Sculptors Gallery, has served as the project manager of the Edgar Allan Poe Foundation during its quest to commemorate Edgar Allan Poe with a statue of the Boston-born poet. And after a lenghty process, Mineo and the foundation has found its sculptor to bring Poe "home." “The sense of Poe returning triumphant with creative ideas bursting forth from his suitcase is very appealing,” Mineo said in Monday's press release issued by the Edgar Allan Poe Foundation. “The review committee, and public input, conveyed great excitement with the dynamic sense of movement, accessible style, and Poe’s creative energy expressed in the proposal. There is also strong support for Steff’s approachable, …

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Sculpture Path to Outline Medfield’s Cultural District

Medfield resident Jean Mineo is organizing a sculpture path from the Peak House to Vine Lake Cemetery that will likely appear in town by late spring.

Thanks to the efforts of Medfield resident Jean Mineo and a grant she received from the Medfield Cultural Council, a sculpture path will be returning to town this spring. “I think it will be really cool,” said Mineo. “We are hoping for installation [of the sculptures] in late spring and depending on materials, it could be up for the summer and maybe into September or it could be a shorter project. It’s not permanent but it would be an opportunity to get that conversation going [about] what the cultural opportunities are in Medfield.” Two years ago, Mineo organized a similar sculpture path at Vine Lake Cemetery. Five sculptors each produced a piece of contemporary sculpture related to the theme portals, which was displayed in the old …

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Dedication to Watercolorist John Jesse Francis Held at Dwight Derby House

The family of famous illustrator John Jesse Francis was honored on Saturday at a special exhibit of Francis' paintings, including three the family brought with them from Delaware and Virginia.

Julie Francis of Virginia had no idea that her great-grandfather was the celebrated artist John Jesse Francis (1889 -1939), whose art studio was once on the second floor of the Peak House. “We never really knew there were other items out there. … We’re so thrilled to see all these different works,” said Julie at the Dwight Derby House on Saturday, June 11, where a celebration was held in her family’s honor. “To me, it’s just amazing; we’re so thankful that Rob [Gregg] found us because we would not have known.” The family thought there were only three paintings, all of which they brought with them to the exhibit.  More than a dozen were on exhibit. According to askart.com, John Jesse Francis was an illustrator, cartoon illustrator, and …

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