Creative

Creative Makers Series in January at Sawyer Free

~ Sawyer Free Library

Looking for a mid-week creative spark? Join us at the Sawyer Free Library this January for Studio SFL, a visual arts series presented in collaboration with the Gloucester Center for the Arts. This partnership brings together local artistic expertise and our beautiful new library space to help you explore your creative side. Guided by professional artists, you’ll dive into a different medium each week. 

January Schedule:

Blockprinting: January 7, we’ll be exploring the basics of blockprinting using materials you can find in your own kitchen: styrofoam! Design your own basic image, “carve” it into styrofoam, and make your very own print in this two-hour workshop. Register here: sawyerfreelibrary.org

Found object collages: January 15, play with found objects to design new, original collages. Bring items with you that you want to include –magazines, small tchotchkes, fabric scraps, and other small mostly flat items– or dig through the materials provided.  Register here: sawyerfreelibrary.org

Quilting: January 21, dive into the world of fabric by making your own experimental quilt squares. Using hand-sewing and found fabric, each participant will be invited to lay out and sew their own individual squares. Try your hand at a more traditional geometric pattern or go free-form with abstract shapes and lines.  Register here: sawyerfreelibrary.org

Stained Glass: January 28, create an original faux stained glass artwork using plexiglass. Design your work by drawing on paper and then bring it to life with transparent paints and markers. Hold it up to the sun to see the light shine through your new masterpiece. Register here: sawyerfreelibrary.org

Gloucester Center for the Arts (GloArts) is a new vision for a multidisciplinary arts center based in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Our mission is to celebrate and strengthen the creative community of Gloucester by supporting professional artists, providing multidisciplinary arts education and programs, and investing in affordable creative spaces. Learn more at http://www.gloarts.org.

For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5500.

Reimagining Gloucester Together: Placemaking at the New Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join us October 23 as global placemaking leader Ethan Kent and 20 Cape Ann Creatives spark new conversations about community, creativity, and connection.

Be part of something inspiring! Join us for the official relaunch of the historic Gloucester Lyceum as we welcome Ethan Kent, Executive Director of PlacemakingX, one of the world’s foremost leaders in creating inclusive, thriving public spaces.

This engaging evening invites attendees to explore the newly reimagined Sawyer Free Library and take part in lively small-group dialogues alongside 20 Cape Ann Community Creatives and members of the Gloucester Lyceum Committee. Together, we’ll consider how great public places—like our Library—can connect, strengthen, and inspire the community we share.

“Placemaking is about strengthening the connection between people and the places they share,” says Ethan Kent. “It’s about making the spaces we live—the places we love.”

Come experience the rebirth of the Gloucester Lyceum—where the city comes to think.

Featuring Cape Ann Community Creatives:

Anne Rolland • Nina Fletcher • Jennifer K. Brown • Leslie Dale Bartlett • Rick Blue • Lindsay Ann Crouse • Heidi McGrath • Brett Dunton • Chele Lizotte • Sarah Smith • Penny Neal • Charlee Bianchini • Ann Ledy • Sash Ludwig • Craig Walker • Julie Wyman • Eroica Schenck • Lucy Pear • Catherine Pear • Tom Balf

Free and open to all! Space is limited—register today at sawyerfreelibrary.org

 Sawyer Free Library | 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, MA
Thursday, October 23 | 7:00–8:30 p.m.
 Free and open to the public | Space is limited | Registration required

Cozy Up with Knitting & Crochet for Teens & Tweens on Monday, Feb 24

~ Sawyer Free Library

When: Monday, February 24, 4:00–5:30 PM Where: Sawyer Free Library

Beat the winter chill by creating something soft and huggable! Whether you’re new to knitting and crochet or an experienced crafter, the Sawyer Free Library wants to invite local teens and tweens (students in grades 6-12, ages 11 -19) join Young Adult Librarian Annalise for a relaxing afternoon of learning basic stitches and exploring fun project ideas. The repetitive nature of these crafts is known to reduce stress—so come unwind, try something new, and leave with a skill you can enjoy all year long.

   •   Materials Provided: Yarn, knitting needles, and crochet hooks

   •   Feel Free to Bring: Your own yarn, needles, hooks, or work-in-progress

   •   Questions? Email Annalise at anakoneczny@sawyerfreelibrary.org

Registration required at SawyerFreeLibrary.org. We can’t wait to see what you’ll create!