Date of Event: October 30, 3016
Location: 375 Harrison Blvd, Boston, MA
Hours: Every Sunday, May 1 – October 31, 10-4 with special events throughout the year
Cost: Admission is free
Parking: There is limited free parking on Thayer St for up to 90 minutes. There is also metered on street parking and garages on Albany and Harrison streets and other garages in the area.
Handicapped Accessible: Yes
Dog Friendly: Yes
Highlights: Graffiti artists, vendors, dj, costume contest
Web Site: SoWa Boston
SoWa, South of Washington (Street), is an outdoor entertainment/shopping/food festival held in Boston on every Sunday from May until October (weather permitting). I made it to the last SoWa of the season on October 30. There will be another SoWa Winter festival scheduled for the weekend of Dec 2-4 at the Harrison Ave venue.
Before I entered the venue, I saw lots of graffiti on the exterior of the area and on some nearby buildings.
SoWa was held in an empty lot off Harrison Blvd, a busy side street in Boston. You could see views of the skyline from the parking lot.
For a small area, they had a lot to do there from pumpkin decorating, a costume contest and a dj with dancing. Bon Me, Sante and Chik Chak had food trucks there, providing a variety of food choices.
As a side note, it is really so much more than a shopping festival. I really had alot more fun than I had expected. The people are very friendly and the entertainment, as you will see, was very, well,…entertaining.
People,as well as dogs, came dressed up on costume to SoWa.
The great thing about SoWa and other local shopping and entertainment festivals is that you get to promoted and support local artisans. I found a few interesting shops there.
Another thing that really stood out to me was how it is such a family friendly atmosphere. I didn’t hear one person swear or do or say anything unruly. In fact, many of the artists had their children stop by and spend time with them as they worked on their piece.
Also, the camaraderie they have for each other was noticeable. It didn’t seem like they were competing against each other, even though they took a great deal of pride in their work. Artists shared spray cans, complimented each other and jokes with each other.
The artists worked on blank canvases and started with their own sketches from pictures or diagrams they had on sheets of paper. I am not sure but I think they added their own flavor to some of the artwork.
The tools of the trade.
As they kept working, you could see the art coming together. They worked fast. Most started at 11 and were done by 4. I appreciated how they kept adding tone and contrast too the art in an effort to perfect their piece. They weren’t satisfied until every piece was just so. In fact, I had to leave a little after 4, after being there for several hours. So, some of the pieces may not have been completely finished by the time I left.
As they kept working, you could see their art come together. it’s very cool how they seem to work so casually and yet, at the same time, so deliberately.
The completed versions of their art works contrasted sharply from the begining of their art or the way it looked half way through.
SoWa is a pet friendly event. Since this particular event took place the day before Halloween there were quite a few dogs in costume at the event.
I actually met a few cute dogs before the event started.
Eloise is a 2 year old YorkieTerrier rescue dog with an Instagram account! You can follow her on her travels at @eloisethedog (https://www.instagram.com/eloisethedog/).
Penny is French bulldog. I had to stand next to her mommy so she would look at me!
At the actual event, I met a variety of dogs.
Fitz, a Yorkie, looked very patriotic in his red, white and blue outfit.
Otis, a 9 month old and 90 pound bullmastiff/bulldog mix, was helping his mom sell collars. You can check out his mom’s store at Wiggle Collars.
Lyla is a 7.5 month shark, I mean mixed breed. I like how everyone stood around her as I photographed her as though it was a real photo shoot.
Twain, dressed as a pumpkin, is a 4 year old terrier mix.
Gus, dressed as Tootsie Roll, is a one and half year old Lagotto Romagnolo. There, say that three times fast. Lagotto Romagnolos are better known as Italian Waterdogs.
Sissy (the dog on the left) and Lilly (on the right) are 10 month old Yorkies.
Zoey, a 7 month old chihuahua, wore her spider outfit to the festival. Her pet parents, Kyle and Jessica, were working at Intrinsic Journeys when I saw her.
Birdie, a golden retriever, was one hot dog!
Rogue, a 1 year old Shih Tzu mix, wore a very creative costume.
And there was this wonder dog whose name and breed I did not get.
Below are two videos. The first video is of the artists working on their art. The second video is a video of the works of art in their final or near their final stages.
Please connect with me on Facebook to view photos, videos and other content not included in this blog. Here is a sneak peak at something that I posted from my Facebook page:
Creepy or cool? You be the judge.
Periodically, the Fort Point area in Boston by the Congress St Bridge will host different floating art works. Last year, there were (floating) sheep in the water. Now, there are orange people in the water.
Created by Ann Hirsch and Jeremy Angier (known as A+J Art + Design), “S.O.S.” (“Save Our Swimmers”) is a statement on the immigration and refugee crisis. The 22 orange “people” are said to be refugees clinging on for dear life.
Most seem creeped out by it, except the cormorant who found a nice place to rest.
(photos taken 10-12-16)
November 5th, 2016 at 5:31 am
It sounds like a great place to be an artist and your photos are great as usual Wayne 🙂
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November 5th, 2016 at 5:37 am
Thank you, Irene! It is such a fun event!
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November 7th, 2016 at 3:15 am
hello new england nomad its dennis the vizsla dog hay wow wot an assortment of happy trik or treeting dogs!!! i bet they all got treets too!!! i wood like treets but i do not think i cud handel that kind of git toogether and if i tried to go howse to howse i wood probly bark evry time i rang a doorbel!!! ha ha ok bye
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November 7th, 2016 at 8:17 pm
Too bad you cant go trick or treating!thank you, Dennis!
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November 9th, 2016 at 9:02 pm
I love the galleries in SoWa. And the First Fridays open studios.
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November 9th, 2016 at 9:15 pm
Isn’t it a great event? It was my first time there and I was really impressed. Thank you.
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November 9th, 2016 at 9:06 pm
What a WONDERFUL post. It is lovely to read something optimistic and uplifting on the day following this campaign’s election. ::shudder::
My pup and I both enjoyed hearing it was a dog friendly event, and seeing all of the adorable pictures. The street art is amazing – as are your photos. Thank you for sharing.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMore dot com)
– ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
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November 9th, 2016 at 11:54 pm
Thank you for the comment, Madelyn! It is nice to have some light entertainment and to be able to take your mind off things for a while. There are so many fun and wonderful things about New England. So, I try to show some fun things about the area!
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November 9th, 2016 at 11:55 pm
Well you certainly succeeded. Thanks again.
xx,
mgh
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November 10th, 2016 at 12:03 am
Thank you! You just made my day (not an easy task today!)
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November 10th, 2016 at 12:05 am
I hear ya’. Glad I could help for an instant.
xx,
mgh
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