Come and check out the multicultural art hanging on the walls of the Cross Street Center, 165 Broadway, Somerville. A group of older adults met
with a local art instructor, Katherine Harvey, to celebrate other cultures. They made wall hangings out of felt, in the style of South American Molas by the indigenous women of Panama and Peru. Many of the designs they used were inspired by the South American rainforest. Some were from ideas of group participants.
During the second week, the group learned more about Navaho Sand Painting, which is a very meaningful and significant art form for Harvey, who is originally from Phoenix, Arizona. Harvey enjoyed sharing her knowledge of the lore that gods taught Navaho medicine men to make pictures in the sand for healing purposes. The artwork hanging at Cross Street was made on sand paper, using glue and colored sand to form pictures and patterns. Some were actual Native American designs and, like the first art project, some were creative inventions.
If you have the time, come down and see the artwork, make some new friends, and stay for lunch. The Cross Street Center is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. For more information, contact Janine Lotti at 617-625-6600, ext. 2300.