Spring Brings Lively Arts Events to the Vineyard

Spring Brings Lively Arts Events to the Vineyard

March 26, 2019

As the pinkletinks begin to sing, birds build their nests and early bulbs push through the dead leaves of winter, the Martha’s Vineyard arts scene is also warming up. Here’s a look at some of what’s happening on the Island this spring. You can always find the most up-to-date listings in the Complete Martha’s Vineyard Calendar.

Studio Arts:

• In the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse Lobby Art Space, Island artist and former children’s television host Sean Roach (he hosted the Noodle and Doodle and Sunny Side Up Shows on Sprout) shows his paintings through April 4.
• The Vineyard’s newest gallery has just opened, featuring local artists and artisans. Chilmark Gallery is located next to the Chilmark Tavern (known off-season as Pathways Art Space) and is open Friday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
• Night Heron Gallery, a cooperative of Island artists working in a variety of media, opens for the season April 5 with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m.
• The current group show at The Francine Kelly Gallery at Featherstone Center for the Arts features artworks using feathers and stones. The next show, Silver & Gold, opens April 7 with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m.
• Featherstone also offers an Open Pottery Studio where people familiar with ceramics can drop in and work with clay, Tuesdays from 1 to 4 p.m.
• Paintings, photographs, prints, sculptures, mixed media and fine art jewelry fill the rooms of the Granary Gallery in West Tisbury, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lively Arts

• The Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse presents Nassim Soleimanpour’s experimental White Rabbit Red Rabbit, starring Chris Roberts, March 29 at 7 p.m. and Shakespeare for the Masses, a “quick & painless & free” retelling of Romeo and Juliet, March 30 at 7 p.m. and March 31 at 2 p.m.
• Willie Mason plays a free concert at the West Tisbury Free Public Library April 1 at 7 p.m.
• The Yard brings New York-based Company SBB Stefanie Batten Bland to the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center for an hour-long dance-theatre creation, April 6 at 7 p.m.
• The Wicked Good Musical Revue returns to the Playhouse April 12-14.
• Every other Tuesday through May 21, Island Music hosts an open mic from 5 to 7 p.m.
• Teenagers can play at the Amp Jams, Sundays from 2 to 6 p.m. and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. at Alex’s Place at the Y, which has instruments on hand for those who don’t bring their own.
• Tuesdays at Offshore Ale Co., guitarist Eric Johnson and keyboardist Jeremy Berlin play jazz from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Martha’s Vineyard Film Center screens the Metropolitan Opera’s Die Walküre live from the Met, March 30 at noon. The final live opera of the season, Dialogues des Carmélites, shows at noon May 11.
• Pot Luck Jam returns to the Chilmark Community Center May 4. Come early to get on the list of performers.

Louisa Hufstader

photo by Ray Ewing