The Swellesley Report

Since 2005: More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Wellesley artist mashes up ‘Birth of Venus’ & Halloween

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The Halloween season in Wellesley officially starts when resident Ann Curch Gagliano installs her annual artistic display. This year, she presents her take on a 15th century masterpiece from Italian painter Sandro Botticelli in the form of “The Birth of Venus—Halloween style.”

venus halloween

The Wellesley artist explains on her Annillustrates Instagram account that “every prop was handmade by annillustrates. From the waves to the shell, it’s a little Renaissance, a little spooky, and a whole lot of fun.” You can see some of the behind-the-scenes work involved as well on her Instagram account.

Past displays have taken inspiration from everything from Edward Scissorhands to the “Operation” board game.

The display can be seen on the front lawn at 3 Upson Rd.

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MIT Museum, Cambridge

Wellesley Arts Roundup—October 2026 edition

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Wellesley is fortunate to have a lively arts scene, with various opportunities to engage with or make art at any given time. Check out a concert, theater performance, or art reception this month. Here are just a few events happening soon, here and beyond Wellesley.

Don’t see your free or low-cost arts event listed? Email us at theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Peter and the Wolfe, Wellesley Hills CongregationalSaturdays at 4 Series: Children’s Concert: Peter & the Wolf!

DATE/TIME: October 10, 4pm-5:30pm
LOCATION: Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington St.
DESCRIPTION: Join us for this free Children’s Concert featuring Prokofiev’s beloved Peter & the Wolf! With the professional Puppeteering Group, “Really Inventive Stuff” and Woodwind Quintet, this promises to be fun for the whole family.
REGISTRATION here

Wellesley Society of Artists presents “Eyes Open to Color”

EVENT: Artist talk
DATE/TIME:

Natick Open Studios

Natick Open Studios, artists
Photo by Natick Art Association

DATES/TIME: Saturday, Oct. 17 & Sunday, Oct.  18, 11am-5pm
LOCATION: All Around Natick—participants and locations coming soon here.
DESCRIPTION: Meet and visit in informal settings with over 100 artists living or working in Natick to learn about their art and to purchase unique creations. Painters, printmakers, sculptors, potters, mosaic artists, jewelers, fiber artists, photographers, and mixed media artists. Some artists will offer live demonstrations during the open studio weekend which also include refreshments and live bands.

Wellesley Theatre Project presents “Peter and the Starcatcher”

Wellesley Theatre Project, Peter

Wellesley High School Choral Department concert, “Acatober”

DATES/TIME: Friday, Oct. 23 & Saturday, 24
TIME: TBA
LOCATION: Wellesley High School, 50 Rice St., Katherine L. Babson Jr., Auditorium
TICKETS: Available soon
DESCRIPTION: Acatober will feature the WHS Keynote Singers, Concert Choir, and the Rice Street Singers, directed by WHS Director of Choral Programs, Dr. Kevin McDonald, as well as special guest groups. This annual concert is always a must-attend event.

The Wellesley Society of Artists presents “The Breaking Sea”

Wellesley Society of Artists, Don Demers
Don Demers

EVENT: Painting demonstration
DATE/TIME: Sunday, Nov. 8, 1:30pm
LOCATION: Wellesley Free Library, 530 Washington St.
DESCRIPTION: The demonstration by artist Don Demers will include the presentation of a small sketch from which he will work into a 16”x 24” oil painting. The scene will portray waves breaking on a shoreline. Don will narrate throughout and explain that he typically does not work from photographs, but from sketches and studies he does on location. This is a unique opportunity to see Don Demers at work. He is a master at painting the elusive nature of the ocean. Presented in partnership with the Wellesley Free Library.

Beyond Wellesley

Boston Lyric Opera, outdoors

EVENT: Street Stage at Titus Sparrow Park
DATE/TIME: Saturday, October 3, 4pm-5pm
LOCATION: Titus Sparrow Park, 75 West Rutland Square Boston, MA 02118
COST: Free

DESCRIPTION: BLO’s Street Stage rolls into Boston’s South End. This delightful concert program showcases everything from opera classics to musical theatre, all performed by extraordinary professional musicians. Enjoy gorgeous views of Boston from the scenic amphitheater lawn, explore the newly renovated playgrounds and basketball courts, and admire the historic architecture and gardens surrounding this treasured urban green space. In partnership with The Friends of Titus Sparrow Park and The Southwest Corridor Park Conservancy 

Danforth Art Museum and School at Framingham State University

EVENT: Drop Into Art
DATE/TIME: Sunday, Oct. 11, 1pm-4pm
LOCATION: 14 Vernon Place on the Framingham Town Common
COST: Free

DESCRIPTION: This popular, ongoing event encourages creativity for adults and kids alike. A variety of materials are provided. It’s free and no pre-registration is required. Just drop in!

Boston Book Festival

DATE/TIME: Saturday, Oct. 17, 10am-5pm
LOCATION: Copley Square, Boylston St. @ Dartmouth St. in Boston’s Back Bay
COST: Free

New England’s largest literary event brings 25,000 people from across the region to Copley Square for an outdoor marketplace of ideas, great stories, author visits and much more. This annual event culminates a year-round celebration of writers and the written word.

Vivo Performing Arts presents “Gravity & Other Myths”

DATES/TIMES: Friday, Oct. 23, 8pm; Saturday, Oct. 24, 2pm & 8pm
LOCATION: Boston Arts Academy, 174 Ipswich St., in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood
COST: $44-$98 including fees

The old saw that one must spend 10,000 hours to achieve greatness in a particular gets put to the test when Australian contemporary circus group GRAVITY & OTHER MYTHS brings its jaw-dropping human agility into a tale of impassioned dedication. Eight acrobats and one musician investigate physical skill—how it’s obtained and perfected, and how it transforms lives. Set to a driving musical score using live percussion/drums, Ten Thousand Hours is a love letter to human bodies and the amazing things they do.

Not that we’re being dramatic, but we simply cannot survive without your help.

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Filed Under: Art

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Wellesley College Davis Museum throws open its doors for fall opening reception—two new exhibits on view

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The Davis Museum at Wellesley College held its annual fall exhibition opening and reception to welcome the public back after the museum’s summer hiatus. Light snacks, followed by the chance to be the first to view two new exhibitions was plenty motivation to draw a crowd of about 150 students, College faculty and staff, and local residents. Catering set up the bar outside this time—pro move, given the lobby of the Davis is always packed shoulder-to-shoulder for this event. As visitors moved about with plates of nibbles and glass in hand, students stood sentry at the gallery entrance. Nobody gets to see the art without first listening to opening remarks. The event was free, but not that free.

Wellesley College, Davis Museum, fall reception
Davis Museum, fall opening reception

The showpiece exhibit, “Excavating Antioch: the Archaeology of an Ancient City,” located in the lower level galleries, explores the ancient city of Antioch-on-the-Orontes (modern Antakya, Türkiye) and the legacy of its 1930s excavation. Drawing on artifacts, archival photographs, field notes, and film footage from the original dig, the exhibit reunites objects from five museums and uncovers the complexities of excavation, collection, and preservation.

“Excavating Antioch” was curated by Dr. Nicole Berlin and developed with Dr. Elizabeth Molacek as part of a multi-year research project with Wellesley College students and archaeological partners Dr. Banu Özdilek and Dr. Onur Tıbıkoğlu.

The other major exhibit is “Shi: Stories in Stone,” a display of rocks, minerals, and fossils, valued for their unusual forms. The shape of 石 shi, the Chinese character meaning “stone” or “rock,” mimics a small stone falling from a high cliff. Many of the stones are part of the Davis Museum’s permanent collection, a generous gift from Alan Helms, Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Massachusetts Boston and the University of Paris. The exhibit was curated by Yuhua Ding, Kemper Assistant Curator of Collections and Academic Affairs.

Wellesley College, Davis Museum, fall reception
Z-shaped Red River stone from China, late 20th century. Photo by Swellesley.

In addition to the new exhibits, the entire 5-floor museum was open to the crowd. If you haven’t been to the Davis in a while, stop by.  They rotate their collection of 16,000 artworks in and out of storage, so you’ll be sure to see something new. Plus, the Davis is a great low-stakes museum visit for the kids, because it’s free and it’s local. If the littles get squirmy, you can self-eject the family with little fuss. The Davis will still be there, and you can try, try again until proper museum behavior becomes ingrained.

You’ll have plenty of time to catch both exhibits. They are on display through May 30, 2027.

The Davis Museum will be doing curatorial tours of these new exhibits as well as drop-in public tours across different themes throughout the museum. You can visit the Davis Museum website to find more information.

Parking for the Davis Museum is free and available in the Visitor Parking facility located directly off of the Route 135/Central Street entrance to the College.

If the great outdoors is more your family’s scene, you might check out the town’s varied outdoor art.

Take a look at Swellesley’s October Arts Roundup story for cultural outings in town and slightly beyond.

Not that we’re being dramatic, but we simply cannot survive without your help.

Filed Under: Art

Wellesley Youth Basketball
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Wellesley Cultural Council accepting grant applications until Oct. 15

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The Wellesley Cultural Council is now accepting applications for its annual grant program, with approximately $20,000 available to support arts, humanities and cultural projects benefiting the community.

cultural councilThis year’s grant pool includes $8,400 from the Mass Cultural Council, additional funding from the town, and previously unused grant funds.

Individuals and organizations, including artists, performers, educators, community groups, nonprofits and schools are encouraged to apply. Eligible projects can include concerts, performances, exhibitions, workshops, educational programs, festivals, lectures, community events and other projects that provide a public benefit. Applications must be submitted online by Oct. 15 at 11:59 p.m.

Last year’s recipients included organizations such as Art Wellesley, the Town Band, and Wellesley Theatre Project. And oh yeah, The Swellesley Report.

“We want people in Wellesley to know that these grants aren’t just for established arts organizations,” said Marc Zawel, Wellesley Cultural Council chair, in a statement. “If you have a creative idea that could enrich our community, we want to hear from you. We’re especially hoping to reach individuals and groups who may not have considered applying in the past.”

Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Filed Under: Art

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra
Wellesley Marketplace 2026

Wellesley Arts Roundup—September edition

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Wellesley is fortunate to have a lively arts scene, with various opportunities to engage with or make art at any given time. Check out a concert, theater performance, or art reception this month. Here are just a few events happening soon, here and beyond Wellesley.

Don’t see your arts event listed? Email us at theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Clarendon Fine Art to open late-Sept.

Wellesley Square is preparing to welcome a fresh cultural destination to downtown. Clarendon Fine Art will officially launch its soft opening later this month, complete with a community ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its arrival at 25 Central Street (the former Laurel Grove location).

The brand comes with significant global experience. The company operates dozens of galleries across the United Kingdom, alongside a flagship U.S. location in Westport, Connecticut, which opened three years ago.

Clarendon specializes in international, contemporary, modern art. A company representative said via email that the gallery prides itself on being warm, welcoming, and accessible, whether the customer is a seasoned collector searching for a centerpiece acquisition or a local resident browsing during an afternoon stroll.

Clarendon Fine Arts joins several art-focused businesses in town and slightly beyond—Beth Urdang Gallery and The Gifted Hand in Wellesley Square; The Painting Place 4 Fun in Wellesley Hills; Framebridge in Linden Square; and Page Waterman Gallery in South Natick. You can also see (and sometimes buy) great local art at the Wellesley Free Library, where exhibits rotate monthly—currently Dan Gee’s photography exhibit, “Local Color In and Around Wellesley,” celebrates the area’s beauty.

Wellesley College Theatre to host The Actors From The London Stage—free performances!

Actors From The London Stage return to campus with their Fall 2026 Tour. Five of England’s top Shakespearean actors bring the Bard’s Much Ado About Nothing to Wellesley College for a week-long Educational Residency culminating in three free performances: September 17th-19th, at the Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall Auditorium.

The Actors From The London Stage (AFTLS) present Much Ado About Nothing in a unique actor-driven production; one of the oldest established touring Shakespeare companies in the world, the AFTLS company ethos and mission is simplicity at its finest. Five actors take the stage, with minimal props and costumes, and direct themselves in a performance of a complete Shakespeare play, with each actor portraying multiple roles. Coming from such prestigious companies as the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre of Great Britain and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, these classically trained actors are dedicated to bringing Shakespeare’s work to life.

Wellesley College Theatre

Art Wellesley, 3rd annual Small Art, Big Party

Art Wellesley
Photo by Art Wellesley

The Small Art, Big Party event is a fundraiser for Art Wellesley that is free for participating artists, with all art sale proceeds supporting Art Wellesley programming. Art Wellesley welcomes donations of  8“ x 8“ artwork from professional and amateur artists to be sold at the third annual Small Art, Big Party.

The party is scheduled for October 2, 2026 from 6pm-8pm at the Lulu Wang Center at Wellesley College. In 2025 the group welcomed over 300 attendees and  hung over 150 works of art.

Artist Talk with Ralph Robinson, wildlife photographer/printmaker

DATE/TIME: Thursday, Sept 17, 6:30pm-8pm
LOCATION: Wellesley Free Library, 530 Washington St.
SPONSOR: Art Wellesley, in partnership with WFL
DESCRIPTION: A wildlife photography expedition to the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Siberia became a turning point in Ralph Robinson’s life and evolving art practice. In this inspiring talk, he will show samples of his artwork, share how experiences in remote landscapes continue to inform his lens-based practice, and how art might deepen our sense of connection.

Needham Bank Great Hall Concert Series

DATE/TIME: Saturday, September 19, 7:30pm
LOCATION: Powers Hall in Needham Town Hall, 1471 Highland Ave, Needham, MA 02492
TICKET INFO here
DESCRIPTION: The Needham Bank Great Hall Concert Series 2026–2027 kicks off in Powers Hall in Needham Town Hall with a performance by Lauren Ambrose. Ambrose is a multiple Emmy, Tony, and Grammy-nominated actress and singer celebrated for her acclaimed work across Broadway, film, and television, including standout roles in My Fair Lady, Six Feet Under, Yellowjackets, and Servant.

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, season opener, “Musical Tales”

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra
Photo by Andres Levia

DATE/TIME: Sunday, Sept. 27, 2pm
LOCATION: MassBay Community College Auditorium, 50 Oakland St, Wellesley, MA
TICKET INFO here

DESCRIPTION: The concert begins with Elisabetta Brusa’s symphonic poem, Merlin, for orchestra, Op.20. Written in 2004, this describes one of history’s best loved legendary figures. Giovanni Bottesini’s Gran Duo Concertante, is dedicated to long-time WSO cellist and WSO board vice president Jan Schwaner, who passed away on July 22. Jan joined the WSO in 1994, and joined our board in 2006. A joyful presence in the orchestra, Jan was an important part of our outreach program as part of the WSO String quartet. You’ll find more about Jan here.

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church presents Bach Vespers Cantata 77

Wellesley Hills Congregational ChurchSeptember 27 @ 4:00 pm

Bach Vespers Cantata 77
Wallace Chapel, Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington St.

Free Will Offering

Not that we’re being dramatic, but we simply cannot survive without your help.

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Wellesley, Health Dept., Menopause movie
Beyond Wellesley

The Great Swell-ephant Migration

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Like seemingly everyone else in the area, we checked out the impressive Great Elephant Migration public art display on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall between Dartmouth and Fairfield Streets.

The elephants, made from an aggressive invasive weed called Lantana camara, are still looking great a couple of years after we first saw then in Newport, R.I.

The project is inspired by life in the Nilgiri Hills of Southern India.

Great Elephant Migration Boston Great Elephant Migration BostonGreat Elephant Migration BostonGreat Elephant Migration Boston

Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Filed Under: Art

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Arts roundup for August 2026: Boston Summer Opera; Wellesley Symphony Orchestra; and more

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Wellesley is fortunate to have a lively arts scene, with various opportunities to engage with or make art at any given time. Check out a concert, theater performance, or art reception this month. Here are just a few events happening around town.

Boston Summer Opera to perform at Wellesley Hills Congregational Church

Boston Summer OperaEVENT: Performance, Barber of Seville, by Gioachino Rossini
DATE/TIME: Saturday August 22, 7:30pm
LOCATION: Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington St, Wellesley, MA 02481

EXTRA SPECIAL: You are invited sing in Barber of Seville! Adult singers from across MetroWest are invited to rehearse and perform alongside the company’s cast of emerging professional artists in the new Wellesley Community Chorus. The Wellesley Community Chorus requires no audition, no prior opera experience, and no participation fee.

DESCRIPTION: The Barber of Seville is one of the most popular operas—if not pieces—of classical music, ever written, and you probably already know it! This music shows up everywhere, from Looney Tunes to Mrs. Doubtfire to opera houses around the world. The production will be performed in Italian with English supertitles. The run time will be approximately two hours, with one 15-minute intermission.

TICKETS: Tickets are affordable, vibes are welcoming, and Boston Summer Opera guarantee sthat this show will make you fall in love with opera.

This production is kindly supported in part by the Community Fund for Wellesley, a Fund of the Community Foundation for MetroWest.

Polly in the Colony, theatre productionBeyond Wellesley, theater production, Polly In The Colony

DATES: Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9, 2026 — 7pm, 2pm.
LOCATION: Boston College High School, Bulger Performing Arts Center, 150 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125
AGES: Recommended for grades 3–6, teachers and families
Tickets $10 kids, $15 adults, teachers get in free. https://friendsofpolly.com/tickets

DESCRIPTION: A 250-YEAR-OLD DOLL WHO WITNESSED THE BOSTON TEA PARTY TAKES THE STAGE. “Polly in the Colony: A True Revolutionary Tale” — a new play for young audiences — makes its world premiere at Boston College High School Aug. 8 and 9, timed to America’s 250th anniversary.

She arrived in Boston on a tea ship in 1773 and was purchased off a shop counter on the very day colonists dumped the tea into the harbor. For more than a century since, she has sat behind glass at Boston’s Old State House, receiving handwritten fan mail from generations of children. Now Polly Sumner — a real, 250-year-old fashion doll — is stepping into the spotlight to tell her own story.

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, Wellesley Choral Group, and the Wellesley Town Band—have all announced their 2026-27 line-up. Here’s a preview.

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra in action

WSO will open its season on Sept. 27  with “Musical Tales,” an afternoon of great stories, which will include  Pinar Toprak’s powerful composition of the theme music for the 2019 film Captain Marvel. The program will end with one of the most evocative classical stories, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade. Rimsky-Korsakov’s dazzling, colorful orchestration and melodies are based on the tales of One Thousand and One Nights.

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra
Photo by Andres Levia

Tickets and entire 2026-27 schedule here.

Wellesley Choral Society

If you love to sing, Wellesley Choral Society would love to meet you. The group is a non-audition chorus, and will hold Open Rehearsals on Sept. 14, 21, and 28, at 7pm, at UU Wellesley Hills, 309 Washington St.

The first concert of the season will take place on Nov. 22. “Music for Chorus and Brass” will feature works by Cruger, Purcell, Pachelbel, Pinkham, Whalen, and Gilbert & Sullivan.

Wellesley Town Band

If you have ever played a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument, there’s a chair, music, a music stand, and a warm welcome waiting for you in the Wellesley Town Band. Players of all ages (grade 8 upwards) are welcome, no auditions are required.
Rehearsals are held at Wellesley High School starting Monday, September 14. The Band is conducted and directed by Pam Choinski.

The season opener will be the Winter Concert on Dec. 6, ant Wellesley High School.

For more information, contact info@wellesleytownband.org.

wfl, august exhibits: https://www.wellesleyfreelibrary.org/discover-borrow/in-library/exhibits/

Beyond Wellesley, Lyric Stage in Boston announces season line-up

VENUE: Lyric Stage, 140 Clarendon Street, 2nd floor (accessible), Boston
PERFORMANCES: 
All My Sons—Sept. 18 – Oct 18
Peter Pan Goes Wrong— Nov. 13 – Dec. 31
Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d — Feb. 5 – Feb. 28, 2027
King James — March 19 – Apr. 11, 2027
Les Misérables— Apr. 30 – June 20, 2027

Not that we’re being dramatic, but we simply cannot survive without your help.

Filed Under: Art

August library art exhibit—Local Color: In and Around Wellesley

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Sunrise Labrynth, & Clocktower, Elm Park, Wellesley
Sunrise, Labrynth, & Clocktower at Elm Park, Wellesley (photo by Dan Gee)

 

Local Color: In and Around Wellesley

Color Photographs by Dan Gee at Wellesley Free Library (530 Washington St.) from Aug. 1-31. Free & open to the public.

“If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff.” — Jim Richardson

That is just the beginning of the photographic process. The photographer needs to have the skill and a bit of luck to make a compelling image and not just take a snapshot.  They need to bridge the gaps through the eye-mind-camera-output pathway by sorting through the chaos and capture the image which tells the story.

About the Exhibit

Join photographer Dan Gee for a visual celebration of Massachusetts’ beauty. After relocating from California, Dan set out to explore and capture the rich, captivating local imagery. From glowing sunrises over lush green parks to local conservation land, this exhibition demonstrates that extraordinary imagery doesn’t require traveling far—you just need to get off the couch and go look, sometimes only as far as the backyard.

Each photograph was taken no more than about 15 miles from Wellesley.