Through the eyes of artist/photographer Joan Kocak, the everyday landscape of New England is a place filled with memory and mystery. And Cindy Crimmin can’t remember a time when she wasn’t painting or drawing. Meet these extraordinary artists and their inspiring work in this Spotlight article.
Simplicity weaves a rich tapestry of beauty and a sense of quietness in the landscapes surrounding Concord. Among them is Emerson’s humble potato garden, where a solitary tree is bordered by a weathered fence. This sketch evokes a meditative calm, capturing moments of stillness that remind us of the profound experiences that often stem from the simplest things, drawing attention to the elegance found in the everyday. And as Ralph Waldo Emerson poignantly expressed, “The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.” It might be in the gentle rustle of leaves, the serene play of light across a quiet room, or the unassuming bloom of a wildflower that we find a deeper connection to the world around us.
Concord’s status as a Mecca for nature writers gains an international dimension this summer. The renowned British writer Robert Macfarlane will accept the 2025 Thoreau Prize on June 7 at the Trinitarian Congregational Church in Concord. The honor is given annually by the Thoreau Society to a writer whose work embodies Henry David Thoreau’s commitment to “speak a word for Nature.” In this year of celebrating the 250th anniversary of Concord’s role in the American Revolution, Robert Macfarlane will visit Concord to spark another revolution in how we see the world around us, calling on all of us to preserve our most precious legacy – the Nature we all call home.
In the heart of the historic Concord Center Cultural District, The Umbrella Arts Center at 40 Stow Street is a multidisciplinary, non-profit contemporary arts organization committed to nurturing and encouraging the arts. A cultural leader in MetroWest Boston, it provides broad and diverse access to a wide range of performing arts, visual arts, and arts education programs. Through these offerings, The Umbrella promotes creativity, learning, personal growth, and cultural exchange.
The Concord Conservatory of Music (CCM) has been a cornerstone of Concord’s cultural life for over 20 years. More than just a music school, CCM prioritizes accessibility and collaboration, where music transforms lives, and the community fosters a sense of belonging for all.
She was spirited, unconventional, energetic, and prodigiously creative, so it’s no surprise that Louisa May Alcott (along with her sister, Anna) founded a theater company to entertain family, friends, and neighbors in the Town of Concord. Their Concord Dramatic Union of 1856 featured Alcott’s original plays and vignettes.
In 1872, the Union became The Concord Dramatic Club and, in 1919, The Concord Players, when a dedicated group of amateur actors and theater lovers came together to “stimulate interest in dramatic work in the town and to elevate the standard of performance.” The group first performed in Monument Hall but, over time, established a permanent space in the Veteran’s building, a former drill shed located at 51 Walden Street. They built a stage with the aid of theater architect Charles Blackhall; a small replica of his design for Boston’s Colonial Theater.
In the heart of the historic Concord Center Cultural District, The Umbrella Arts Center at 40 Stow Street is a multidisciplinary, non-profit contemporary arts organization committed to nurturing and encouraging the arts. A cultural leader in MetroWest Boston, it provides broad and diverse access to a wide range of performing arts, visual arts, and arts education programs. Through these offerings, The Umbrella promotes creativity, learning, personal growth, and cultural exchange.
