Woven Roots: Indigenous Latinx Art Fair

Welcome to Woven Roots: Indigenous Latinx Art Fair! Join us on Sat March 1, 2025 from 12-5pm for a vibrant celebration of Latin American culture through art. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of traditions, colors, and stories that make up the diverse heritage of Central America. The event will take place at the Boston Figurative Art Center, where you can explore a variety of art forms including painting, dance, music, and textiles. Traditional foods like pupusas and tamales will also be for sale. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with the art and artists of Central America &amp; beyond - in person! There will be traditional backstrap weaving (additional workshop fee if you want to participate!), live marimba music, traditional dancers, storytelling, crafts, and food! Suggested donation of $5 for the festival.

The Boston Figure

Traditional Backstrap Weaving Workshop

Traditional Backstrap Weaving Workshop Come join us for a hands-on experience at our&nbsp;Traditional Backstrap Weaving Workshop! Learn the ancient art of backstrap weaving from skilled Mayan artisans Ampara and Oralia in a relaxed and friendly environment. This workshop is perfect for beginners and experienced weavers alike. Get ready to immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of this traditional craft. In this 4-5-hour workshop, you will learn to use a traditional backstrap loom and create your own woven coaster placemat with the help of our visiting weavers. You will be able to take all of your materials home with you (loom, yarn, and newly created placemat), in addition to your newfound skills! The workshop takes place in the middle of our&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/wovenroots">Woven Roots&nbsp;fair,</a>&nbsp;which will feature other Latinx artists, dancers, musicians, and more, open to the public! You will have the opportunity to break for lunch and enjoy the other parts of the fair whenever you'd like. Central American food will be for sale on the premises if you would like to purchase, in addition to art and books.&nbsp; Ampara and Oralia join us from Trama Textiles, in Xela, Guatemala. They coordinate a cooperative of female Maya backstrap loom weavers across the country, working with over 100 women from 17 weaving communities.&nbsp;The Trama Textiles Association, founded 36 years ago, emerged during Guatemala's internal armed conflict, a time of immense tragedy and upheaval. At its heart, the organization sought to provide support to women who were widowed or orphaned due to the war, offering them a way to survive and heal through the art of backstrap weaving.&nbsp;Trama Textiles is a&nbsp;100% worker-owned and run cooperative, guaranteeing fair wages for Indigenous women who speak non-Spanish Maya languages. All proceeds from this workshop will be a donation to Trama and their girls' education fund. Ampara and Oralia speak Spanish and will have multiple translators on site for this workshop.

Stitch 'n B*tch

This one’s for all of you sewing/crocheting/knitting/textile lovers! Join us for a biweekly meet-up, BYOCP... (BYOCP = bring your own [unfinished or not-yet-started] creative projects!) Do you have unfinished textile or sewing projects? Do you like to complain about how many unfinished projects you have? Do you wish you could commiserate with a fun group of people in a low-key setting? Join us for a relaxing and social evening co-working session in the “living room” at the BFAC. Professional artist and fashion designer Mary Kahle of Kahle Studios will be on site to trouble-shoot and provide feedback! All experience levels and ages welcome! Snacks will be provided. Timed breaks will be enforced. (LOL we don’t need to include this)

Boston Figurative Arts Center

Comic Drawing Workshop

Join local comic artist and illustrator, Christian Garnett (@MoltenGarnet_Art on Instagram), to learn traditional comic strip creation, from storyboarding, paneling, and sketching to line art, text, and color. Prompts and ideas will be provided (every month there's a new theme!), but students are encouraged to come with their own story, poetry, song, or anything else sourced from home or the internet.

Jewelry Workshop: Light Catchers

Join Analise of Mind’s Eye Collective at BFAC Union Square to learn the basics of wire bending and balancing to create whimsical prismatic light catchers. In this 3-hour workshop, you'll create components to mix and connect with prismatic glass, experiment with weight and balance, and explore the art of wire sculpture. No experience is needed, and all materials and tools are provided, though you are welcomed to bring components you would like to incorporate. Light refreshments will be provided by BFAC, feel free to bring your own drinks and snacks. Perfect for date night, girls' night out, or a fun gift-making experience, this class is limited to just 6 people to ensure personalized attention. This class is suitable for ages 16+. Please wear closed-toed shoes and bring a rubber band to tie back long hair.

Queer Affinity Yoga

Join Sophie Lyons (she/her) for a community lead all levels Yoga and Mediation offering for the Queer community. This practice will start with a Meditation lead by Lakshmi, an open level trauma informed Asana (movement) practice led by Sophie and end with co-lead community time to recenter and connect about the many dynamics and intersections of Queerness.

Watercolor Workshop: Skin Tones

Explore techniques for creating vibrant and realistic skin tones using watercolor. Artist Jordan Rhodes will cover wet-into-wet blending for smooth transitions, layering to enhance shadows and values, and incorporating accent colors to bring skin tones to life. Examples will include both darker and lighter skin tones. This is an intermediate level workshop, so some drawing or painting experience is encouraged!

Intro to Marker Techniques

Did you know coloring with markers is very similar to painting with watercolor? Join illustrator Stephanie Vecellio to learn intro to marker techniques. We will be using water-based brush markers and learning how to layer, blend, and create rich, fun colors with very simple tools that are perfect for plein air or travel sketching. This class is great for anyone who wants to learn a new medium, couch coloring book connoisseurs who want to up their game, or folks who just want to have fun coloring! The focus will be more on play and technique than bringing home a finished piece, though you are welcome to create whatever you’d like within the timeframe. No drawing experience necessary. Materials provided.

 Boston Figurative Arts Center 

Zine Workshop with ZineSpace

Join us for an all-ages zine-making workshop where you’ll be guided on how to construct and fill a 1-page foldable zine. No artistic background is required, and materials such as colored paper, drawing utensils, and magazines for collaging will be provided. Bring your friends and come have fun creating in community with us! Zines are a self-produced book about anything! (hence the name coming from just the “-zine” portion of “magazine,” like a mini-magazine). Inherently meant to be as low-cost and accessible as possible, zine-making is a no-expectations form of creativity where it’s not about the materials you use, but about giving space to thoughts, observations, and perspectives that would otherwise not be published or considered. Zine Space wishes to share forms of zine-making and means of self-publishing with the public as a means of soft community awareness and self-empowerment. Through zine-making, community members can explore how to freely create for themselves and alongside others without the pressure of expectation. For parking: you can park for free on the bridge on Washington street after school hours! There is also meter parking throughout Union Square.

Heart-Shaped Cake Decorating Workshop

Join artist, baker, and cake decorator Violeta Smart for an evening of valentines-themed, edible fun! Learn piping techniques, composition, and other tips and tricks to make your very own edible masterpiece. All supplies included, and you get to go home with your finished cake! To stick to the valentines theme, everything will be pink and red... dress accordingly if you please! This is a great workshop to do with your friends or your partner, but also a fun way to meet new people. Please inform us of any allergies upon signing up; we will accommodate as best as we can!

Jewelry Workshop: Galentines Charm Necklaces

Join Analise of Mind’s Eye Collective at BFAC Union Square for a night with your gals/pals making the charm necklace of your jewelry dreams. In this 3-hour workshop, you'll learn the basics of creating charms from beads, wire and more, and how to affix charms to chain. We welcome you to bring beads, charms or other small objects you may like to turn into charms. No experience is needed, and most/all materials and tools are provided. Light refreshments will be provided by BFAC, feel free to bring your own drinks and snacks to make it a party! Perfect for date night, girls' night out, or a fun gift-making experience, this class is limited to just 6 people to ensure personalized attention. This class is suitable for ages 16+. Please wear closed-toed shoes and bring a rubber band to tie back long hair.

Mastering the Human Form: Anatomy and Construction

Anatomy comes to life in this all-levels figure drawing class. Each session will focus on a different aspect of the body. Every week we will start anew with a different area, so feel free to attend as your schedule permits. Whether drawing from life or imagination, this workshop will enhance your ability to create realistic and dynamic figures. No experience necessary. Basic supplies included, but feel free to bring your own!

Boston Figurative Arts Center 

Intro to Watercolors

Join artist and instructor Alex Mafusalov at the Boston Figure to learn the basics of watercolor painting! Alex will break down the process into simple steps, going over the foundational principles of the medium: light, color, shape, and edges. Prompts and references will be provided, and you will receive individualized feedback and advice so that you walk away with a piece you are proud of. Basic drawing experience is expected, but no painting experience is required. All supplies are included.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Discover kid-friendly fun in Boston, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas! Enjoy hands-on exhibits at the Boston Children’s Museum, explore the New England Aquarium, and visit the Franklin Park Zoo. Find parks, playgrounds, and seasonal events perfect for families across Massachusetts.

Top 20 kid-friendly things to do in Boston, MA

Kid-friendly things to do in Boston

Kid-friendly events

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.