Upcoming Events: April
Intentional Framing at the Harvard Art Museums: A Frame Talk by Conservationist Allison Jackson
On May 9, from 2:00–3:30 PM, the Old Schwamb Mill will host conservationist Allison Jackson for a special talk on historic reproduction framing at the Harvard Art Museums. Jackson will present on her latest historic reproduction framing project at the Harvard Art Museums’ Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies: the reframing of Ford Madox Brown’s La Rose de l’Infante (1876). The painting of a young girl lacked a historically appropriate setting after the loss of its original frame.
The project was guided by archival research, specialized scholarship on Pre-Raphaelite framing, and Brown’s catalogue raisonné, in close collaboration with curatorial colleagues. The presentation will discuss the research into Brown as a frame designer, the alternative options considered, and the reasoning behind choosing the reed and roundel design. It will also reflect on the process of construction, the technical obstacles encountered, and the significance of creating a frame that restores both context and presence to the painting.
Jackson will present her recent conservation project involving Ford Madox Brown’s La Rose de l’Infante (1876), focusing on the research, design decisions, and technical challenges behind recreating a historically appropriate frame after the loss of the original. The talk will explore Brown’s role as a frame designer, the use of archival and scholarly sources, and the significance of framing in restoring context and presence to a work of art.
Space is limited. Seating is available for approximately 45 attendees, with additional standing room as space allows.
GO FISH! with ArtsArlington
The Old Schwamb Mill is proud to serve as a community workshop host for GO FISH!, a town-wide public art initiative led by ArtsArlington, inviting residents to take part in a collaborative mural celebrating environmental restoration, local waterways, and community creativity.
As part of this initiative, the Mill will host hands-on workshops where participants of all ages can paint individual herring that will become part of a large-scale public mural installed throughout Arlington. Each fish contributes to a vibrant visual display representing the return of herring to the Mystic River—a powerful symbol of ecological recovery made possible through conservation efforts, advocacy, and community action.
Timed alongside Earth Day, this project highlights the importance of environmental stewardship and collective responsibility. The story of the Mystic River herring—once endangered and now rebounding—offers an inspiring example of how sustained environmental efforts can make a meaningful impact. Through art, GO FISH! invites participants to reflect on this success while expressing their own creativity.
The Old Schwamb Mill’s involvement reflects its ongoing commitment to connecting history, community, and the environment. By hosting these workshops, the Mill provides a space where visitors can engage directly with both local heritage and contemporary environmental initiatives.
The completed mural will be installed across Arlington in summer 2026, transforming public spaces into a celebration of resilience, sustainability, and shared community identity.
Exhibition Talk with Photography Lou Jones: Saturday, May 16th 2PM-4Pm
Join us at the Old Schwamb Mill on Saturday, May 16 from 2:00–3:30 PM for a special closing lecture with acclaimed Boston-based photographer Lou Jones. Marking the conclusion of his powerful panAFRICAproject exhibition, Jones will share insights from his decades-long work documenting contemporary life across Africa—challenging stereotypes and highlighting the continent’s diversity, innovation, and everyday experiences. This engaging artist talk offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from Jones about his process, travels, and the stories behind the images in this remarkable global project.
Current Exhibition:
Lou Jones and the panAFRICAproject
The Old Schwamb Mill is proud to host the panAFRICAproject, a compelling photography exhibition by Boston-based photographer Lou Jones. On view from March 21 through May 16, the exhibition opens with a public reception at 2:00 PM on March 21 and concludes with a closing talk and event at 2:00 PM on May 16.
More than a decade in the making, panAFRICAproject is a country-by-country visual documentary that challenges long-standing stereotypes and reframes how Africa is understood in the Western imagination. Rather than focusing on narratives of conflict and poverty, Jones turns his lens toward the vibrancy, innovation, and everyday realities of contemporary African life, highlighting industry, education, healthcare, sports, music, and infrastructure across the continent. The project has grown into an expansive visual archive and educational platform, exhibited in schools, galleries, museums, and public spaces. With a long-term goal of documenting all 54 African countries, the project continues to evolve as a celebration of culture, progress, and daily life.
Hosting panAFRICAproject at the Old Schwamb Mill places these global stories within a site deeply rooted in craft, labor, and community history. As a living industrial museum, the mill provides a unique setting where photography, history, and contemporary dialogue intersect. The exhibition also serves as a community gathering point, welcoming visitors of all ages—including two groups of student photographers scheduled to visit during the run of the show.
A powerful photography exhibition reimagining how Africa is seen, and bringing global stories into a historic local space.
Previous Events
The Boyhood of John Muir: Q&A with the director
In 1996, Florentine Films/Hott Productions visited the Old Schwamb Mill to film scenes for the dramatic film THE BOYHOOD OF JOHN MUIR. The Mill’s nineteenth-century building and working machinery worked perfectly to capture crucial experiences in the life of the future environmentalist.
Join us on Saturday, April 25, 2026, 1:00-4:00pm for a screening of THE BOYHOOD OF JOHN MUIR followed by questions and answers with film-maker Lawrence Hott. Learn how actors, writers, set designers, camera and sound crew, and even the Mill’s own master turner David Graf helped bring Muir’s story to life.
“The Boyhood of John Muir” tells the early story of Scottish emigrant John Muir, known today as the founder of Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Club, and as America’s first environmentalist. THE BOYHOOD OF JOHN MUIR is a compelling look at the early life of America’s first great spokesman for wilderness.
It’s a story of immigration, of family conflict and of personal discovery. Set in the landscape of nineteenth-century Wisconsin, with stunning cinematography, a dramatic musical score, and brilliant performances, the story takes John from his early days on a hard scrabble farm, to his ingenious mechanical inventions, and his subsequent employment as a factory foreman. An accident nearly kills him, but causes him to reflect on his life, and chart a new course for his future.
Filmmakers Lawrence Hott and Diane Garey began working together in 1978, as members of the Florentine Films consortium. They formed Florentine Films/Hott Productions in 1981. They produced two dozen films for national PBS broadcast as well as several productions for web and educational distribution. Their awards include an Emmy, two Academy Award nominations, a duPont -Columbia Journalism Award, the Erik Barnouw History Award, the George Foster Peabody Award, five American Film Festival Blue Ribbons, and 14 CINE Golden Eagles. Their films have been broadcast internationally and have been presented in special programs in Canada, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Algeria, Great Britain and Vietnam. Diane Garey passed away in 2021.
Family Day: Celebrate Patriots Day at the Jason Russell House
FAMILY DAY POSTPONED: SEE HERE FOR UPDATES SOON (04/20/26)
The Old Schwamb Mill invites families and community members to celebrate Patriots’ Day with a special Family Day on Sunday, April 19, from 11 AM to 2 PM at the Jason Russell House (7 Jason Street) with the The Arlington Historical Society and Cyrus Dallin Art Museum.
This free, family-friendly event will feature hands-on activities, opportunities to explore local history, and engaging experiences for visitors of all ages. The Old Schwamb Mill will be joining the festivities, offering interactive elements that highlight Arlington’s rich historical traditions.
Visitors are encouraged to stop by, take part in the day’s offerings, and connect with local organizations dedicated to preserving and sharing the town’s history. This event is a great way to experience Patriots’ Day in the place where history happened.
Families First Saturdays at the Old Schwamb Mill: The Midnight Writer with Sabrina Bhattacharjya
The Old Schwamb Mill invites families to a special children’s program on Friday, March 7, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM, designed for children ages 5–10.
Local author Sabrina Bhattacharjya will read from her book “The Midnight Writer,” followed by a kid-friendly discussion and Q&A about storytelling, history, and her experience as a young writer. As an active high school student involved in several local history organizations, Sabrina brings a relatable and inspiring perspective for young audiences.
After the reading, children will enjoy hands-on activities including coloring pages, colonial-era games, and music. The program also encourages children to think about their own stories and family histories, with families invited to take a “family portrait” using one of the mill’s historic round and oval frames. Light snacks and refreshments will be available.
Space is limited. Advance registration is required — please sign up using the QR code on the flyer or the link below to sign up.
The Road Where It Happened: Reexamining Menotomy on April 19, 1775
An Informal Historical Talk at Old Schwamb Mill
Not everything that unfolded in Menotomy on April 19, 1775 looked like the scenes etched into popular memory. Beyond Paul Revere’s ride and marching columns of redcoats, the day was marked by ambushes, seized wagons, rebels hiding in cornfields, and fierce fighting along what became known as the “Foot of the Rocks.”
On Saturday, March 7 at 2:00 PM, the Old Schwamb Mill invites the public to The Road Where It Happened: Version 2.0, an informal illustrated talk by local historian Doreen Stevens. The program explores the lesser-known stories, myths, and meanings surrounding some of the deadliest fighting of the first day of the American Revolution.
Stevens will focus on the experiences of local residents and militia members, including Benjamin Locke of Foot of the Rocks, who led the Menotomy Minutemen up and down “The Road Where It Happened.” By examining eyewitness accounts and later interpretations, the talk invites audiences to reconsider how history is remembered, retold, and rooted in place.
Held at the historic mill site itself, this program offers a unique opportunity to connect Arlington’s Revolutionary past with the landscape where it unfolded.
Old Schwamb Mill 