Upcoming Events and Exhibitions:

Monday Art Collective “Driven by Abstraction” Summer Art Exhibition

The Old Schwamb Mill is pleased to welcome the Monday Art Collective for its Summer 2026 exhibition with an exhibit titled “Driven By Abstraction.” The exhibition will open with a public reception on Saturday, June 6, from 2:00-4:00 PM in the Mill’s second-floor gallery spaces.

The Monday Art Collective is a group of dedicated visual artists, primarily based in the Boston area, who have met weekly for the past four years to create art, exchange ideas, and support one another’s artistic growth. Originally brought together through workshops led by Cambridge artist Alexandra Sheldon, the group continued meeting virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic after studio classes could no longer be held in person. What began as a way to combat artistic isolation soon evolved into a lasting creative community.

Over time, the Collective’s artistic practices have expanded beyond the collage work that initially connected many of its members. Today, the group explores a wide range of media, including painting, drawing, printmaking, and mixed media. The exhibition at the Old Schwamb Mill reflects this diversity of approach while highlighting the shared spirit of experimentation, collaboration, and encouragement that defines the Collective.

More than simply a critique group, the Monday Art Collective has become an essential creative and personal support network for its members. Through weekly meetings, shared exercises, ongoing conversations, and the exchange of artistic inspiration, the group continues to foster meaningful artistic development and connection.

Visitors to the exhibition will encounter a thoughtful and varied collection of contemporary works created by eight women artists whose practices continue to evolve through dialogue, friendship, and mutual inspiration.

Please join us for the Opening Reception, Saturday, June 6, 2026, 2:00–4:00 PM

Venture Beneath the Mill: Rare Behind the Scenes Basement Tour Return!

June 6th, 2:30 – 3:30

Join us for one of our special Behind the Scenes Basement Tours and descend into a hidden part of the Mill rarely open to the public. This fascinating space reveals the story of how water and steam powered the Mill’s operations for generations. Visitors will see the wheel pit where an 18-foot water wheel once turned, learn about the later water turbine system, and discover the engineering that helped make the Old Schwamb Mill one of Arlington’s most remarkable industrial landmarks.

The basement offers a unique glimpse into the Mill’s past, exposing the infrastructure and technology that most visitors never see. It is a side of the Mill that is equal parts history, ingenuity, and mystery.

We hope you’ll join us beneath the Mill and discover where the power behind our historic frame-making tradition began.

Porchfest and Open House at the Old Schwamb Mill

Join us at the Old Schwamb Mill for Arlington Porchfest on Saturday, June 20!

We’re opening the Mill doors for a special free open house filled with live music, demonstrations, art, and history throughout the day. From 11 AM-2 PM, watch master woodturner David Graf demonstrate the craft of woodturning inside our historic workshop and see traditional woodworking techniques in action.

Then enjoy live music on the Mill grounds:
🎵 Pick Up Your Hat: 12 PM-2 PM
🎵 Jam Sandwich Rock Band: 2 PM-4 PM

Visitors are invited to explore the Mill, tour our galleries, learn about our 19th-century machinery, and experience Arlington’s last working mill during one of the town’s most exciting community events.

Admission is free. Bring your friends, enjoy the music, and celebrate Porchfest with us!

Live Music at the Old Schwamb Mill: Bodega Rat Performs July 16

The Old Schwamb Mill is excited to welcome Bodega Rat for a live performance on Thursday, July 16 at 6:30 PM.

Formed in York, Maine in early 2025, Bodega Rat began with a simple goal: transforming a long-forgotten basement into a creative space where friends could gather to rehearse, perform, and share music. After months of work, the once unfinished basement has become the band’s regular rehearsal and performance space, helping shape both their sound and their growing local following. Drawing inspiration from 2000s punk and alternative rock, Bodega Rat performs a lively mix of favorite throwbacks alongside original music. Their energetic setlists blend nostalgia, creativity, and the spirit of DIY music culture that first brought the group together. The band is currently preparing to record its first EP later this year.

This special performance at the Old Schwamb Mill offers visitors the chance to experience live local music in one of Arlington’s most unique historic settings.

Additional Upcoming Events:

• Spajazzy (Outdoor Concert), Thurs, Aug 13, 6:30pm
• “Reframe” Art Exhibition, Sept 12-Nov 14th
• Arlington Town Day, Sat, Sept 19, 10:30am-4:30pm
• Oktoberfest, Sat, Oct 3, 12pm-4pm.

---

Past Art Exhibitions:

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.