Upcoming Events: April

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.

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

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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.