Another Wonderful Garden Art Walk

For this year’s Swampscott Garden Art Walk, the rain may have deterred some of the visitors, but it didn’t affect the spirit of our little seaside town.

In some ways, it sparked even more creativity and cultivated long-lasting community connections.

With 94 registered gardeners, artists, and musicians, many had to find last-minute backup locations when the forecast was 80% rain.

Creative solutions and invitations for backup spaces sprouted up everywhere - some offered extra tents while others offered space under their covered porch, sunroom, and carport. The Deese Family even cleared out their dining room to make space for four artists whom they’d never met.

Yes, garden art walks are about beautiful flowers and interesting art - and there were many magnificent gardens, talented artists, and lively upbeat musicians - but this event was so much more. From beginning to end, it was about connecting neighbors and sharing stories. The journey of the planning was as rewarding as the destination.

There are too many photos to share, but two of the final activities of the day were fitting for this event.

Katya Popova, a multidisciplinary artist from New England, Conservatory of Music, performed a puppet show under the gazebo titled “Vagabond” about a lone traveler moving through changing worlds, carrying traces of forgotten stories. Katya says, “ There are a lot of displaced people in the world. We are all traveling. We need kindness and empathy.”

Philip Alexander of Berklee College of Music performed in Shelley Sackett and Lenny Rotman’s garden. The final song had the musicians and guests alike singing Bob Marley’s
“ One love, One heart, Let’s get together, and it will feel all right.”