Have you started your holiday shopping yet? You should, since Thanksgiving is late this year and that means you don’t have as much time to find perfect gifts for everyone on your list.
The Brush Art Gallery and Studios, on Market Street in downtown Lowell, offers a quaint and intimate place to shop and find hidden gems created by local artists. Talk to the artists in their studios while shopping and browse the associate artist displays to get great ideas for the holidays.
If you are tired of the mall and prefer the gallery setting filled with creations from the heart, the Brush is the place to shop in November and December this year.
Holiday Marketplace is open Nov. 30 to Dec. 24. Sugar & Spice and Festival of Wreaths is on Saturday Nov. 30, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Soup & Shop is on Friday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and Shop ‘til You Drop Holiday Wine & Cheese Reception is on Thursday, Dec. 12, 4-7 p.m.
At Sugar & Spice and Festival of Wreaths, all visitors are invited to have complementary home-baked cookies while shopping. These are baked by the Brush Studio artists and members of the board. Wreaths and mini trees will be displayed in the gallery. Raffle tickets are available and will be processed on Dec. 3. Each wreath will then be given to a lucky winner.
At Soup & Shop, all visitors are invited to have complementary homemade soups while shopping. These are made by the Brush Studio Artists and members of the board.
At Shop ‘til You Drop Holiday Wine & Cheese Reception, all visitors are invited to enjoy wine and cheese while shopping for gifts.
The Brush is supported by the Lowell National Historical Park. Currently, 11 studio artists produce paintings, drawings, illustration, photography, jewelry, sculpture, ceramics, quilts, and crocheted items. Associate artists display work in the common area. Normal gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. For info, visit www.thebrush.org or call 978-459-7819.
Gallery notes
TALK AT NEQM: The New England Quilt Museum, 18 Shattuck Street, Lowell welcomes California artist Joe Cunningham for an in-depth exploration of his latest works, “Quilts for These Times,” on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 11 a.m. The exhibit is on through Dec. 28. This education program is free to members and included with admission for nonmembers.
HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR: Concord Museum supporters join the Guild of Volunteers for the 14th Annual Holiday House Tour on Saturday, Dec. 7. A beloved annual tradition, the Holiday House Tour invites ticketholders to visit festively decorated homes throughout Concord, each with their own unique charm and character. In 2024, the Tour will highlight historical homes in honor of the approaching 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. This popular holiday event sells over 1,000 tickets each year and provides critical support for the Museum’s vital educational initiatives which serve over 14,000 K-12 students annually. Tickets members $50, non-members $55 at https://concordmuseum.org/event/14th-annual-holiday-house-tour/.
Nancye Tuttle’s email address is nancyedt@verizon.net