The Alewife

Feats of Clay

by M. LeRoy Gardner

Find the glass-paneled arcade, resembling a greenhouse attached to the CVS/Healthworks building in the Porter Square Shopping Center.

Facing the structure you will find a Cambridge Savings Bank ATM housed on the far left. Sheltered on the right side the building is the Emack and Bolio’s ice cream store.

Focus on the space sandwiched in between the aforementioned landmarks and enter through its doors.

One of Mudflat Gallery's featured artists for May, Kingsley Weihe, holds one of her pieces on sale at the Porter Square art boutique. Alewife Photo by Neil W. McCabe

Immediately upon entering, you will come across crafts and artistic wares of varying shapes, designs, and mediums. You may want to quickly assess the space as, simply, another gift-shop full imported, mass-produced trinkets and mugs but look closer.

Poke and nose your way around the shelves and display cases. Vibrant ceramic mixing bowls and carafes; shimmering jewelry and stained glass; poignant statues and sculptures; handmade greeting cards and bookmarks—these are just a few of the items that may catch your glance.

“You can’t walk by without, at least, looking inside,” said Kathy Madison, a frequent customer and employee of Healthworks. “Everything inside is individual, original, unique and special.”

Madison said it is a little oasis in a culture of mass-produced goods and homogenous retail stores.

Another customer, Suzie L. Vandernoot of Somerville, was shopping for a 40th birthday gift. “I’m looking for something handmade and funky.” She describes what she finds here as “a little off the beaten path.”

The work that Vandernoot describes is that of the over 70 local artists displayed and sold within this tight commercial space. With only about 730 square feet, this space is a gallery for not one but two art organizations, Mudflat and the Sign of the Dove Artisans Cooperative. 

Reeves attends CCRC baby forum

by M. Leroy Gardner

The Child Care Resource Center, Inc. held the fifth annual “Caring for Babies” forum March 18 at the Andrew Peabody School.

“You are here because you take care of babies everyday, and we want to take care of you today,” said CCRC’s Special Projects Manager, Jena P. Mottola to the 165 registered participants during the opening ceremony.

The free day of educational workshops, community outreach, and childcare was open to anyone professionally and/or personally concerned for the daily well being of Somerville and Cambridge children aged three years and younger.

“Zero to three is a very influential time in a child’s life, said Mottola. “You can really make or break a child by the care that’s given to them.”

Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves welcomed the participants at the forum’s opening program

Alluding to the main focuses of the forum, Reeves said he was impressed by the Montessori educational philosophy, which emphasizes the time between birth and three years as one of the most critical moments in a child’s life.

Reeves was thrilled to attend his first forum, he said.

The forum’s keynote speaker Mary Foley, from the Children’s Dental Health Project in Washington said it was important to maintain an emphasis of this critical time with a specific discussion on oral health as a key component to general health.