Small town living in Massachusetts.. Know of any?

[jackshaw]

495neighbor, they can be the same, but there are many funky places where there is not a community of serious artists. There are probably few communities that have artists that don't have a funky character. Salem is an example of a community that I don't think of as having a serious artistic community but does have a funky character. Boulder CO is similar. I have wanted to live there or buy a place there. The trick: my wife, who is a serious artist, wants to have a community of serious artists. Well, we spent five or six days there, getting shown around by good friends and their friends. Not a big community of artists. Probably tons of crafts people of various kinds (I'm sure you can find organic earrings -- I actually found a maker of gluten-free dog food).

Portland, NH has some artists and some funk. So does Fort Point. Lots of Vermont seems more like Salem. West Concord is a little light on the funk; it had more years ago, IIRC.

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by jackshaw

495neighbor, they can be the same, but there are many funky places where there is not a community of serious artists. There are probably few communities that have artists that don't have a funky character. Salem is an example of a community that I don't think of as having a serious artistic community but does have a funky character. Boulder CO is similar. I have wanted to live there or buy a place there. The trick: my wife, who is a serious artist, wants to have a community of serious artists. Well, we spent five or six days there, getting shown around by good friends and their friends. Not a big community of artists. Probably tons of crafts people of various kinds (I'm sure you can find organic earrings -- I actually found a maker of gluten-free dog food).

Portland, NH has some artists and some funk. So does Fort Point. Lots of Vermont seems more like Salem. West Concord is a little light on the funk; it had more years ago, IIRC.

Jackshaw, I do think you have a point.

Funky is artsy crafty, organic, trendy.

Comparing Gloucester with Salem, I know many commercial artists (think game developer, web designer) in Salem, but many more artist artists in Gloucester. Gloucester is much less funky than Salem. Rockport is known as an artist colony, but has a touristy feel.

Concord has Emerson Umbrella. I have been to open studios over there. Seems more crafty and like a community arts center. They have the Earth Day parade with costumes, a big town event.

Maynard has ArtSpace, a strong artist community, and also the funky downtown.

Acton is not at all funky, yet during open studios one can view the work of serious artists in the community around Exchange Hall and scattered around town.

Lincoln, not the least bit funky, had a long standing community of artists around the DeCordova Museum studios, working artist teachers and students. Last year, the museum converted the studios to daycare. It will be interesting in years to come how this impact town character.