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Caitlin Burke performs in “Show Stoppers!” at Peabody’s Black Box Theater.
PHOTOS BY SPENSER HASAK
arc.org/services/black-box-theater/) is now
in full swing, with the purchase of chairs/
stadium seating, lights and sound equipment
a priority. A small piano was bought
from the Lyric Stage theater company, and
new HVAC and electric wiring have been
completed. The space has a load-in door,
rare for a Black Box.
“It's great to be in downtown Peabody.
Businesses are so happy and supportive of
this arts center and the theater, and of our
Breaking Grounds coffeehouse, too,” said
Brown.
“The mayor (Ted Bettencourt), the
business organizations, everyone has been
great. This fits our mission as well as that
of the city.”
There's a mural that grabs your attention
the second you walk into the lobby.
It's Waldo Peirce's “Old Bull Pen,” a 1940
example of New Deal art, featuring Peabody
pots of red clay, cattle and celebrates
the city's history as Leather Capital of
the World. Fully restored, it remains in its
original location.
The galleries feature rotating shows. The
Caitlin Burke and David Macaluso perform
in “Show Stoppers!” at Peabody’s Black Box
Theater.
work of artists with disabilities are shown
side-by-side with that of non-disabled artists.
A gallery shop is open six days a week,
featuring handmade arts and crafts, many
by the people Arc supports.
The Shine jewelry line, made here, is
sold in 10 places, including Peabody Essex
Museum, the Salem Hospital Gift Shop,
the general store at Mass General Hospital,
and the Witch History Museum in Salem.
Northeast Arc's Heritage Caning Co.
has been in business for 60 years. “This is
one of only two storefront caning businesses
still in business in Massachusetts,”
said Brown. One employee, Ron Lavino of
Lynn, recently celebrated his 50th anniversary
with Heritage Caning. A party was
thrown in his honor earlier this month.”
Northeast Arc was founded in 1954 by
parents of children with developmental disabilities
who wanted to raise their sons and
daughters as full members of the community.
By challenging professionals who told
them their children could not be educated
and would not live to become adults, these
parents created the systems that enabled
them to attend public schools, develop
friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of
their choice and to earn a paycheck.
Today it serves some 9,000 persons in
nearly 190 communities.
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