Grace & Diggs

06/08/2026

It was a such a delight coordinating the 2026 Community Art Project for Salem Arts Festival for a special year - Salem’s 400th birthday. Salem High School Students built the letters and then we asked various community groups to decorate each one. As a celebration of all the colorful and whimsical people found here in Salem, we named the project, “Character of Salem.” I am grateful for the people in my community. They are instigators, collaborators, friends. I am blessed and grateful.

Some specific thanks:
Salem Main Streets and Creative Collective for pulling off an amazing arts festival - this event is a huge part of what makes Salem special. John & team, Kylie, Elise you guys are phenomenal people. I am constantly amazed by you.

Thank you also to project sponsors who made this project possible! Salem Cultural Council, The Witchery, The Phoenix School, Marblehead Bank - it means so much for artists like me to have the resources to do art. Thank you for showing your faith in us through your dollars, which make these projects possible.

05/29/2026

Come see us at Gallows Hill Artists Studios tomorrow, 5/30, from 11-6pm! Beki Ferrari will have a pop-up shop at Grace & Diggs with some of the coolest jewelry I know of, set against a backdrop of my hats. In addition, get a sneak peek at a couple of the giant letters being worked on for . Full info in comments.

05/18/2026

The Salem Main Streets Community Art Project has been a favorite project for several years now & it is time for it once again. Nothing says, “spring”’like this does!

This year’s project, dreamed up by SMS Arts Festival Committee almost a year ago (with further development by Elise & me), is a celebration of Salem’s 400th birthday. It is also a big shout-out to the cast of colorful characters one is likely to find here in Salem. We were inspired by the furred & feathered characters on Sesame Street & The Muppets and the early lessons they taught about diversity & kindness. After all, aren’t we all just a bunch of wild & furry muppets?

We asked Salem High CTE Department to build giant letters spelling out “SALEM 400+” and then asked different community groups to texturize the letters with different materials & colours. We wanted lots of hands from a wide variety of demographics to work on these. It is such a joy to watch this come together! Keep an eye out for the letters being wheeled around town and come see the finished product at Salem Arts Festival!

So many people care enough to make community art happen and we are grateful. Here are notes about them:

Salem Arts Festival is organized by and . The project is funded by a grant from the Salem Cultural Council with support from The Marblehead Bank. The letters were constructed by Salem High School Career & Technical Education students. Community groups who are adding texture & colour include The Phoenix School, Salem High School Arts Honor Society, Brookhouse Home , North Shore CDC Youth Build students, , Erin Survilas .artist , North Shore Glass School, , and Gallows Hill Artists Studios . We appreciate you all so much and can’t wait to see the finished product at 2026 Salem Arts Festival!

04/02/2026

A big thank you to everyone who came out to my fascinator workshops! It was a pleasure getting to know you all - the conversation and laughter were a delight!

04/02/2026

Breaking news! VIP tickets were sold out, but we've just had a bunch become available!!!! Snag your tix while they last!

April 8, 6:30 pm, Peabody Essex Museum

📸: of in 2025

Thank you to partnering sponsor , lead sponsors DJQ Media and , as well as for their support of this special event.

04/01/2026

This year I’m working on 3 looks for the fashion show - each featuring a different local t-shirt designer. This promises to be such a fun night! Come join us!

03/29/2026

Rebecca, Donna, Amy and everyone at Hamilton Hall who put on such a great event - thank you for this creative collaboration. Your support and inclusion of me as a local artist was so appreciated. It was a beautiful event - I hope you are resting well today after your hard work. It is much deserved.

03/19/2026

I've been hard at work on pieces for this show - something totally different this year! Come join us - it is a wonderful evening in support of a wonderful cause.

Salem Main Streets Annual Fashion Show - April 8th 2026 at the Peabody Essex Museum . Tickets are still available to mingle and admire local looks while supporting Salem Main Streets.

Featuring: PEMShop, Die With Your Boots On, Modern Millie, Re-Find, The Ossuary, Vampfangs, Salem Flea, Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry, Grace & Diggs, and more in the works!

Photography by Dana Quigley of DJQMedia

Sponsors make this event possible: Peabody Essex Museum, DJQ Media, Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry, Witch City Walking Tours, Loveletter Confections, Modern Millie Vintage, Nina-Soto Realty