Current Exhibits

Arlington Center for the Arts is excited to partner with Arlington Poet Laureate Jean Flanagan to present Symbiosis, a unique exhibition that pairs visual artwork and poetry from creatives across the region. This exhibition explores the dynamic nature of community and change, from evolving family relationships to complex feelings about history and identity, and even the flora and fauna of our own backyards.

 

The works in this show were submitted independently and grouped together through an intensive jurying process. Symbiosis presents dichotomies, harmonies and new ways of thinking through the juxtaposition of words and visuals. What themes emerge when different disciplines come together? How may a poem and a painting, created separately, speak to the same idea? Does an unexpected pairing change the meaning of each work? We invite you to explore these questions and leave with a new perspective about the arts' ability to inspire reflection, conversation, and community.

 

Please note that some of the poems in this exhibition may contain sensitive content. ACA encourages viewers to process the work at their own pace and take space as needed.

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This exhibition is made possible in part by support from Arlington's Poet Laureate and the Grants Committee of the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture. Symbiosis is presented as part of the Arlington250: Untold Stories of Menotomy Celebration happening through 2026 throughout Arlington, MA.