MAC
GuildsInfo

Info



   
“Mystic Art Collective            comes from a need to cultivate a place to create, teach, and to show. 
       We believe only then will viewers find their way to join in too.”

Mystic’s Background


Mystic has a rich cultural heritage.  At the turn of the 20th century, the Mystic Art Colony was a thriving hub of impressionist painters and poets. Drawn by the changing seasons, the beautiful coastline and the proximity to art markets in New York and Boston, American Impressionist, Charles Davis settled in Mystic in 1891 after returning from the salons and art schools of Paris, 8 years before the Lyme art colony was started by Henry Ward Ranger. According to the Mystic Museum of Art’s website, “Other artists followed Davis. In 1913, then, he and his second wife, Frances… along with Dr. George and Mary Reed Leonard, Lorinda Dudley, Elizabeth Mallory, and Rev. Albert Earnshaw formed as the Society of Mystic Artists.” These artists lived and worked together and founded what became the Mystic Museum of Art.  

Following World War II, the impressionists gave way to a community of gifted illustrators in Garrett Price, Harve Stein, Herbert Stoops, Robert Brackman, and Yngve Soderberg. The 50’s and 60’s saw a wave of abstract artists and the founding of the Mystic Outdoor Arts Festival in 1957. 

In the 1980’s and 90’s Mystic became a hub for creative youth of all stripes.  A thriving alternative music scene emerged featuring all original music with acts like 17 Relics (which achieved national recognition), Lotus, Delta of Venus, The Alexander Field, Neptune Driver, Skimbleshanks, Mindbender, Doug, Subliminal Messages, Cigarette, Disabled Kane, PlaidPack, Adams Onis, $3 Depth Charge, Grand Passion, Map, Vera From Alice, and Magpie and others.  There were multiple zines and literary magazines, regular poetry readings, and artist exhibitions from photographers like Rollie Mckenna, painters like Jen Wolcin, and sculptors alike.  

Our hope is that the Mystic Arts Collective will be a part of elevating the next chapter in Mystic’s illustrious creative history.  

Our Journey


We began with an image of Mystic; A vision where artists were in the center of the community, not just apart of a yearly fair. Such an image did not feel so far away, yet only existed in the distant memories of the locals. We have honed in on what was remembered, brought together artists who saw their own visions too, and became devoted to making it possible in the much different place Mystic is, in a much different world than when such a community last existed here. 
    From bringing together just the artists who were a call away, to having four fully fledged out groups and more than 100 people involved that have events, talks, and much more within a year of our first meeting.  Our journey became tugging every loose rope, and at the end of each line, was an artist, a reason for gathering, and even an audience. 
     

Your Impact 


With our sketches behind us, we come to our next debut project: Your impact. This collective is organized for those who simply want more art in Mystic. This does not always mean being the one who is showing work, but at least the one willing to say they want to see it. 
    Many of the people did not know what they could do for Mystic Arts Collective but showed up anyway, realized their voice mattered much more than they may have expected. Self-described artists or not, being within an artistic community is only beneficial to the way you take in the world. So let your voice be heard within our community and help it blossom.
MAC ’26

Special Thanks to:

The untitled creators and supporters of our mission:

  • Geoff Gordon
  • Russ Kramer
  • Lee Slimmer
  • Bill Thorndike
  • Mat Tarbox
  • Todd Fake
  • Tamar Hale
  • Jack Ramsdell
  • Pat Doyle
  • Laura Provo-Parker


About Us


The Mystic Arts Collective is a network of creative guilds elevating the cultural scene in Mystic by empowering artists of all mediums and skill levels through connection and collaboration. Learn more on our Info page.

Want to help?


Our design is to be fully supported and run by the community; creators, local business owners, even passerbys. Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, you can help. Show up to a lecture or a workshop, join a guild, sit in on a critique, recommend a friend— all of these things put more light in the direction of the arts in Mystic. This light is ever growing and has room this whole community and more, so take a step in and feel collected. See our Guilds page.
Top