On Friday, April 25, 2025, GLOWBALL will transform the Armory Performance Hall into an immersive Glow-in-the-Dark Rave created by Afro House DJ Adam Gibbons with hypnotic visuals by Jay Medina, all in support of The Center for Arts at the Armory.

GLOWBALL is an anti-gala–there will be no speeches, formal presentations or auction. There will be pop-up performances by SambaViva and Sidy Maiga on djembe. GLOWBALL tickets include complimentary international bites, and glow in the dark accessories and face painting by Arty Mari. 

Arty Mari will be at GLOWBALL offering skin-safe glow-in-the dark face and hand painting

This year Arts at the Armory will be honoring three outstanding individuals connected to the arts in Somerville:

Lifetime Achievement: Rachel Strutt

Outstanding Artist: Nelson Salaza Community Arts Advocate: Clay Fernald 

GLOWBALL promises to be Somerville’s most illuminating party of the year in support of advancing Arts at the Armory’s mission to provide an inclusive and accessible venue that creates opportunities for artists and cultural workers, brings diverse audiences together, enriches and transforms lives, and promotes the creative economy.

Tickets are available on our platform. VIP Lounge tickets (7pm start) are $100 and include an opening reception; “sponsor an artist” tickets are $100; general admission tickets (8pm start) are $40.

GLOWBALL Sponsors are being accepted through the event date. 

The Center for Arts at the Armory is located at 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143. To learn more please visit our website, https://artsatthearmory.org/, our Facebook page, and follow us on Instagram at @ArtsattheArmory.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Rachel Strutt

Rachel Strutt is the Cultural Director at the Somerville Arts Council, where she works on cultural placemaking projects, curates arts festivals and public art projects, and helps manage the LCC grant program, which funds approximately 80 local artists and cultural organizations annually. She has created, and runs, multicultural programs such as the Intercambio Language and Culture Exchange and Nibble, a nationally recognized program that highlights the culinary talents of Somerville’s immigrant communities and marries cultural programing with economic development; the program includes a restaurant and business incubator called Nibble Kitchen. Strutt is also a journalist, having written dozens of articles about art, culture, and travel for publications like the Boston Globe and Boston Magazine. Before joining the Somerville Arts Council, Strutt was the managing editor at the Improper Bostonian magazine. She holds a BA in Cultures and Languages from the University of Connecticut and an MA in art history from Tufts University, where she studied medieval art.

Community Arts Advocate Award: Clay Fernald

Clay Fernald (Clay N. Ferno) is a music business professional with over 20 years of experience, specializing in social media and marketing strategies. He serves as a Promoter Representative for comedy and podcast events with Bill Blumenreich Presents (BBPShows) and LeaguePodcast at Arts at The Armory. Based in Boston, Clay enjoys riding bikes, creating podcasts, and writing about pop culture.

Outstanding Artist Award: Nelson Salazar
Nelson Salazar was born in El Salvador, immigrated to the United States in 1980, and has lived in Somerville for more than 40 years. He worked his way from dishwasher, to chef, and all the way to community and immigrant advocacy in the world of nonprofits including being executive director of The Welcome Project.

Along the way, Nelson discovered a passion for stained glass art, which he decided to continue exploring after retiring in 2020. In addition to exhibiting and selling his stained glass work locally, he has remained dedicated to supporting the community by organizing fundraisers. Proceeds from the sale of his artwork have benefited local nonprofits, including Groundwork Somerville and Justice at Work in Boston.

DJ Adam Gibbons

Voted one of the Top 100 Afrohouse Artists by Traxsource, Adam Gibbons is known globally for his energetic sets that explore the intersection of Afro-Latin rhythms and house music. In 2008, he launched the dance party ‘Uhuru Afrika’ to create a space to explore this sound that has become known as ‘Afro House’, and for which he is recognized as a pioneer. Over the years, Gibbons has shared the stage with artists like Bebel Gilberto, Sheila E, Femi Kuti, Oumou Sangaré, De La Soul, Thievery Corporation, and many more.