By Savath Yong

Adventures Close to Home, an art exhibition and silent auction, presented by Boston Lady Fest and the Snow Project kicked off its opening day celebration on Friday, January 13 at the Washington Street Art Center in Somerville. The auction will take place throughout the month of January and aims to raise funds to benefit the Ladyfest Boston, a three-day festival that takes place February – 5 at the Cambridge YMCA. All proceeds from the festival will be donated to the Eastern Massachusetts Abortion Access Fund.

The auction will showcase artwork donated by local feminist artists, including works of abstractions, printmaking, drawings, illustrations and paintings of different mediums. In addition to the opening party, there will be two additional events held at the Washington Street Art Center to benefit the festival. A screening of Who Took the Bomp?: Le Tigre on Tour documentary will be held on Sunday, January 22, at 4:00 p.m. and will include free popcorn with a suggested door donation. A “Noise  and Experimental Show”  showcasing local acts Donna Parker, Citizens for Confetti, Avoidance, and more will be held on Friday, January 27. The auction will be open to all who attend.

The events aim to bring a like minded community of feminists together and to demonstrate what they can do collaboratively and creatively to accomplish raising money for a worthy cause. According to Rachel Rizzo, a Ladyfest Boston committee member, the auction encourages local feminist arts of any gender orientation to donate their work to support the EMA Fund, an organization that offers immediate services to people that are in need of funding and who do not have resources or access to health insurance.

“Feminism is a hot button word and everyone has their own personal definition. For me, it’s about equality and not limiting or alienating any gender. More importantly, this event shows how active men and women are in our community and neighborhoods. Everyone has been so supportive and it’s wonderful seeing all this creative energy displayed in our artwork,” said Rizzo.

The Washington Street Art Center is located at 321 Somerville Ave. Somerville, MA 02143.  http://washingtonst.org. For more information about Ladyfest Boston, email http://ladyfestboston.blogspot.com.