FRAMINGHAM, MA - Members and the general public are invited to attend the Amazing Things Arts Center’s Open House Welcome and Thank You Party on July 31 from 3 – 5 PM.

The formal Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and recognition of the Founding Benefactors will take place at 3:30. This event will celebrate what can be accomplished when many dedicated people work together. According to Amazing Things Board President Lee Mendenhall of Framingham, “We want to showcase our new Center and express our appreciation to the hundreds of people who have supported us in establishing something special in the Metro West/Framingham area.“ Executive Director Michael Moran added, “Amazing Things was founded on a vision of the arts as ‘a rich form of communication that allows us to meet, understand, and accept each other.’ The success of our new venture after only a year of operation tells us how much the community values our vision.”

The Amazing Things Arts Center is located at 55 Nicholas Road in Framingham (in the Pinefield Shopping Center in Saxonville).

Everyone who has contributed will be honored on July 31. The following major founding benefactors will be especially recognized:

· Jon and Jill Baker

· Jerry Burke

· Caroline and Hugh Cockrill

· Creative Tile

· Joan and Russell Doucette

· Frank and Kelly DuMar

· David and Aaron Greenblatt

· Leslie M. Holmes

· David Lang

· Barbara and Corbit Larson

· Lindalee Lawrence and Richard Lucash

· Cheryl Litster

· The Lost and Foundation

· Yuri Machkasov

· The Maxwell Hurston Family Foundation

· Lee and Mary Anne Mendenhall

· Liza and Michael Moran

· The Portland Group

· Cynthia Rosso

· William and Kathleen Rousseau

· Chris Walsh

· Peter Whistler

· Thomas Chipman Co.

Upcoming Amazing events include:

· Folk/world artist Tony Bird on Saturday, July 23 (8:00PM)

· Folk/pop/jazz artist Celia Slattery on Friday, July 29 (8:00PM)

· Folk artist/satirist Tom Neilson on Saturday, July 30 (8:00PM)

· Weepin' Willie and the All Star Blues Band on Friday, August 5 (8:00PM)

· Folk/funnyman Don White on Saturday, August 6 (8:00PM)

Amazing Things sponsors a weekly Jazz Jam on Tuesday nights, Outspoken Word Open Mike on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday nights of each month, and Cabaret Open Mike on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday nights. For full listings, check out www.amazingthings.org

You can also visit the Amazing Things Gallery any Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 PM. This month, they are featuring "Art in the Neighborhood" by Saxonville Studios.

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