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Alison Skirtboston

Skirt! Boston editor

Skirt! is evidence that the universe is paying attention: I spent the last six years at mach speed, whether finishing college (Emerson) while writing full time for Boston Globe West (2001-2004) or editing the Boston Parents’ Paper during the day while holding down the steady gig writing for Globe ...

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Beyond the Mall

It’s hard to believe the new Natick Collection is celebrating its first birthday already. While it can be difficult to talk about The Place Formerly Known As Natick Mall without stumbling over the word “collection” you have to hand it to them – they’ve elevated the experience with the architecture in the new section. Here’s my favorite part:

Yeah, laugh if you want, but this is a true restroom.  It’s not at the end of some dingy service corridor that echoes when you trudge into the bowels of the mall. This is an elegant space that is much appreciated by those of us who have to share a bathroom 1/16th the size at home!

But I digress. A great use of the new space has been the exhibits they’re able to stage. Currently, local artists have their interpretations of shopping bags on display near the “Infinity Pool” (in the old mall, I think it was called the Chrysler Pool, but that just goes to show how upscale we’ve become).

On display until September 10, these “shopping bags” are meant to bring attention to the Natick Artists Open Studios event the first weekend of October, a fun peek into all sorts of artists’ studios in downtown buildings, warehouses and homes in town.

I wish I had thought of that method of “repurposing” records... hey, I think we still have a box in the basement full of Falco (Rock Me, Amadeus!) and Devo (Whip It) vinyl from the ‘80s.

Stay tuned to our calendar in print and online for info on upcoming exhibits, like the MassArt student fashion show, soon to begin at the Natick Collection (opening reception Sept 19).