JANUARY
IN THE GALLERY -
BENNY MERRIS: IN LOVE WITH THE WORLD
January 1 - January 31
1/24 Poetry Appreciation Night: A Stranger’s Love Letters
1/25 Riverside Chat: Benny Merris with Boise River Enhancement Network
FEBRUARY
IN THE GALLERY -
KATE WALKER & CAROLINE EARLEY: INTERCHANGE
February 7 - March 21
2/1 Power of the Press: Letterpress Poster Workshop
2/7 OPENING RECEPTION 6-8pm
2/15 Power of the Press: Letterpress Poster Workshop
MARCH
IN THE GALLERY -
KATE WALKER & CAROLINE EARLEY: INTERCHANGE:
February 7 - March 21
3/7 FIRST FRIDAY
3/7 ARTIST TALK w/ KATE WALKER & CAROLINE EARLEY 6pm
Poetry Appreciation Night: A Stranger's Love Letters
Creating art is like writing a love letter to a world of strangers: It's sent out in hopes that someone finds it, connects with it, and loves it.
This event is a moment for artists in our community to return to that love letter: shower sweet praise upon a stranger who sent out meaningful missives of poetry and song that helped shape them into the artist and person they have become! An evening of art and passion and joy and sharing that with the community.
Hosted by Ben of Raising Our Voices
Attendees will be invited to print their own letterpress broadside celebrating the poets' words.
Workshop presented by Caitlin Harris of Open Letter Collective.
Power of the Press: Letterpress Poster Workshop
SHOUT HOUSE
FEE: $45.00 | 8 max people
Learn about the craft of letterpress printing and create your own unique poster. Participants will compose powerful written messages and print multiple copies to share on a vintage press. Explore the history of printing, create with antique wood type and engraved images, and discover the power of the press.
Workshop presented by Caitlin Harris of Open Letter Collective.
MAXINE FLASHER-DÜZGÜNEŞ PERFORMANCE
Join us Friday, December 13th at The Common Well for a performance by Surel’s Place artist-in-residence MAXINE FLASHER-DÜZGÜNEŞ in which she presents an evening-length installation on the three-dimensionality of erasure poetry and its cross pollination with the disciplines of dance, animation, sound, and scenic design. Original poems of Surel’s Place workshop participants will be displayed and opportunities will arise for attendees to strikethrough portions of text to create new ones. What remains of the poems will change the landscape of the space. The installation will culminate with a solo performance in response to “strikethrough 48,” an erasure poem about ending one’s life in a country flooding with natural beauty but drought ridden when it comes to services for the mentally ill. In collaboration with Taipei based animators Jade Lien & Irene Lin, whose “drawn-on-film” technique will be projected at intervals throughout the evening, along with ambient sound by Salt Lake City based composer Michael Wall. A talk-back at 8pm will discuss the impact of interactive media and how both language and dance can be malleable and ephemeral in their attempts to touch the hearts and minds of those who encounter them. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here.
BENNY MERRIS: ARTIST TALK
Don’t miss your chance to meet artist Benny Merris and hear him talk about his newest work in his solo exhibition — IN LOVE WITH THE WORLD — at The Common Well. (Come in person or follow us on Instagram for a live feed.)
FIRST FRIDAY + HOLIDAY MARKET
Do your holiday shopping at The Common Well & Big Moon Barter this year. Join us during First Friday for our HOLIDAY MARKET featuring work by your favorite Show & Tell residents and Common Well artists, along with a pop-up exhibition on the 2nd Floor by artist SEAN AHERN. Meanwhile, you can be sure to be entertained in the main gallery amidst BENNY MERRIS’artworks by WHISTLE GRINDER, an improvisational live performance ensemble driven by the unique talents of THEO MONTROSE (Jazz/Americana/Blues/Ska) and STEPHANIE LAISHY(Flamenco). And many of our artists throughout the building will have their studios open late, including our newest wave of Show & Tell Artists-in-Residence. The Holiday Market will open at 4:00 for early birds. Everything else begins 5:30. Hope to see you!
BENNY MERRIS: In Love With The World - Opening Reception
Join us on Thursday, December 5th, as we welcome home New York-based artist BENNY MERRIS for a solo exhibition and the official lighting of a new outdoor public artwork — IN LOVE WITH THE WORLD — at The Common Well in Garden City, Idaho. The show includes photographs from Merris' ongoing series, An Other Another, in which he paints and then photographs his forearm during exploratory play in varied landscapes. Most were made this past summer in the Boise foothills, Boise River, Payette Lake in McCall and one during the 2017 total eclipse in Lost River Range, Idaho. And lucky us — our favorite DJ, GRANT OLSEN, will be in the house making it sing. All are welcome!
Healing Through Color: A Meditative Painting Workshop & Lunch
Join us on Sunday, November 3rd, for a transformative 4-hour workshop that merges art, mindfulness, and natural materials. In collaboration with artist CAMILLA DAHLIN, whose Alcove Pop-up Show - "Into The Ether" - on the 2nd Floor at The Common Well will debut on Friday, November 1st, featuring her work made from handmade earth pigments and JESS THUJA, earth artist and healing practitioner, this workshop invites you to explore the therapeutic nature of creating from the earth.
Dahlin and Thuja begin with an introduction to color development, exploring the emotional and symbolic weight colors carry. As participants enter the process of meditative pigment creation, they will be drawn to certain natural pigments—colors that resonate with their emotions, reflecting how they feel in the moment. This is a form of color therapy, offering a powerful way to tune into one’s emotional landscape through intuitive color choices.
Using natural earth pigments, participants will engage in a guided meditation while mixing the pigments into paint, a mindful practice that encourages grounding, presence, and reflection. This tactile process connects participants with the earth, allowing each participant to tap into the wisdom of nature and their own inner selves as they create colors that are both healing and expressive.
A local, nutrient-dense lunch follows, providing time for nourishment and reflective conversation. The workshop concludes with a woodblock painting session, where participants use the pigments they’ve mindfully created to paint in a ritual of self-expression and healing. This is not just an art practice—it’s an invitation to nurture one’s soul and explore the profound connection between art, nature, and personal transformation.
November First Friday
Along with our Garden City neighbors, we'll be open late so you can wander through the studios and catch our current exhibit.
Artists Talk & Workshop
In conjunction with our current exhibition, SHOW & TELL, we’re taking time on Tuesday evenings in October to hear from the artists. Join us for one or all of several artist talks, workshops and demos. Scroll down for a full schedule.
Next up are HALLIE MAXWELL & EMMA HOOD on Tuesday, October 22nd. Maxwell will begin at 6PM sharp with a slide presentation followed by a short Q&A. Following, at 6:40PM, Hood will begin her workshop — Iterations of Self: A Workshop with Photos and Scissors.
HALLIE MAXWELL is a Japanese American interdisciplinary artist who works with installation, audio, video, drawing, and performance. Maxwell received her MFA in Visual Arts from Boise State University in 2024 and is a recipient of the International Sculpture Center’s 2023 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award. Maxwell is a descendant of survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Her work studies themes such as generational trauma, loss, and disconnection from cultural identity.
EMMA HOOD is a photographer and collage artist from Boise, ID. Her work has been exhibited across Idaho and Wales. Hood’s work delves into the passage of time and the evolution of identity influenced by life experiences. She has explored this theme in a self-portrait series, incorporating symbols like window blinds and handcrafted masks.
Iterations of Self: A Workshop with Photos and Scissors - Workshop Details:
Participants must bring a photograph of themselves that can be physically manipulated. Scissors and basic craft supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring anything you wish to use! The workshop will guide participants through a self-reflective, creative exercise using these materials. Minimum age: 18 FREE. Space is Limited - RSVP
Artist Talk and Workshop - Leo Nino & Lila Streicher
In conjunction with our current exhibition, SHOW & TELL, we’re taking time on Tuesday evening in October to hear from the artists. Join us for one or all of several artist talks, workshops and demonstrations.
Next up are LEO NINO & LILA STREICHER on October 15th at 6pm followed by a workshop on PRACTICING CREATIVITY, STRETCHING THE CREATIVE MUSCLES AND TRUSTING INTUITION. Come for the talk or stay for both. All are welcome!
LILA STREICHER is a multi-media artist, primarily working as a filmmaker and photographer. Streicher’s work is explorative and collaborative and draws from personal, lived experiences. She likes worms.
LEO NINO is an abstract painter, deeply immersed in exploring the inner worlds of the subconscious mind and dreams. Nino’s art is a creative expression, blending abstract forms with deep explorations of the subconscious mind and the intricate landscapes of dreams.