ArtHONK!
ArtHONK! formerly known as Elm Street Interactive Area
Saturday, October 11 1-5pm
We’re closing Elm Street to cars and turning it into a dynamic arena for interactive art making and activism. Please join in — work with our amazing HONK! artists to create something for yourself or for the Sunday Parade. Learn about some urgent issues with the grass roots volunteers and organizers working on community issues. Help amplify messages for positive change and activist causes with art!
ArtHONK! intro
The ArtHONK! has the same mission as Honk! – take over the streets and advocate for issues that will benefit the community. Instead of music, ArtHONK! uses art to advocate for causes.
ArtHONK! includes installations and hands-on activities for all those passing by. It is a chance for local artists and activist and community groups to share with the general public their ideas, concerns, images, words, creations, and strategies for a better world. This year Elm Street artists will offer opportunities to engage in projects about equity and voting rights, climate change and ecological crisis, and the war on Gaza, by making banners, flags, cardboard parading costumes, and chalk art, or participating in an installation about Palestinian identity.
We are honored to have the following artists and activist groups participate in this year’s ArtHonk! : Cambridge Wildlife Arts, Climate Crisis Cabaret, Extinction Rebellion, If Not Now- Boston, MIRA Coalition, Pemberton Farms, Somverville Community Fridge, The Puppeteers Cooperative, The Welcome Project, Vanessa Zanin, and Zoe Stark.
Cambridge Wildlife Arts
Cambridge Wildlife Arts, launched in 2012 as a Honk! Parade marching group, has since then focused on art-making as a way for people of all ages and backgrounds to make personal and community connections with city animals, plants, and habitats. Outdoors for all is a central principle. We are making the transition to a volunteer-led organization in 2025 and welcome new volunteers.
The Banners Project arose as a response to the current crisis. Fiber arts have played a role both in free expression and in healing from trauma. The banners represent solidarity— in their message, in how they are made, and in being a collective asset. The home languages of immigrant communities in our cities are integral to the Banners Project, which declares the importance of the mother tongues spoken in every city neighborhood.
This afternoon we invite you to join a sewing circle, whether or not you know how to sew. Sew and embroider in community to construct a fabric banner with a message of resilience, resistance, and community care, illustrated with wildlife images.
The banners may be carried in the Honk! Parade by anyone who has participated in a sewing circle.
FB: IG: cambridgewildlifearts
Climate Crisis Cabaret
Climate Crisis Cabaret is a new group of Boston area theatre artists, scientists and activists who have organized to kindle action on the climate crisis. In March 2025, we produced the first of a series of cabarets aiming to energize climate activism in our community. We’re now looking for artists, scientists and activists who want to work with us. Interested? Visit climatecrisiscabaret.org, to learn about our recent cabaret. Contact us at if you’re interested in helping us create future events!
At Elm Street, Boston actor Debra Wise reprises her performance from Climate Crisis Cabaret: The Warm-Up, produced in March at Arrow Street Arts in Harvard Square. As the divine DIANE, she comes to awaken humanity to the climate crisis. This brief scene from the hit play Hurricane Diane will be performed at intervals during the afternoon.
FB: @ClimateCrisisCabaretBoston
Extinction Rebellion
Extinction Rebellion is an international non-violent movement focused on raising the alarm about the climate and ecological crisis, pressuring governments to act, and inspiring people to get involved. At Elm Street XR’s theme will be “I want to plant the seed of _____” and our interactive activity will include a local wildflower seed bomb making station, where passersby can make and take clay or paper-based seed bombs to cast this autumn or spring, and get to know and improve some neglected spots in their neighborhoods or their own yards, and help our pollinators.
XRBoston.org
IG: XRBoston
If Not Now – Boston
We are a movement of U.S. Jews organizing our community to end U.S. support for Israel’s apartheid system and demand equality, justice, and a thriving future for all Palestinians and Israelis. We speak powerfully and act publicly to call American Jews into action: in the streets, in our communities, and in our politics. To do this, we must take a firm, loving approach to transform our Jewish communities to fight for a vision of Jewish liberation: which means our safety does not come at the expense of others, but is bound with the liberation of all people. Join us!
IG: @IfNotNowBoston
MIRA Coalition
MIRA is the largest coalition in New England promoting the rights and integration of immigrants and refugees. With offices in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, we advance this mission through education and training, leadership development, institutional organizing, strategic communications, policy analysis and advocacy.
MIRA is a dynamic and multi‐ethnic coalition with 140+ organizational members, including grassroots community organizations; refugee resettlement agencies; providers of social, legal and health services, faith-based organizations and civil and human rights advocates. We organize and empower our members and allies, and together we mobilize immigrant communities to advocate for themselves, and amplify and support their voices.
Learn more about our work, find resources and learn about volunteer opportunities by visiting our website at www.miracoalition.org and following us on social media
IG: @mira_coalition | Facebook/YouTube/Twitter/LinkedIn: @miracoalition
The Puppeteers Cooperative
The Puppeteers Cooperative works in community puppet workshops, pageants, and parades, and also runs a giant puppet lending library, all in the service of helping people to make giant street spectacles from simple everyday materials.
The Welcome Project
At ArtHONK!, we’re creating a space where you can paint a flag to carry around or wave proudly during the parade. Paint the flag of your country of origin, ancestry, a place you feel connected to, or invent your own! By creating a flag, you’re showing solidarity with immigrants in Somerville and beyond, many of whom are actively under attack as they try to go about their daily lives. It’s a powerful way to celebrate the rich diversity of our city. You’ll also have the chance to write a message of love and support to your immigrant neighbors on a whiteboard and have your photo taken. These photos will be displayed in our office, shared online, and shown to our immigrant constituents, many of whom are too fearful to attend public events but will deeply appreciate seeing the support that exists around them.
Vanessa Zanin
Zoë Stark
Zoë Stark is a teacher and writer who makes art with kids. At ArtHONK! 2025, we will be making a mural, using color and line to express how HONK music sounds. Music reaches all of us in different ways. We will collaborate on a community piece that blends the joy of making art with the fun of listening to music. Participants of all ages are welcome, especially children!