Imaginary creatures large and small lurk among the leaves as visitors wander through the secret garden that has sprouted in Eastworks. 

Standing within the Monster Arts Project, it’s easy to forget that the mystical paintings, sculptures, oddities and installations reside within the halls of one of Easthampton’s iconic mill buildings rather than their own world. According to the project’s organizers, that’s exactly the goal they aim for as they curate and construct the larger-than-life, multi-sensory art exhibition. 

“We want to create an environment and an experience,” said organizer Athan Vennell. “We want people to leave having felt something.”

“We want the people who come here to feel like they’re stepping into another world,” added co-organizer Sloan Tomlinson. 

The Monster Arts Project’s current theme, “Secret Garden,” allows artists and attendees alike to step into a verdant realm of imaginary creatures, tight-knit community and diverse artwork. This year’s exhibition features more than 30 artists in various stages of their careers, making this Monster Arts Project the biggest one yet. 

The project began in 2015, with Tomlinson’s deep interest in the widespread cultural significance of imaginary creatures, as well as their influence on his own work. Unlike real animals, Tomlinson said, there are no expectations as to what most imaginary creatures can look like, leaving the door to creativity wide open.

“There isn’t a single culture on Earth that hasn’t created magical creatures,” said Tomlinson. “I think it’s very interesting that we all have that in common, that humans have that instinct to create these creatures.”

For years, Tomlinson has had great interest in photographing wasps, and examining how their natural lives can seem almost fantastical when looked at up close.

“A lot of their life cycles are very monstrous,” Tomlinson explained. 

When Tomlinson’s inclination toward all things monstrous combined with Vennell’s spatial visioning and experience as a fashion designer, they were able to transform empty suite space within Eastworks into something entirely new. For each Monster Arts Project, they devised a new theme to guide their design of the space and the work of the artists participating, each with its own unique feel. 

But when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the Monster Arts Project was put on hold for several years. 

“Because it had been five years, we weren’t sure people would remember us and would want to come out,” said Vennell about bringing the exhibition back this year. “But as soon as we put the word out to the artists, everybody jumped.”

“When I got the email from Sloan, I did a back flip, and once I got up off the floor, I got to work,” said Brett Kelley, a returning Monster Arts Project artist. “It’s one of my favorite things that I get to be a part of.”

It wasn’t just artists who were excited about the Monster Arts Project’s return. Eastworks jumped at the opportunity to offer access to the project’s current vast space, giving Vennell and Tomlinson ample time to “let the space guide them” in their design and concept, said Vennell. 

Community members also flocked back to this beloved event. At the exhibition’s opening night on Oct. 5, Tomlinson said that their clicker lost track of the number of attendees somewhere around 500. 

Part of what makes the Monster Arts Project so special, according to Vennell, is that sense of loyal community among the artists and community members. 

Kelley said that one of the most rewarding parts of participating in the project is getting to catch up with artist friends, and welcome new members into the Monster Arts “family.” Tomlinson and Vennell’s curation of that family is part of what makes the project unique, as the pair strives to incorporate artists both established and new, working in a variety of mediums and styles. Each year that the Monster Arts Project opens its doors, it includes many artists who have chosen to return. 

“Community is really a word that shines through here,” said Kelley. 

Todd Lynch, a new artist to the project this year, expressed how exciting it was to be a part of a cohesive project made up of so many distinct parts. Lynch also found that this year’s theme was particularly enticing to him as someone who constructs works of art largely out of plant material. 

“I really liked seeing how my work sort of meshed with those in the space,” said Lynch. “I was really inspired by the space. A lot of my work is about trying to get people to slow down and really get into their senses … How it all came together was pure magic.”

Kelley also noted that the themes of the Monster Arts Project exhibitions create fuel for creativity, not only giving the space a feeling of cohesion but also generating work that might not have been created otherwise.

“The themes for the Monster Project exhibits are truly inspiring, and I love the challenge of creating new creatures,” added artist Dana Filibert in a statement sent to the Gazette. “Each show is an event; they are so much more than a static gallery exhibit.”

And that’s one of the project’s main goals. According to Vennell, the space is designed so it’s “impossible” to see and experience everything the Monster Arts project offers without walking around and immersing oneself in it. Among both the artists and the attendees, the exhibition involves much more than looking at artwork. 

For many artists who participate, the hard work of creating the art they will bring to the event is half the fun. 

“Thanks to the existence of Halloween, October is the month that we get to fully embrace the mythology of monsters. In the case of Athan and Sloan’s immersive art show, the fear factor is upstaged by fun,” said artist Amy Johnquest in a statement sent to the Gazette. “I’m utterly grateful to be a part of this creative and delightfully creepy happening.”

Vennell said that accessibility and community are two major pillars of the Monster Arts Project, which strives to welcome all community members. Tomlinson and Vennell foster these in a variety of ways, including having a separate shop space with more “approachable pricing” than the artists’ exhibition pieces, which may be out of reach for some attendees. Vennell stated that it is an important part of the project that anyone who participates can take a piece of it home with them, whether it be an enormous sculpture or a small pin or print. 

The pair also hosts several events in the space over the project’s duration, such as the “Masked Monster Monday” which took place on Wednesday, allowing immunocompromised individuals and other members of the community to enjoy the project with an extra layer of comfort and protection. Other events included a drag queen storytime with Noelle Diamond, who read children’s books by local authors and a Garden Party terrarium building workshop. 

The Monster Arts Project’s 2024 run will conclude on Nov. 3, and its final weekend will coincide with Easthampton’s citywide Art Walk and Eastwork’s Open Studios. The Monster Arts Project will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days that weekend. It’s regular hours are 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. 

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.