A Shared Space for Collective Making and Community Life
East Boston Community Studio is a free, open studio space for collective making, learning, and creative exchange, stewarded by Maverick Landing Community Services (MLCS) as a long-term public resource for the East Boston community.
The studio operates as a cultural infrastructure, supporting connection, expression, and belonging through shared creative practice.
Participation is always free, no prior experience is required, and the space is designed to be inclusive and low-barrier.
Embedded within MLCS, the studio strengthens community life alongside the organization’s broader work supporting stability, access, and wellbeing across East Boston.
“We saw something powerful emerge through the Triennial and our collaboration with ñ press… participation was consistent and meaningful. East Boston Community Studio allows that practice to remain free, open, and ongoing, rooted here and accessible to the whole community.”
- Rita Lara, MLCS Executive Director
Developing the Studio
East Boston Community Studio grew out of MLCS’s collaboration with artist Gabriel Sosa and the Boston Public Art Triennial.
In 2025, as part of a site-specific installation at MLCS, ñ press activated a collective making and publishing practice that invited residents into an open, participatory creative process. From May through October 2025 community members gathered regularly to experiment, create, and contribute work rooted in place and shared authorship.
Participation was organic and sustained. What began as a time-bound installation revealed the need for something more permanent.
As the work evolved, it became clear that it required two distinct but complementary containers. ñ press continues its community-centered publishing practice at MLCS, while East Boston Community Studio now holds the open, collective, drop-in studio practice, led by artist-in-residence Iz Hall who also forms part of the ñ press team.
ñ press
ñ press is a community print studio and publishing platform focused on connection, activism, and education. Launched by artist Gabriel Sosa as part of the inaugural Boston Public Art Triennial, ñ press conceptualizes print as public art, embracing its capacity to circulate in the public space while providing opportunities for shared learning.
Through screenprinting and risography, ñ press produces posters, zines, pamphlets, books, that prioritizes care, solidarity, and social advocacy. In addition to public events, ñ press engages in specialized print initiatives with various groups, organizations, and fellow artists.
ñ press has collaborated with City Life/Vida Urbana, Phillips Brooks House Association at Harvard University, Suffolk University, Eastie Coalition, Tufts University Art Galleries, ICA/Boston, Boston Public Library, MassArt, Boston Scores, Zumix, and Boston Art Review.
Based at MLCS, ñ press consists of Iz Hall, Colomba Klenner, Riley McLaughlin, Nate Bourget, and Gabriel Sosa.
Visit the Studio!
East Boston Community Studio hosts regular Saturday Open Studio hours.
Community members are invited to drop in, make work, learn alongside others, or simply spend time in a shared creative space.
The studio centers collective creativity as a tool for connection, expression, and belonging, not as a program to complete or a skill to master.
Open Studio: Saturdays, 2:00–6:00 PM (alternating weeks)
Location: Maverick Landing Community Services, 31 Liverpool Street, East Boston
Cost: Free and open to the public
Community members are welcome to stop by, meet artists, and participate at their own pace.
ñ press hosts various events throughout the year, check HERE to learn about what we’re up to or write us HERE if you’d like to get in touch.
