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Ongoing Exhibits

Filament/Firmament is a permanent public artwork located in the Stone Building of the new Main Library by longtime Cambridge resident and acclaimed sculptor Ellen Driscoll.  A collaboration of the Cambridge Commission on the Status of Women, the Cambridge Arts Council, and the Cambridge Public Library, Filament/Firmament is a living memorial that honors the contributions of women to the life of the City.  Using etched glass, perforated zinc panels, woven cable, text, and textile imagery, Filament/Firmament metaphorically represents the oldest and most universal of women’s activities – weaving and sewing. The website provides permanent documentation of the remarkable women of Cambridge and serves as a resource to stimulate further inquiry into the rich history, present day life, and future inspiration related to the contributions of Cambridge women to our community and beyond.

About the Artist:  Ellen Driscoll’s sculpture, drawings, and installations have won her recognition nationally and internationally.  Her numerous public art commissions range from New York’s Grand Central Station to Boston’s public parks.  Solo exhibitions include shows at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Contemporary Arts Center.  She is a recipient of Guggenheim and Bunting Fellowships, among other awards, and her work is in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Whitney Museum, and Addison Gallery of American Art. Driscoll is currently the head of the sculpture department at Rhode Island School of Design.