Erick Jean Center for the Arts to be dedicated on Saturday

On Saturday, the Dorchester Arts Collaborative (DAC) welcomes the public beginning at 11 a.m. to the daylong grand opening of the Erick Jean Center for the Arts. The EJCA is a 1200 sq. ft multifunctional art facility across the street from the new Four Corners/Geneva train station, in the heart of Four Corners. DAC held a “soft” preview opening of the space in mid-February.

In addition to the Grand Opening Party there will be a ribbon cutting for 157 Washington (a new mixed use apartment complex in the Four Corners area) with festivities on the plaza including music, art, performances, and talks by Bill Walczak and Ayanna Pressley. The EJCA will be exhibiting works by Dot artist Howie Green along with a photo exhibit on loan from the Great Hall in Codman Square, documenting changes the community has undergone in the last few years.

The name for Erick Jean Center for the Arts was chosen by the Codman Square NDC to honor the late Erick Jean, one of its late project managers, a community activist and the first Haitian-American to have his own firm in the downtown Boston area.

According to DAC president J Gustavo, the afternoon will also include a steel band and Dot performers including indie-rock singer/songwriter Brendan Little, spoken word artists Marquita Niles and Kennesha Ellis, and DPR Dance Crew. Adding more than a dash of color will be youth yarn-storming (a form of urban graffiti or street art that involves temporary displays of knitted or crocheted yarn rather than paint).

A march will leave 157 Washington St. to Mother’s Rest Park where further youth activities and entertainment are scheduled.