In Episode 62 of Inside the Frame Podcast, Dave sits down with Liz Helfer, a sculptor, public arts and culture planner, and the newly appointed Executive Director of The James Library & Center for the Arts in Norwell. The conversation offers a rich, behind-the-scenes look at Liz’s background in sculpture, her career in public arts leadership, and her vision for expanding programming and community engagement at The James.
This podcast is particularly exciting for the South Shore arts community, as Liz steps into a prominent role in one of the region’s most historic and versatile arts institutions.
A Sculptor’s Perspective: From Foundry Work to Public Art
Liz describes herself simply and proudly as a sculptor, with a deep background in metal casting, foundry work, and large-scale public art. Her path began in ceramics, but a single foundry class changed everything. As she explains, the process of casting metal is vastly different from metal forging:
“I make a model of something in clay or wax, put it in a mold, take it out, and then pour metal into it…that’s foundry work—casting, not whacking.”
This highly technical process informs her large public artworks, which often combine metal with wood, acrylic, or concrete. Liz collaborates with several New England foundries and discusses the intricate steps of creating and finishing bronze sculptures, including the use of patinas and chemical reactions to achieve vivid surface colors.
Leading Public Arts in Watertown
In addition to her work as an artist, Liz is the Public Arts & Culture Planner for the City of Watertown, a role she helped shape from the ground up.
What started as a position running a publicly accessible makerspace quickly evolved into staffing creative committees, writing grants, overseeing the implementation of Watertown’s Public Arts Master Plan, and helping to launch the Watertown Cultural District.
Her work involves community collaboration, calls for art, selecting artists for public installations, and creating frameworks to measure community impact.
Liz’s leadership in public arts brings valuable expertise to her new role at The James, especially as she builds long-term programming and expands community engagement on the South Shore.
A New Era for The James Library & Center for the Arts
Liz stepped into her role as Executive Director in September, inheriting a strong foundation built by former artistic leaders while taking on the challenge of coordinating music programming, gallery curation, library operations, and community partnerships.
Programming Already Underway
The James is currently booked through June 2026, offering a range of events spanning:
- Concerts and music performances in their 90-seat concert hall
- Author talks and library programs
- Gallery exhibitions every six weeks, including juried shows with cash awards
- Workshops through a new series called Art Unplugged, focused on hands-on creativity and supported by the Levitate Foundation
Liz praises the existing structure while sharing her excitement about what’s next.
Expanding the Gallery’s Creative Reach
One of Liz’s big goals is to broaden the gallery’s scope and introduce new opportunities for artists, especially emerging and underrepresented voices.
She plans to:
- Continue the Spring and Fall Juried Shows, which are beloved by artists across the South Shore
- Reintroduce an Emerging Artist Show, encouraging newer artists to showcase their work
- Launch a Curators Invitational, offering mid-level curators the chance to propose and build exhibitions—an opportunity that has become increasingly rare
Liz also hopes to bring in technology-driven or experimental work, expanding perceptions of what belongs in a small gallery space.
Honoring Tradition While Embracing Innovation
The James Library’s historic building houses much more than a gallery. Its free lending library, still using a card catalog system, will undergo a major digitization project under Liz’s leadership.
This effort will modernize accessibility, preserve historic books, and elevate the library’s long-term sustainability.
Liz’s approach blends respect for tradition with a forward-looking mindset, ensuring The James remains a vibrant cultural anchor for Norwell and the surrounding communities.
Building Collaboration Across the South Shore
A recurring theme in Liz’s conversation with Dave is the importance of collaboration among arts organizations. Her experience in Watertown, particularly with the Watertown Cultural District and regional arts consortia, has given her insight into how small communities can collectively amplify visibility and audience engagement.
She’s already immersed in conversations with South Shore arts leaders and sees enormous potential for cross-community partnerships.
Discover More at Frame Center
At Frame Center, we love celebrating the people and institutions that make the South Shore such a rich creative community. Whether you’re framing artwork from a beloved local artist or preserving a special piece of your own, we’re here to help your story shine. Visit us in Hanover or explore our custom framing services online.
