Today we’d like to introduce you to Ari and Seth Hauben.
Ari and Seth, please share your story with us.
Four and half years ago we were looking for a space to do a pop art show for Ari Hauben, now the Boston Button Factory resident artist. At the time we were living in the Fort Point neighborhood and happened upon 50 Melcher Street a perfect venue for an art show and ultimately the Button Factory team ended up purchasing the space.
Our inaugural show in the space, Above The Standard (an education in the art of Mr. Hauben), connected both his career as a Boston Public School art teacher and a professional artist. This show represented five years of his work (all of it sold) this left us with the question of what was the future of the space.
After some research about the building we realized we were operating out of the boiler room of what used to be the Boston Button Company (dissolved 1872) To pay homage to the history of the neighborhood and the fact that we make stuff, we decided to name the space the Boston Button Factory. Ari decided for authenticities sake we should make large-scale sculptural wall fashion buttons, the success of leading to a small-batch artisanal line of textile buttons, t-shirts, jewelry, limited edition prints and a growing creative product line.
Currently, the state of the space is used to host events such as a small concert series that has included pop-star Rachel Platten, actor and soul-funk receding artist Har Mar Superstar and Tad Kubler from the Hold steady to name a few. We also host art openings featuring new work from resident artist Ari Hauben as well as other local and international talent like ex-patriots player and artist Don Hasselbeck and Berlin’s Jaybo Monk.
Space continues to evolve as an outlet for creativity and all things dope, so keep an eye out. Follow us @bostonbuttonfactory @arihaubenart
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We don’t really see it as a road, we continue to move in different directions and see where that takes us, when you create your own problems you end up in unexpected places and with that comes challenges.
Please tell us about Boston Button Factory.
We pride ourselves on creating a spectrum of unique accessible art and products that range from original art, limited edition prints, 16″ in diameter wall sculpture buttons, T-shirts, button necklaces, small batch textile buttons, furniture and more, all represented through a series of events that compliment the spirit they were create, bringing together an incredibly diverse range of people culminating in an events unlike anything else in Boston.
Pricing:
- There’s something for everyone, intentionally, prices range from $10-$10,000,
Contact Info:
- Address: 50 Melcher St. Boston MA 02210
- Website: https://www.bostonbuttonfactory.com http://www.arihauben.com
- Phone: 617 694 8077
- Email: info@bostonbuttonfactory.com
- Instagram: @bostonbuttonfactory @arihaubenart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bostonbuttonfactory/ https://www.facebook.com/Ari-Haubens-Art
- Twitter: @arihaubenart

Image Credit:
Will Rusin
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