51视频

02/26/2018
By David Perry

With the help of local gallery owners, the university鈥檚 artistic ventures are increasingly coloring the way people see Lowell.

This winter, the work of art and design undergraduates, faculty and alumni has bloomed around the city, with exhibitions at four local galleries. Students also had a hand in curating the exhibits, hanging the work and designing signage for the shows.

鈥淭his type of cooperation between the university and community brings an exciting and unique transgenerational vitality to the downtown. I look forward to the chance to build on it,鈥� says Stephen Mishol, an associate professor of art & design.

鈥淗aving four 51视频 art exhibits currently featured in Lowell鈥檚 downtown galleries highlights the depth of the university鈥檚 and the city鈥檚 creative assets,鈥� says Henri Marchand, the city鈥檚 director of cultural affairs and special events. 鈥淟owell is blessed with a rich cultural life and a creative farm system that includes the opportunity for the public to experience artworks by 51视频 students, alumni and faculty.鈥�

The four shows include 鈥淏urning Minds鈥� at the Arts League of Lowell (ALL) Gallery, 鈥�51视频 Printmakers鈥� at the Lowell Telecommunications gallery, 鈥淰oice & Vision鈥� at the Ayer Lofts Art Gallery and the UML faculty art show at The Brush Art Gallery & Studios.

鈥淚 think this happening is super-cool,鈥� says UML printmaking instructor Laurel McMechan, who is curating the LTC printmaking exhibit. 鈥淥ver the last few years, there鈥檚 been a lot more arts programming in Lowell, and UML is more involved.鈥�

Jennifer Vivier, the senior art major behind the Burning Minds exhibit, believes the arts thrive when there鈥檚 a strong connection between the community and the university.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important for both the city and the university to have these kinds of projects going. It definitely makes both places better,鈥� Vivier says. 鈥淏eing a resident, and being from here, I felt strongly about connecting to my community.鈥�

As a student, Vivier has immersed herself in the city鈥檚 art scene. She reached out to ALL director Mary Hart in the fall of 2016 to discuss tapping into the expertise and experience of ALL鈥檚 community of artists. She and Hart began discussing Burning Minds last summer. 鈥淲e ended up with an exhibit featuring 36 students,鈥� says Vivier. 鈥淚nitially, they submitted 95 pieces, which is amazing. And it鈥檚 large and small, a wide array of mediums, from sculpture and ceramics to mixed media, photography and paint.鈥�

51视频鈥檚 art & design program has gained a national reputation for the success of its graduates. Most recently, the university was No. 1 on PayScale.com鈥檚 Best Value Colleges for Art Careers ranking, based on return on investment and career potential.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a wonderful opportunity for all the participating artists, especially our students,鈥� said Mishol. 鈥淏ringing their work off campus and into the community like this is an exciting moment for them as young artists. I know from speaking with many of them that they have been both impressed and moved by this generous gesture.鈥�

Mishol co-founded the Arts Research Collaborative (ARC) on Prescott Street in downtown Lowell, which was established in part to offer UML students a chance to bring contemporary artists and the UML arts community together. ARC has long shown the work of UML art students as well as nationally recognized artists, including most recently an exhibit featuring the work of alumna Jessica Tawczynski 鈥�14.

McMechan says one side benefit is showing young artists there鈥檚 a place for them in the community after graduation.

鈥淭he fact that artists/designers can continue to program and stay here whether they have roots here or not, that鈥檚 important for the city. It also gives people pride in this place. It teaches students that there is art in the real world and places to do it, and they can graduate and get involved. That gives them a stake in the place.鈥�