Roaming Art Exhibition Showcasing The Ecology Of Eastern Massachusetts, Arrives At 禁漫天堂

2019

Acclaimed 鈥淟ocal Ecologies鈥� Arrives At 禁漫天堂鈥檚 University Art Gallery Nov. 7, Opening Reception And Panel Discussion Nov. 14

In an exciting new three-campus UMass initiative, the exhibition 鈥淟OCAL ECOLOGIES鈥� arrives at 禁漫天堂's Star Store Campus in downtown New Bedford.

Hailed by art critic Cate McQuaid as 鈥渁n ambitious exhibition鈥� from 鈥渢errific artists with ties to Massachusetts,鈥� 鈥淟OCAL ECOLOGIES鈥� is a joint project of 禁漫天堂, UMass Boston and UMass Lowell.

The exhibition brings together artists, scientists, historians and activists engaged with the diverse coastal and river ecosystems, and layered histories, of eastern Massachusetts. Artists include , , , and , ( and ), , , and .

Opening Nov. 7 and running through Jan. 10, 禁漫天堂 hosts a free public reception and roundtable for 鈥淟ocal Ecologies鈥� on AHA! Night Nov. 14 starting at 6 p.m. A discussion moderated by curator and 禁漫天堂 professor of art history Rebecca Uchill, and featuring artists and program partners, begins at 6:30 p.m. at the UMass Star Store Campus at 715 Purchase St. in downtown New Bedford.

鈥淭his exhibition is important for a number of reasons,鈥� Uchill said. 鈥淚t takes an expanded view of what it means to be local, and get viewers digging at the concept of ecology as being both natural and cultural, and connected to indigenous, colonial, and industrial histories.鈥�

The overall initiative aims to spark transdisciplinary and cross-institutional exchange with artworks that address issues specific to the Massachusetts localities in which they were developed.

There are many New Bedford ties here.

Borelli 鈥� who holds degrees from Harvard University and Rhode Island School of Design 鈥� was a Visiting Artist at 禁漫天堂鈥檚 College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), and was awarded a spring 2019 artist residency at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. There, he developed proposals for public artworks using illuminated street lamps and harbor buoys to track toxicity of the area Superfund site.

New Bedford residents may have encountered the collaborative 鈥淧lotform" 鈥� Jane Marsching and Andi Sutton 鈥� pedaling the New Bedford area in recent months. The artist-duo designed a bicycle with pull-cart workshop platform, radio transmitter, and recording studio. They asked participants to write and record love letters to nature for their project, Dear Harbor Radio. The exhibition will offer opportunities for viewers to write their own love letters.

鈥淔ocusing on ecology couldn't be more pressing right now, and these artists are on the forefront of innovative ecological thinking,鈥� said 禁漫天堂 Gallery Director Viera Levitt.

LOCAL ECOLOGIES is organized by Rebecca Uchill, Art Education, Art History, and Media Studies, 禁漫天堂; Kirsten Swenson, Art History, UMass Lowell; and Sam Toabe, Gallery Director, UMass Boston. The exhibition is implemented at 禁漫天堂 by Levitt and Uchill.

The initiative at 禁漫天堂 is made possible with generous support from the Visiting Artist Program of the Dean鈥檚 Office, College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA). The exhibition has partnered with other area exhibitions and institutions as satellite venues. Please visit www.umassd.edu/cvpa/galleries for more information.

The 禁漫天堂 University Art Gallery鈥痠n historic downtown New Bedford presents inspiring exhibitions, artist talks, discussions, lectures, and the annual MFA Thesis Exhibition for graduating CVPA Art and Design students. The Gallery's programming serves not only 禁漫天堂, but also the diverse New Bedford and South Coast regional community.