A city comes to life

Photo Credit: Andrew Kapinski.

by Sean McCarthy

With public art and creative programming, The Massachusetts Design, Art, and Technology Institute (DATMA) strives to stimulate your mind and inspire your spirit.

And this fall is particularly intriguing as the organization brings an array of opportunities to New Bedford.

Whether it’s history, science, culture, or economics, DATMA is telling New Bedford’s stories through a variety of mediums. DATMA’s creative contributions to the community continue in the coming months with three public art displays and other free events, all part of the “Shelter 2022-23” initiative.

DATMA is encouraging you to do some exploring and see things in a new way. “Art isn’t always people’s common conception of what art is,” says Lindsay Mis, Executive Director of DATMA. “It isn’t necessarily a bronze sculpture or a mural on a wall. We’re doing something different than that. We kind of want to blow people’s minds. Whether you love it or hate it, you’ll react to it.”

This fall the organization will have three pieces of public art in New Bedford, as well as multiple events. Through the middle of September there will be a display of art at the UMass Dartmouth Star Store building in downtown, called “Flexible Fibers,” which pertains to the current housing crisis. Through the middle of October there will be two displays: “Safe Station,” a piece devoted to the historic Underground Railroad at the YMCA Green Space on Union Street in downtown; and “Safe Harbor,” a piece at the waterfront devoted to the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier.

All of the artwork is free and open to the public.

“We’re trying to present things that people haven’t seen before,” Mis says.

“We’d like to make people think that they can take things out of the norm or do things that are unusual. Whether you’re an artist or not you could see things in a unique way, it can get some wheels turning.”

The three public pieces pertain to the theme of “Shelter.” This is the fourth consecutive year that DATMA has provided public art to the city. Past themes include “Summer Winds,” “Light,” and “Water.”

We’d like to make people think that they can take things out of the norm or do things that are unusual. Whether you’re an artist or not you could see things in a unique way, it can get some wheels turning.

Finding inspiration

The “Flexible Fibers” art treats the housing crisis with the use of new and unique materials, technology and design to “innovatively advance the viewer’s vision of home.” It will include fabric architectural sculpture, photography, and 3-D printed structures.

“Safe Station” is devoted to the Underground Railroad which harbored African-Americans from slavery, celebrating the key figures and spaces central to the city’s role in abolition. Featured artists include Alison Wells, Fitzcarmel LaMarre, and students from Our Sisters School. Visitors can access interactive digital components, VR tours, and videos.

“Safe Harbor” is devoted to the New Bedford Hurricane Protection Barrier, which was constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers, and completed in 1966. Located at 106 Macarthur Boulevard next to Pier 3 at the waterfront, the location provides rare historic photos documenting the 9,100-foot project, but also poses questions about how to protect the city from future climate-related events.

From October 1 to May 1, visitors can enjoy a Public Art Walking Tour. On your own time, you can download a map to take a walking exploration of the downtown art displays, shared spaces, sidewalks, and parks. Maps are available at destinationnewbedford.org.

“There is an incredible collaborative spirit happening in New Bedford,” Mis says. “There are invitations for people to be creative popping up all the time. Artists are beautifying this community, and people want to come and see it. It’s something that is appreciated by local businesses and has increased traffic in the area. We’re showing people that art can improve a community for the better.”

“This is a rich, vibrant arts community, and a multi-cultural city. You can see murals from Cape Verdeans, the Portuguese, and the Guatemalan communities.”

But according to LaMarre, a New Bedford-based author and artist, there is another important role for public art – the inspiration it provides to others.

“The youth of the area benefit from public art,” he says. “As a kid there wasn’t a clear path to becoming an artists, where now there’s public art when you’re walking down the street or driving by in your car. When you see somebody’s artwork, it makes it possible to see their creativity. When people do public art, there are possibilities available to young people. They won’t think that they’ll have to wait until they’re retired to become an artist.”

Free events

There are free public events sponsored by DATMA this fall.

On Tuesday, September 13, The Last Round Bar & Grill at 908 Purchase Street will be the setting for an installment of “The New Bedford Science Café.” From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. you can enjoy the presentation, “Let’s Talk Trees,” which will include New Bedford arborists Justin Ohlson and Chancery Perks giving insights on the city’s trees, their history, present-day species and soil, as well as the successful Adopt-ATree program. They will also discuss the planning strategies for New Bedford’s goal of adding thousands of new trees in the next few years.

On Saturday, September 10, Gallery X will be the site of the concert event, “Shelter Me.” From 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. the Seaglass Theatre Company will present a concert of Broadway hits devoted to the theme of “Shelter.”

On Wednesday, September 7, there will be an Underground Railroad Walking Tour from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park, located at 33 William Street in downtown. Led by Park Ranger Rufi, the tour celebrates the lives and contributions of free African-Americans such as Frederick Douglass, John Jacobs, Sergeant William Carney, and Captain Paul Cuffe. The tour will finish at DATMA’s “Safe Station” exhibit where guests can explore contemporary artwork pertaining to the Underground Railroad and Abolitionism in New Bedford.

On Thursday, September 8, the Whaling National Historic Park will be the location for the “Family Design Days: Community Mural.” From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., visitors will be provided with collage materials to apply their creative touch to DATMA’s community mural. Art supplies will include glue, paints, and markers. For more info, visit datma.org.