Artistic Oasis at Western Avenue Studios
Traveling off of School Street in Lowell towards a former mill that used to manufacture car upholstery one would not except to find an oasis of artistic expression. However, this is just what one finds in Western Avenue Studios, a five story building housing well over a hundred studios used by artists of all types.
According to Robert Forrant, a history professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) who sits on the board of the Revolving Museum, the studios “represents Lowell’s investment in a creative economy.”
Forrant said the studios, which have grown from around just 50 in the early 2000s, present a unique opportunity for the growth of Lowell’s economy.
This is evident on the first Saturday of every month, when Western Avenue Studios hosts Open Studios, in which outsiders are invited to tour the facility. During these days, one is likely to find individuals from all over the region enjoying the studio’s art and communicating with the artists.
One such artist, Sharon Levy of Chelmsford, professes an almost religious respect for her art.
“The art conveys something intrinsic that communicates to you,” she said referring to her pottery in which she uses ancient techniques with modern motifs.
She primarily uses her Ancient Echoes Art Studio, which she shares with painter and photographer Lisa Bisson, for display purposes, preferring to work in her studio located in North Chelmsford.
Levy is rare amongst artists at the studio because she does her craft full time. Anne Ruthmann, a self-taught full time photographer, who moved into the studio in August, estimates that “only ten to twenty-five percent of the artists are full-time.”
Most of the artists at the studio are like Gary Destramp, an illustrator who works full time as a graphic designer for a local newspaper. Destramp uses his style which he describes as “influenced by Edward Hopper, but not at all like Edward Hopper,” to depict scenes from around Lowell with a unique life that makes it seem as though they are moving.
Some of these artists came to the studio in October when the Revolving Museum moved from its location in downtown Lowell to the fifth floor of the Western Avenue studios. This moved combined two of the most popular artistic destinations in Lowell.
Ruthmann has also made use of the studio for the greater community hosting free Christmas photos last December and an event called ‘Headshots for Haiti’ during the open studio in which she offered anyone a free headshot in exchange for a $20 donation to Haiti. This issue is particularly important for Ruthmann who will be traveling to the Dominican Republic, which borders Haiti, to photograph a wedding.
Ruthmann’s community spirit is not uncommon at Western Ave. studios; Levy frequently volunteers classes at the local Boys and Girls Club and the Revolving Museum hosts numerous after school programs for children in the area.
The recently opened recording studio “The Space” presents further opportunities.
“The studio presents great opportunities for bands in the Merrimack Valley as well as New England,” said Michael Trapani a sound recording technology student at the UML who recently began interning at the studio.
This is part of an expansion currently taking place at the studio where it is moving beyond just visual arts into other medium.
For Forrant, a historian who has devoted much time to studying the development of Lowell, Western Avenue studio is a bright sport in what he calls “the Lowell Renaissance.”
Despite this Forrant says that “it has not created well-paying jobs for everyone.”
He describes Western Avenue as an important step in the process of Lowell becoming a place attractive to outsiders, but it does not go all the way.
Forrant views the studio as a blue print for the expansion of Lowell and “the revitalization of the city.”
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Interesting perspective on Western Ave! One correction in spelling, Ruthman should be Ruthmann. Thanks!
Just went in fixed it, sorry about that…Thanks for reading!
-Admin
There are a few issues with this article.
One being the numerous inaccuracies in the article regarding security, our history, where entities are located (the Revolving Museum is on the 2nd floor, not the 5th). Two of the three artists interviewed have been at WAS for less than six months and do not speak for the community.
There is significant information available about WAS if one is interested they could touch base with the Executive Director or read Conor Baldwin’s masters thesis.
I’m sorry about the inaccuracy about the Revolving Museum, I did in fact visit it and knew it was on the second floor, but for some reason even in my original draft I write that it is on the fifth. Thanks for pointing that out.
I did check the Museum’s website and it was quite informative. Prof. Forrant whom I consulted for the article was an advisor for a thesis about the Museum’s history and offered me a lot of information (I’m not sure if it was the same thesis that you referred to). As for the artist at the studio who I interviewed, only one of them was planned before and the rest were just people I ran into while walking around during the last open studio, I wish I had talked to more artists and I’m sorry if you feel that my article did not give an accurate reflect of the studio’s community.
You seem quite well informed about the Studio and if you would like to offer a different perspective I would love to talk to you. You can email me at devan_hawkins@student.uml.edu. Thanks.
This was really well written! No grammatical errors. You could teach the rest of the staff at the Connector a valuable lesson.
Hey All,
I did a significant ammount of research on the WAS and the history of the building, as well as its role in Lowell’s creative economy. If any one were interested in finding out more, the thesis is on the shelf @ O’Leary Library. I would be happy to share some info with anyone who may be interested.
I am, however, glad to see that the studios are getting some press @ UML. There needs to be stronger connections/partnerships between the WAS and the student community, especially UML’s Art department. If anyone wanted to chat about this please email me at: Conor.Baldwin@gmail.com
Thanks for mentioning my work, Maxine! Hope all is well!