Title: DirectorReport2006-06-24.doc

 

Revised: June 245, 2006

 

Events: highlights for the last month include -

 

1) Yoga classes: two classes meeting weekly Tue 6:30pm and Sat 9:00am. Jon will be running another series beginning in July 15.

2) OUtlET's Surrender runs every Thu 8:00pm. They are booking local bands. Mike Dailey donated a large piece of carpet to cover the floor. Corey Felt has plans to paint the exterior on Chelmsford Street. His painting will include the gallery logo. We should probably pay for his materials.

3) Nozal Cube, Mon May 22, three sound artists from France, who loved Lowell, loved the gallery, stayed overnight and barely spoke English.

4) Nicole Bindler, Sun May 28, with members of the Philadelphia Improvised Dance and Music Ensemble.

5) WUML Sunrise: Fri June 9, Christine Dunlap interviewed me.

6) OUtlET after-the-awards-ceremony party, Sat June 10. 119 Gallery received OUtlET's Grand Valence award for our contribution to the arts. They asked everyone who passed us on the street to give us money. So far, nada.

7) Bowed Metal Workshop and performance: Sat June 24, Andrea Blesso, Joe Burgio and Matt Samolis conducted an afternoon workshop. Andrea is from Billerica and teaches at Donna Mesceli Dance Studios in Lowell. Attendance was limited nonetheless the presenters donated the fees to the gallery - $75.

 

Attendance:

 

Attendance is a problem. The website and news list do not appear to be drawing people to the gallery. The only method that appears to work is to phone people directly. I don't have the time to do this for every event. When I hand out flyers, people express interest but they don't follow up. I've cut back on the number of events. This doesn't seem to affect attendance ... but it's less work.

 

On the positive side gallery attendance was up for this last show. Still it could be better.

 

We should talk about opening Sunday. A couple of months ago I extended the gallery hours to include Sunday after talking to Steve Syverson and Diane Testa. They encouraged me to open Sundays hoping that people would come to Lowell on sunny Sunday afternoons to check out the arts. So far few people have come on Sunday. Perhaps it's the weather.

 

Education: I sent a list of workshops for this summer -

 

This summer 119 Gallery begins a series of classes and workshops in dance and video. These are basic classes open to all levels and all ages. In the fall we will grow the program to include classes in contemporary art and advanced classes in dance, multimedia, sound art and video. Classes will meet in the gallery or the gallery cafe?

 

The goals of the program include

 

1)      Building a community interested in experiencing and creating contemporary art.

2)      Creating an interest in electronic imaging from digital printing to live video mixing.

3)      Creating an interest in sound as art noise, sonic landscapes, electronic instrumentation, etc.

4)      Creating opportunities for creative movement in the fall we hope to have a monthly contact improvisation jam in the gallery.

5)      And finally, creating opportunities for our community to become involved in multimedia performance.

 

Walter Wright is a video artist with 30+ years of experience making and teaching video. He was one of the first video animators. He does live video mixing for OutlETs Surrender. He performs regularly with Joe Burgio, Katt Hernandez as the Amalgam Trio, and with Heather McQuiston's Royal Jelly Collective.

 

Heather McQuiston is a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher. Her work has been performed in Lowell, Boston, New York City, and at the Philly Fringe Festival. She has performed professionally and for several years produced Open Floor an open mic

for dancers at Green Street Studios in Cambridge. She has studied ballet, jazz and modern dance and holds a degree in communications and dance from SUNY Buffalo.

 

Ballet Basics with Heather McQuiston

Four sessions

Sat July 1, 8, 22, 29 10:30am-noon

An introduction to ballet technique all movers, all levels, all ages.

Cost $40-80 sliding scale.

 

Basic Video with Walter Wright

Four sessions

Sat July 1, 8, 22, 29 1-3pm

We start with light, light and shadow, texture and pattern - seeing light and then experiencing what happens to it in the process of taping. In the process, we address issues of composition such as framing, subject movement, and lens and camera movement.

Cost $40-80 sliding scale.

 

Modern Dance with Heather McQuiston

Four sessions

Sat Aug 5, 12, 19, 26 10:30am-noon

An introduction to modern dance techniques Graham, Limon, and Horton, all levels, all ages.

Cost $40-80 sliding scale.

 

Video Art with Walter Wright

Four sessions

Sat Aug 5, 12, 19, 26 1-3pm

Video as a medium for artistic expression we look at examples of video installations, video and performance, and video by artists. We will focus on using video for personal expression.

Cost $40-80 sliding scale.

 

So far, response has been limited. I will send out another email next week , post some flyers make some phone calls.

 

COOL Artists Walk: I signed up for a tent July 29-30 during the Folk Fest. It costs $100. We have the tent and the gallery will be open as well. Perhaps this is too much. However, I think that by having a presence downtown, on the festival grounds, we may be able to get more people to come to the gallery.

http://www.cultureiscool.org/

 

Lowell Open Studios: I signed up for LOS Sept 23-24. It costs $45.

http://www.lowellopenstudios.org/

 

Lowell Telecommunication Corp is in virtual meltdown. Once a national leader in developing programming for public access telecommunications, LTC is sinking fast. Several local producers are leaving. The staff is demoralized. Members have become disruptive. The current director is ignoring the recently revised mission statement in favor of a personal agenda.

 

119 Gallery is ‘the’ alternative space. We are involved in new media and community. Perhaps we can pickup some of pieces …

 

Finally, I will not be graduating from Goddard this summer. Due to a combination of my own lack of planning and the demands of this job, I was unable to complete my final portfolio. Mary Ann is off for the summer and available to help out in the gallery. I plan to finish my portfolio in July and graduate in January 2007. UML indicated that would encourage students to intern at the gallery. To date I haven’t heard a word from them. I had a meeting with Bridget Driscoll scheduled for this past Thursday at the gallery. She was a no show. So far, I have struck out with both UML and Middlesex College. I will try again over the summer to contact them.

 

 

 

Prepared by: Walter Wright, Director