Continuing Studies, Corporate and Distance Education

University of Massachusetts Lowell

One University Avenue

Lowell, MA 01854

August 13, 2008

Dear Director Carroll,

            I am writing on behalf of 119 Gallery here in Lowell, MA. The mission of 119 Gallery is to expand our community's vision of creative possibilities through exposure to and education about contemporary and new media art. We offer rich and diverse programs of exhibitions, performances, and community-based arts services.

            119 Gallery seeks to expand our capacity to serve more individuals. Specifically, we seek to partner with local educational institutions such as the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Partnering would well serve the gallery and the university by allowing us to offer unique educational opportunities to your students.

            I am an interdisciplinary artist who works with video, sound and movement. I am currently collaborating with internationally recognized and award winning musician Jed Speare on a project entitled Soundscape. As you may know, 'soundscape' was a term coined by 1970s composer Murray Schafer. It is used to describe the acoustic environment of a given area, in much the same way that the landscape would describe the physical characteristics of that same area (or any other). We are working to capture the soundscapes of Lowell and create an interactive map, a historical archive, and at the end an original composition by Jed Speare. The end result will be a dynamic aural picture of our community.

The soundscapes of many places, like the landscapes, are being irreversibly changed at a rapid pace. This is due to many reasons, including the proliferation of cars, airports and industrial areas in our communities. When the soundscape is altered, aspects of our natural world can be drowned out. Take for example the sound of the wind blowing through a pair of oak trees in the forest. Now think about those same trees on the side of a busy street. Not quite the same.

With the Soundscape project, we are aiming to raise awareness of our collective acoustic environment and start a public dialog about what we can do to preserve the sounds of Lowell. We will focus on collecting sound samples from every one of our many and varied ethnic groups to ensure the most comprehensive map possible. We will also be reaching out to community organizations for  historical sounds to be archived.  

We feel that a partnership with the University of Massachusetts Lowell on this project would be mutually beneficial. We would provide an excellent project for your students and are fully equipped with staff well versed in the implementation of service learning programs within a college curriculum. With your help, our group could expand the project beyond the boundaries of our two person staff. 

This is only one program that 119 Gallery is seeking to create partnerships for. It is our mission to promote community through education in art and technology. Obviously, collaboration with individuals and other organizations is the key to the success of that mission. That is why we have chosen to reach out to the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

We offer our partners a vibrant cutting-edge gallery space for off-campus exhibits, events and classes as well as internship programs. Working with 119 Gallery offers a unique opportunity for the University of Massachusetts Lowell students to move off-campus and to experience the intersection of art and community.

            Please call me at your earliest convenience to set up a time that we can speak about our programming and how we may serve the university. I can be reached at 978-869-3175.

Sincerely,

Walter Wright, Executive Director