John Howland Jr. House
38 South Sixth Street, New Bedford, MA
This house, which is located in the abolitionist neighborhood of New Bedford, is a remarkable sample of transitional Federal/Greek Revival style architecture, was built in 1834 for Sarah and John Howland, Jr. It is a testament to the substantial wealth made in New Bedford’s whaling industry. Part of a complex of three remarkable and extremely rare brick mansions built for the Howland family on South Sixth Street, it was valued at $21,000 in 1849. However, after more than five years of exposure to the elements following a 2005 fire, and further damage resulting from improper removal of structural beams, the house is in imminent danger and requires immediate action for preservation.
Local history and self-guided tours are presented in collaboration with the New Bedford Historical Society and the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. Visitors can also access interactive digital components, VR tours, and videos originally created for the New Bedford Historical Society and UMass Dartmouth’s exhibition, Black Spaces Matter: Celebrating New Bedford’s Abolition Row.
This exhibition will be shown free and open to the public in downtown New Bedford outdoors at the YMCA green space on Union Street, between N. 2nd Street and N. Water Street from June 16 to September 12.
CREDITS
The Black Spaces Matter project is collaboration between UMass Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Arts students and faculty, local New Bedford experts, and the New Bedford Historical Society.
Black Spaces Matter was exhibited from November 19, 2017 — January 29, 2018 at the Boston Architectural College’s McCormack Gallery, 320 Newbury St. Boston, MA, and from November 8, 2018 — January 30, 2019 at UMass Dartmouth’s University Gallery, 715 Purchase St. New Bedford, MA 02740.
SUPPORT
Black Spaces Matter is supported by New Bedford Historical Society, Creative Economy Fund from the Office of the UMass President, UMass Dartmouth Provost Office, Perkins + Will Associates, Rotch–Jones–Duff House and Garden Museum, Spinner Publications, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
PARTICIPANTS
Consultant: Lee Blake | Lead curator: Pamela Karimi | Architectural renderings, model production, and maps: Pedram Karimi and students in Architecture and Sustainability class | Film, animation, and digital curation: Don Burton | Artistic representations: Michael Swartz | Consultants for the Documentaries: Janine da Silva, Ann Marie Lopes | Advertisement and graphic design: Ziddi Msangi, Racsa Soun, Vasco Pedro and students in Community Engagement Design studio | Digital stations: Michael Swartz, Don Burton, Ben Guan-Kennedy, and Merri Cyr | Production Manager: Jennifer McGrory | Curatorial assistance: CVPA students, Cynthia Raposa, Mark Walker, and gallery director, Viera Levitt.
Events
DATMA Design Day: Eco Art!
DATMA Design Day: Eco-Friendly Art Workshop November 14, 2024 • 4:00 – 6:00 pm New Bedford Free Public Library — 1st Floor —Youth Services Join us for a creative hands-on workshop in the library’s Youth Services room, where kids and families can explore the importance of recycling and waste reduction, all while transforming discarded plastics