WATER 2021 at a Glance
In 2021, DATMA examined the role of water within the histories, economies, and cultures of several countries as well as SouthCoast Massachusetts—from its geographic location and its wide-ranging fishing industry to the technologies of the 21st century providing new sources of energy while protecting the fragile ecology of the region. Four internationally recognized artists had been invited by DATMA to present work that will celebrate the essence of water and human beings’ traditional but changing relationship to it in addition to a host of extensive programming with partner organizations such as The Fishing Heritage Center, South Coast Surface Design, and The Seaglass Theater Company.
This well-received exhibition & program series was featured in several media resources such as Boston’s WGBH Open Studios with Jared Bowen and and NPR for the Cape, Coast, and Island on The Point with Mindy Todd. More about our media partners and coverage can be found on our news page.
Water 2021 public art exhibitions
Harvesters of the Deep: Portraits of Fisherwomen from South Korea, America, and the United Kingdom
From June 17th – October 17th, DATMA brought works of outstanding photographers from select locations around the world, the exhibit featured insightful, life-sized portraits celebrating women working in the fishing industry. Featured photographers include: Phil Mello presenting photographs of New Bedford fisherwomen; Hyung S. Kim’s photographs of Korean shellfish divers (aka Haenyeo) and Craig Easton’s photographs of English smokehouse workers (aka “The Herring Lasses”). This outdoor exhibition of custom designed kiosks were installed next to the Seaport Art Walk positioned along New Bedford’s State Pier and the second half of the exhibition on the grass of the YMCA located on Union Street at the corner of Union & N. 2nd Street. Big thanks to the sophomore welding class at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School for helping us build the photography kiosks for the physical portion of this exhibition.
Join us for a free virtual talk with featured photographer, Craig Easton, on Tuesday, November 23 at noon. Event details here.
Zimoun
Internationally renowned Swiss sound-installation artist Zimoun exhibited 280 prepared dc-motors, cotton balls, cardboard boxes 13″ x 13″ x 13″, 2011/2021 his intricate sculpture, using motion and sound, to evoke creative interpretations, at the College of the Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) at the University of Massachusetts’ (UMD), Star Store location. It was presented in the corner gallery on the main intersection of Union Street and Purchase Street; the heart of downtown New Bedford.
Sea Scallops: Sentinels of the Deep
The exhibit will present scientific archival photography using advanced underwater video technology developed by School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) at UMass Dartmouth Professor Dr. Kevin Stokesbury and his research team. The photos will capture the diverse ecosystems of our region’s seafloor and the women in fisheries science conducting this important research. Sea Scallops: Sentinels of the Deep will be a public outdoor exhibition displayed on storefront windows on a series of historic buildings in downtown New Bedford along Union Street between Acushnet Avenue and North 2nd Street from June 17 to October 17, 2021. A map at the bottom of this page identifies where all the exhibitions are located in Downtown New Bedford.
DATMA collaborated with the commissioned artists, the City of New Bedford, and several local nonprofits, schools, universities, and businesses to bring WATER 2021 to New Bedford. These partners coordinated tours and student field trips, lead design, art, and technology workshops, host symposiums, present digital exhibitions and documentaries. Collaborators include:
3rd Eye Unlimited; Arts, History, Architecture (AHA!); Community Boating Center; The Drawing Room; Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical School (GNBVT); Our Sisters’ School; National Park Service (NPS); NB Science Café; NB Symphony Orchestra; NB Ballet; YMCA New Bedford; Seaglass Theater; South Coast Surface Design; UMD College for Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) & School for Marine Science & Technology (SMAST).
Read the official press release for this free program series HERE.
Original poems written for Water 2021
New Bedford’s arts & culture has many facets, including the written word. We invited Poet Laureate, Pat Gomes and her equally as talented niece, Geneva Gomes to write a piece to launch Water 2021. Their pieces were read by the authors themselves at DATMA’s Water 2021 hybrid IRL / Virtual launch event hosted by 3rd EyE Youth Empowerment on June 17th. You may watch the performances live here. You may also read each of their works for yourself.
“Water is We” By: Geneva Gomes
“Buoyance” By: Pat Gomes
Water 2021 Virtual Programs
Fractured Light: A Conversation with Michele Poirier-Mozzone
Michele’s work explores the beauty and distortion of water, sunlight, memories, and the human figure. During this conversation with Anthi Frangiadis and DATMA’s Amanda Hawkins, Michele discusses her process and how underwater GoPro footage inspires her stunning paintings.
Parking
We recommend using the parking lot next to the New Bedford State Pier. To ensure you use a lot meant for visitors, use the address for the delicious Black Whale to access the lot. Adjacent lots are restricted for ferry and fishing industrial use only. There’s Acushnet Creamery next to The Black Whale if you’re craving something sweeter and you really can’t go wrong with any of the ice cream flavors.
For the exhibitions in the Downtown area, there is metered street parking from 8am-5pm Monday – Friday. The meters are paid for with quarters or by downloading a parking app called Passport. Whether you start at the State Pier next to Harvesters of the Deep or at Zimoun’s sculpture located at the UMass Dartmouth CVPA Star Store, exhibitions are all in walking distance.
All exhibitions are in walking distance from one another. To learn more about activities in the area, visit the City’s special edition of summer fun called, Summer in the Seaport.