BLACK SPACES MATTER
Black Spaces Matter is an interactive documentary exhibition exploring Abolition Row Historic District in New Bedford, Massachusetts through its architectural assets, contemporary residents and plans for developing educational open spaces. It includes 13 short documentary videos with historians and neighborhood residents today, large format period photos, contemporary 360˚ photographs, an interactive virtual reality tour, and a 3D printed model. The exhibition is the culmination of two years of collaborative work between UMass Dartmouth’s College of Visual & Performing Arts and the New Bedford Historical Society whose 20 years of documenting and celebrating the legacy of African Americans, Cape Verdeans, Native Americans, West Indians and other people of color in New Bedford forms the foundation for this work. Exhibition photos and all 13 videos are presented below.
Section One: Understanding the Past | three videos
Section 2: The Homes and their Residents Today | 11 spherical photographs, virtual reality station, seven videos
Click above to experience the VR Street Tour designed by digital media artist and exhibition participant, Michael Swartz
360˚ spherical photography by digital media artist and exhibition participant, Michael Swartz
Section 3: Envisioning the Future | student concept panels, three videos
The Black Spaces Matter team is:
Pamela Karimi (Lead Curator; Associate Professor of Art History UMass Dartmouth), Lee Blake (Lead Consultant; President New Bedford Historical Society), Don Burton (Documentary Films and Digital Curation; Filmmaker Don Burton Media), Janine DaSilva (Key Consultant for the Documentaries; Cultural Resource Specialist New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park), Ann Marie Lopes (Key Consultant for the Documentaries; Filmmaker New Bedford Cable Network), Michael Swartz (360° Spherical Photography, Digital Stations and Graphic Design; Full-time Lecturer UMass Dartmouth), Ben Guan-Kennedy (Digital Stations, Video Editor; Digital Media Honors Student UMass Dartmouth), Merri Cyr (Digital Stations; Fine Art and Commercial Photographer), Pedram Karimi (Architectural Renderings, Model Production and Maps; Architect and Designer), Jennifer McGrory (Manager of Exhibition Production; Project Manager, Senior Associate at Perkins+Will).
Architectural concepts by students in Pamela Karimi’s Architecture and Sustainability course. Advertisement and graphic design: Michael Swartz, Ziddi Msangi, Racsa Soun, Vasco Pedro and students in UMass Dartmouth’s Community Engagement Design Studio. Curatorial Teams: Boston Architectural College Staff (Nov. 2017); UMass Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Arts students, Cynthia Raposa, Mark Walker, and University Gallery Director Viera Levitt (Nov. 2018).
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.
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 and the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
