The Revolving Museum’s Grand Opening of ARTventures sparked the new creative revolution in Lowell. Hundreds experienced the kick off of New England’s Largest Public Art and Urban Revitalization Project.

Coinciding with the start of National Tourism Week, Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Deb Belanger and Cultural Organization of Lowell Director LZ Nunn were the Co-MCs for the night that featured inspired opening remarks by Lowell Mayor William Martin, City Manager Bernie Lynch, and Revolving Museum artistic director Jerry Beck.

A special cake made by Lowell High School with artwork and a drawing of the City of Lowell’s city seal that says “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good,” ceremony offered people the energy to experience four hour extravaganza that featured an interactive 100 foot dragon whose scales where crafted from CDs created by Jay Hungate in collaboration with resident artists of the Brush Art Gallery & Studios; a series of scintillating public artworks using thousands of synchronized light bulbs by Robert Harmon; an amazing art mobile designed and created by artists Nora Valdez and Persi Narvaez with assistance from YouthBuild staff and youth; a shimmering metallic “Fish Car” by William Turville; a beautiful collection of art lanterns, mill girl dresses, and carnival side-show banners made by local artists, and youth; a 20 foot high kinetic public art ferris-wheel, and more...

The crescendo of the evening included a video projection illuminating a historic smokestack that highlighted Lowell’s evolution from the industrial age to a new multi-ethnic artistic revolution. Participants included: Jason Salzarulo, Pete Pedulla, Karen Aqua, Jason Daniels, Jim Higgins, Joan Ross, Robert Haigh, Joe Nesbitt, Keith Wasserman, Mitch Rosenberg, and Eric Sack.

Click here to view images from the Carnival of Creativity

Click here to view images from the Lowell Folk Festival