NEW BEDFORD — Lend your eyes an your ears for this year’s annual Seaport Art Walk in New Bedford. For over a decade, it has been a stunning, always interesting, and often playful visual feast, this year it incorporated harmonies that resonate with justice, action, and the soulful plea of the sea.
Seven artists answered the “Call of the Sea” for the 2024 New Bedford Seaport Art Walk and you can meet them at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11, when the Seaport Art Walk officially opens during AHA! New Bedford.
“The Seaport Art Walk continues to set the bar for arts events in Greater New Bedford,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell in a press release. “We hope everyone has a chance to enjoy not only the compelling visual aspects of this year’s Art Walk, but the musical offerings as well.”
Meet the artists
Ed McAloon recalls growing up by the beaches in New Bedford’s South End. “I spent almost every summer day on one of the city beaches in my youth. This was my introduction to the call of the sea. As this was within the decade of the 1960s, I was also fortunate to hear all the great music of the period every day on the radio. Needless to say, this included all of the great sounds of surf culture, especially bands like the Beach Boys.” Naturally, Ed thought that it would be nice if he created a 6-plus-foot-tall surfer for this year’s Art Walk. So he did, and hopes “it will enliven its viewers with their own memories of days at the beach listening to their favorite summer tunes.”
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Brooke Mullins Doherty found inspiration from a traditional sea shanty discovered by her children called “The Wellerman.” After conversations with the kids about New Bedford’s role in the whaling industry and the lives of the men aboard its ships, she began drawing to the beat of the sea shanty. “I began drawing the harmony of the chorus of The Wellerman as a fluid line that rises and sinks across vertical lines representing the steady beat,” she explains. “As I started experimenting with drawing these lines with curves, they began to take the form of octopus tentacles. When I joined these tentacles together at the base, they began to rise into the air and provide a structure that could connect with the line of visual harmony.” Thus, her sculpture “Sea Shanty” took the form of a song wrapped around an octopus.
“From the shore, one can hear the many distinctive sounds of the ocean,” says Jessica Bregoli-Sparling. “Floating above the crashing of the waves and the call of seagulls you will often hear the ringing of a bell. Be it from a buoy, a lighthouse, or a passing boat, it offers a signal of guidance to all within listening distance.” Her giant wind chime, “Sea Bells” is an answer to that call.
Kid’s rule the night on Thursday:Here’s what to expect during this youth-geared AHA!
More philosophically, Chris Plaisted listened to the ancient call of the sea and heard the echo of the Skuldelev ships — five original Viking ships recovered from the waterway of Peberrenden at Skuldelev, north of Roskilde in Denmark. He writes, “The Skuldelev ships are a reminder of the ocean’s power and beauty, inspiring us to explore and appreciate this vast and mysterious world. As we face adversity and challenges, we must persevere and remain steadfast in our commitment to preserving our cultural heritage and protecting our environment.” His abstract steel sculpture “Skuldelev” outlines the sail and hull of an approaching ship and the churning water.
Meanwhile, artists Mandy Fraser, Mark Carvalho, and Jacob “Makerjake” Ginga, chose to interpret the Call of the Sea as it spoke to them with more traditional visual presentations – though Ginga’s has an interactive sonic twist. Fraser contributed a new bevy of her signature “Secret City Whales,” this time on Jersey barriers along the waterfront roadway and geared towards fishing. Carvalho’s murals together form “Starry Night; Red Right Return” and examine what fishermen of a different age heard from lost technology of celestial navigation.
Finally, Ginga’s “The View From Here” finds four lifelike faux windows strategically placed across the seaport area. Each window will showcase scenes representing the diverse people and historic neighborhoods of New Bedford by replicating actual views from residents’ windows. Viewers can use their smartphones to scan the windows and receive a personalized music playlist chosen by the resident of that specific view. This simple yet innovative touch aims to connect individuals with their surroundings, using the language of music to enhance the visual experience.
Seaport Art Walk in New Bedford is made possible through the generous support of the City of New Bedford’s Arts, Culture, and Tourism Fund, and Bristol County Savings Bank, with additional funding from New Bedford Cultural Council, a local agency supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Viewers can answer the 2024 Seaport Art Walk “Call of the Sea” from July through October along the New Bedford waterfront in the Seaport Cultural District.