For Immediate Release:
Contact: Lois Frankenberger, publicist
978.470.0040
lfrankenberger@comcast.net
EVENT: International Arts Day
DATE: Sunday, April 25, 2004
TIME: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: American Textile History Museum, 491 Dutton St., Lowell, Mass
ADMISSION: Free and open to the community. Free parking. Building is wheelchair accessible.
CALL: 978-441-0400
LOWELL, Mass. - If you’re looking for the excitement of an international bazaar combined with the fun of art activities for children and music-making from Spanish, Portuguese, African, Cambodian cultures and more, you’ll find them all under one roof for one day at International Arts Day – a free family festival taking place indoors at the American Textile History Museum in Lowell on Sunday, April 25, 2004 from11:00 a.m. to 4: p.m.
"Few cities in the world have the cultural diversity one finds here in Lowell,” says Victoria Fahlberg, executive director of ONE Lowell. “For the past two years ONE Lowell, Middlesex Community College, the Downtown Lowell Business Association and the Small Business Assistance Center have been working to utilize the enormous potential we have to provide the city with multi-cultural events, such as the International Bazaar and Family Arts Day. We're excited to see these two events coming together and joining with Indian Hill Music Center, the Faith Quilts Project, and the American Textile History Museum for International Arts Day. It's a great way to have fun as we learn about one another's culture."
Visitors will be able to purchase arts and crafts from over 30 local artisans who represent the many cultures and nationalities in Lowell; children can try their hand at making crafts from many cultures; families can help staple, glue, and sew together a large mandala cloth creation portraying community spirit; adults can sign up for an ongoing Quilt workshop; and everyone will have a chance to enjoy special musical performances, and even participate in making music with six different multi-cultural groups including the acclaimed Bamidele Dancers & Drummers.
Adding the experience of sight and sound to the Museum’s exhibits, musicians will also be stationed in the Museum’s Textiles in America exhibit that explores clothing-making and how immigrants played an important role in the process; and there will be Hawaiian music in the Let’s Go Hawaiian special exhibit gallery as well as a jazz group which will perform throughout the day.
“As the nation’s museum of textiles, we are pleased to host this special day,” said ATHM President and CEO Mike Smith. “Each culture that makes up our vibrant city brings textile traditions which inspire and inform textile arts in America. This day will contribute to our telling American stories through textiles, reflecting the energy and excitement of Lowell’s diversity,“ he said.
In the Textile Learning Center (TLC), Museum education staff will offer a variety of hands-on activities that are related to the Hawaiian special exhibit including designing Kapa cloth, creating the motion of hula dancing, weaving a bread tag tapestry, folding origami Hawaiian style shirts, and dressing up in Hawaiian style shirts.
International Arts Day is a collaboration of the American Textile History Museum, the Faith Quilt Project, Indian Hill Music Center, Middlesex Community College, and ONE Lowell. International Arts Day is free and open to the public, and has been made possible by a grant from the Lowell Institute.
