The Space We Make

Lowell’s theme in this year’s Artists Thrive summit is “spatial justice”, a recognition that space is not neutral, but shaped by who has access to it, who is welcomed into it, and who is able to create within it. This extends past owned space to community space, space to create, public spaces, imagined space, and internal space. Western Avenue was once industrial space that has been reshaped, over time and through concerted effort, into something deeply human. Not just places to live or work, but claimed, adapted, and sustained artist space, nestled deep in the heart of Lowell. This show is a small introduction to that larger story, and an invitation for summit attendees to explore the space they are visiting, the city of Lowell and the community of Western Avenue. Where space is not just something that we occupy but something we actively make together.