Artist’s Quilt Reveals New Bedford Neighborhoods Lost to Urban Renewal

Alex Houston is wrapping up her three-month stay as Artist-in-Residence at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. It enabled her to meet new people, engage in a variety of projects, and provided her with the time and space to finish a personal project that sheds light on a part of New Bedford history that's unknown to many.

Houston visited Townsquare Sunday to talk about her time at the National Park, and the inspiration behind her personal project, a quilt that shows New Bedford as it was more than 50 years ago.

How the Artist-in-Residence Program Works

"The Artist-in-Residence program is an opportunity for artists to work at the National Park Visitor's Center, have open studio hours and engage with the community, plus work on an art project during the three-month period, and present it in the Center's gallery space, where it will stay for about a month," Houston said.

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Houston will present her art project during the free AHA! Night on December 11 at the National Park Visitors Center on William Street. The quilt project depicts the city of New Bedford before Urban Renewal.

"This was a perfect residency for me," Houston said. "I had been working on the project for several years in my home, but moving to the Visitors Center gave me the motivation and space to invite people in to talk with me, and share about the project."

What Inspired Houston’s New Bedford Quilt

"I had been making quilts, and was very interested in the history of New Bedford especially during the 1960s and 70s," she said. "My project is creating a textile map of every block of New Bedford stitched together, but where urban renewal happened, specifically where the highways came through, I'll be cutting and shredding those areas."

"I'm hoping it shows the scale of urban renewal in New Bedford, and draws attention to some neighborhoods that no longer exist," she said. "There were churches and schools within that area that aren't there anymore."

What’s Next for Houston After Her Residency

Houston's residency at the National Park wraps up at the end of December. She is hoping to complete her quilt project by that time, and continue the relationships she's built with other artists and art organizations in the area.

If you would like your organization featured on Townsquare Sunday, please email the host at jim.phillips@townsquaremedia.com.