Northshore Magazine

129 Vital Piece Brush Art Gallery & Studios plays a big role in the arts community. Lowell (ALL) and owner of Van Gogh's Gear art supplies store. In 1999, the city established the Artist Overlay District— designed to encourage artists to both live and work in the downtown area. "Ayer Lofts was the first [mill] conver- sion," notes Syverson. "The city sold it for a dime and it became artist live/work space." Today, there are over 2,000 such units throughout the city. According to Syverson, many of Lowell's artists are apt to say, "This is a great city, and we are glad to be here." His response to those who point to its infamy as reason to stay away is: "We don't have that trouble anymore." Still, there re- mains a kind of segregation, even among the downtown arts community. "There is the tight-knit group downtown that doesn't cross Dutton Street or Central Street," says Syverson. There's actually a built-in bedroom community in the heart of Lowell—a large population of people living in high-end condominiums. Observers say they do not actively par- ticipate in their community, but artists and arts organizations are working hard to reach them. Neighbor to ALL, Eileen Byrne, director of the Brush Art Gallery & Studios, has played an active role in Lowell's artistic development since 1996, and maintains a positive attitude about its current and fu- ture status. "I think it's absolutely wonder- ful to have artists in a community—they beautify their environment, and they are fun people. I think it really helps any city when artists move in." Founded in 1982 by the Lowell Historic Preservation Commission, "The Brush" is located in a restored mill belonging to the National Parks Service. Its mission, according to Byrne is to "use art for good and to bring people into Lowell." She points to the Business Partnership pro- gram as an example of how they carry out Apr14 Lowell.indd 129 2/21/14 3:11 PM

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