The McCoy Art Gallery, at Merrimack College, is partnering with Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, located in Lowell, MA, for the exhibition Western Avenue: Artists at Work Exhibition. This exhibition runs from February 14th to April 5th, 2025. On Friday, February 21st, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. the Gallery celebrates this beautiful collaborative experience and exhibition with an opening reception.
This partnership between the McCoy Art Gallery and the creative community of Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, really opens up new doors and experiences for the students here at the College. “This exhibition offers students an outlet to connect with different artists and gain insight into the varied paths within the creative field,” states Paige Roehrig, Programs Manager of Western Avenue. Additionally, she hopes this exhibition “inspires them to pursue their own unique artistic journeys with confidence and excitement.”
When speaking with Roehrig about what inspired her to collaborate with the McCoy Art Gallery, she expressed that it has allowed the opportunity for Western Avenue artists to be able to connect with a new audience. The exhibition expresses the “diverse range of artist, mediums, and creative inspirations” that are within the Western Avenue. Roehrig adds, “Our hope is that students will take the time to engage with the artwork and feel inspired by the creative journeys represented in the exhibition. It’s also an exciting way to explore what future collaborations could look like, expanding the possibilities for creative partnerships beyond our current boundaries.”
Associate Professor Jonathan Latiano was inspired to collaborate and work with Western Avenue Studios and Lofts. He was excited for the “sheer diversity and talent of the artists there.” Moreover, he looked forward to collaborating with Roehrig to create an exhibition involving an outside partner. Latiano shares, “This is the most ambitious exhibition the College has hosted since I’ve been at Merrimack, and it really reflects the hard work the McCoy Gallery team has put into revitalizing the space since the pandemic.”
Furthermore, Latiano expressed how he first met Paige Roehrig in 2021 at an artist residency in Gloucester, MA. They have seen each other since then at an art gallery in Boston where they were able to strike up a conversation. In doing so, Roehrig had invited Latiano to the opening of Western Avenue where they both spoke about potential collaborations. Latiano suggests the importance of networking and collaboration, “It just shows how important the broader arts community is, and that it’s always worth taking the time to say hello when you see someone at an opening, even if it’s been years. You never know where those connections might lead.”
This new partnership and curation collaboration is thanks to Associate Professor and Studio Arts Program Director, Jonathan Latiano; Paige Roehrig, Programs Manager of Western Ave; Hope Greene, Executive Director of Western Ave; Ally Lewis, Administrative Assistant to the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, and the Department’s Faculty. Moving forward, everyone is excited for future collaborations, educational programming, and networking opportunities.
