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M-C Lamarre named as 2009 Wine Festival Featured Artist    © M-C Lamarre 2008 © M-C Lamarre © M-C Lamarre 2007 From the time she could hold a crayon, M-C Lamarre was an artist. She progressed through drawing, ceramics, photography, woodworking and painting. The day she graduated from Providence College, she sought to blend her passion into her life’s work. She worked in photography with a leader in sports photography. She held an 8-year-long career in art administration. She traveled all over America as Tour Manager for Artrain USA, the nation’s only traveling art museum on a train, and then...
In 2005, Ms. Lamarre landed in New Bedford paint brushes and cameras in hand. She was ready to be the classic struggling artist, yet has had a brush with success. She has completed over 125 mural commissions, both commercial and residential. Most noted for her meticulous mural reproductions of Fenway Parks’ iconic Green Monster, the requests from Red Sox Nation have taken her nationally to paint in basements and bedrooms, as well as on the side of a barn and even the back of a house. With her slogan ‘Have Brushes. Will Travel’ her Fenway inspired work has brought her across New England and to more than 25 cities and towns throughout Massachusetts. As per the request of “transplanted” Sox fans, her on-location commissions have taken her as far as Philadelphia, Florida, and Washington. In addition, her work has been shipped to Utah, New Jersey, and Virginia. With a quest to paint a “Green Monster” in every state, she is well on her way.
Ms. Lamarre’s work has received both national and international attention. Most recently, a feature article about her work appeared in the May 2009 issue of Diehard Magazine, the Magazine for Red Sox Fans. Additionally, her Fenway Park inspired work was featured in the June 29, 2008 Boston Sunday Globe Magazine. Her website, www.mclamarre.com has received over 10,000 hits since its inception in 2004. She has been featured in 16 newspapers such as the Hartford Courant, Providence Journal, and the Sunday Gazette in Schenectady, NY. On-line articles were posted internationally in the China Post, Jakarta Globe, and the Vancouver Sun as well as nationally in the Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, and the Santa Fe New Mexican!
Visit Ms. Lamarre’s website, www.mclamarre.com to see samples of her work. M-C showcases her work at several annual New Bedford events including the Downtown New Bedford, Inc. Gala (April), Summerfest (July), and New Bedford Open Studios (Fall).
Phone: 508.717.9178. www.mclamarre.com.
Have brushes. Will Travel. Washington Square residents Set to Get “Their” House back WHALE to reconstruct home lost to arson Washington Square residents have chartered their own course and, as a result, are about to get what they want – their house back. Thanks to a Request for Proposal (RFP) from the City of New Bedford and the efforts of WHALE, the Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE, residents of the Washington Square neighborhood in the South End of New Bedford will be getting back an iconic property, the Queen Anne home located at One Washington Square. The majestic Queen Anne was stolen from the neighborhood on January 20, 2008 by arsonists when a three alarm fire spread rapidly through the 126 year old wooden structure, ravaging the building and resulting in a complete demolition of the structure the following day. WHALE has signed a Purchase & Sale agreement with the city to purchase the lot and plans to reconstruct the Queen Anne home pending permitting for the project.
“The arson fire at One Washington Square was a tragedy for the neighborhood and the city,” noted New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang. “We cannot let arsonists destroy our neighborhoods. We heard the residents of the Washington Square neighborhood loud and clear and responded appropriately by issuing an RFP for the reconstruction of the magnificent architectural building that was taken from us. Future generations of New Bedford citizens will appreciate this reconstruction of a New Bedford landmark.” Four months after the fire, Washington Square residents gathered on a sunny, Saturday morning in May 2008 for a neighborhood meeting coordinated by WHALE to plan the future of their neighborhood. They expressed their concerns and ideas about open space, safety, streets, and sidewalks, as well as historic preservation, resulting in the development of the Washington Square Gateway Neighborhood Action Plan, of which the reconstruction of One Washington Square tops the list for historic preservation goals for the neighborhood. “We agree with WHALE and the residents”, added Mayor Lang. “that One Washington Square was an iconic property that stood at a critical point in this neighborhood – a gateway to the County Street Corridor. It was one of the finest examples of Queen Anne architecture we have in New Bedford. Nothing else belongs on that triangle.” And, the residents want it back. Manuela Cormier, a resident of County Street across from the lot at One Washington Square is ecstatic that the house is going to be reconstructed. “This is wonderful. It is so good for the neighborhood, for the city. We can’t wait to have our house back.” WHALE Executive Director Lisa Bergson states “WHALE is pleased to answer the call of the residents of the Washington Square neighborhood. One Washington Square was a wonderful Queen Anne property and WHALE was excited about taking on another ‘impossible’ project that would address blight and neglect in our neighborhoods. That is the mission of our Neighborhood Restoration Program and the core reason WHALE was created some 47 years ago.” Bergson noted that the fire occurred right before WHALE was set to take ownership of the abandoned house and begin a full restoration. “We were as devastated by the fire and subsequent demolition as the residents and neighbors were” continued Bergson, “because here was an architecturally significant, abandoned building in a historic neighborhood that was going to be saved, going to be new again and, then, it was gone. But, like so many other WHALE projects ravaged by fire like the Sundial Building, the Corson Building, the Rodman Candleworks Building, or the McCullough Building, WHALE can bring it back because we have a host of evidence to support an accurate reconstruction.” Prior to the fire, WHALE commissioned detailed measured drawings of the structure, collected historical photographs, historical research, and contemporary photographs of the exterior and the interior. Jan DaSilva, Preservation Specialist at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park confirmed that reconstruction can be a treatment according to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and is appropriate in this case. “Reconstruction is a viable tool in any preservation organization’s toolkit” noted DaSilva, “It is never the first tool used. It is only used as a last resort when no other option is available as is the case here with One Washington Square. WHALE should be commended for taking on such a daunting task in this neighborhood.” WHALE has had discussion with Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School to involve the students in the reconstruction of One Washington Square. “This is a great opportunity to expose our next generation of craftsmen to historic preservation, build a model ‘green’ home,” noted Bergson, “and get them involved in a meaningful, community project.” WHALE has already received significant donations of expertise to make this project happen including donated architectural, engineering, planning, legal, and real estate services. Christopher “Kit” Wise of Wise, Surma, Jones Architects and a WHALE Board member is donating all the architectural services for the project. “I am honored to play a key role in bringing this iconic property back for this neighborhood,” noted Wise, “and I am looking forward to working with the students from Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech on this project. It will be a great hands-on learning experience they will not forget.” Wise is quick to note the extensive benefits to the neighborhood that drew him to volunteer his services for this project. “One Washington Square is an amazing architectural gem and will be, when it is completed, one of the finest multi-family, affordable residence in the entire city and a wonderful compliment to this historic neighborhood.” “Whenever WHALE has taken on a project that no one else would tackle,” noted Bergson, “the business community and the community at large have always responded with donations of product and expertise as well as vital financial support because they understood that historic preservation revitalizes and strengthens our neighborhoods. It makes a difference and has a long-lasting, positive impact. You only have to walk the cobblestoned streets of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, go to the Zeiterion Theatre, or the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum to see the proof for yourself.” A groundbreaking for the project is scheduled for the fall. For more information on the project call WHALE at 508-997-1776 or to view the Washington Square Gateway Neighborhood Action Plan go to www.waterfrontleague.org/projects.htm. The Plan was funded with a Community Development Block Grant through the City of New Bedford. **** Ribbon Cut on $6.4Million Corson Rehabilitation By Lisa Sughrue, Executive Director of WHALE   Corson Building (R) restored and connected via a link to the Visitors Center (L). Corson Building after the fire in 1997. On Friday, May 16, WHALE celebrated a glorious day in New Bedford - The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the $6.4 Million rehabilitation of the Corson Building. WHALE rescued the building after a devastating fire in 1997, raised $600,000 to stabilize the structure and in 2004 donated the building to the National Park Service to become New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park's education center. WHALE has donated the only two buildings the National Park owns and operates in the Park - the Visitors Center and the Corson Maritime Learning Center. This amazing rehabilitation project proves that Historic Preservation is alive and well in New Bedford. WHALE was so proud to celebrate this momentous occasion and to have had a role in the preservation of this important building in the Park. You may recall that after the devastating fire in 1997, there was no roof, the structure was unstable and it was scheduled to be demolished. Only WHALE would have thought it could be saved. This is what WHALE does best – We have a vision of what could be and against often impossible odds, make it happen time and time again. While WHALE understood what this building could be and what it could mean to our community, it was the Piva Family who had the foresight to donate the building to WHALE, the National Park Service (expertly led locally by Celeste Bernardo) who had a vision for its reuse and a strong commitment from our elected officials – Senator Kennedy, Congressman Frank, Senator Mark Montigny, our state delegation and local officials – that really made it all happen. Without them, this project would not have become a reality. For that, we thank you. In the Corson Building You are in a special place – THE place in all of America where the story of American whaling is told. But we should not forget that it wasn’t always just so pristine, just so quaint. WHALE was created some 46 years ago to address the neglect and blight that existed in the very neighborhood that the Corson Building stands - a neighborhood that we are all so proud of today. As a result of a lot of hard work by the City of New Bedford, WHALE and others, historic buildings have been saved, our city’s character has been preserved and New Bedford’s sense of place is secure. New Bedford is not just anywhere!
Today, WHALE, with the guidance of a renewed and reenergized board, is going back to its earliest roots – back to the preservation of New Bedford neighborhoods. We are proudly focusing on another historic neighborhood worthy of preservation – the Washington Square neighborhood. This neighborhood once housed the blacksmiths, coopers and craftsman that supported the whaling industry. We have developed a Neighborhood Restoration Program that uses historic preservation and planning to revitalize this historic neighborhood. We are thrilled that this program has met with such success and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Park, the City of New Bedford and our friends and neighbors. The ribbon cutting of this magnificent building was a proud moment for WHALE. It was a proud moment for the National Park Service. But, more importantly, it was a proud moment for New Bedford. If you weren’t sure before, let me assure you that Historic preservation is about more than just saving an old building. It’s about what these buildings mean to our neighborhoods and our community. Without a doubt, the Corson Maritime Learning Center will have a significant, positive impact on New Bedford and our region for generations to come. Indeed, it already has.
Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE 13 Hamilton Street New Bedford, MA 02740 508-997-1776
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