DATMA 'Threshold' exhibit becomes permanent installation until 2026 in Custom House Square

NEW BEDFORD –  The double-sided door public artwork referred to as 'Threshold' in Custom House Square will remain on view through Fall 2026.

"I am pleased that the people of New Bedford have enjoyed this installation and I am thrilled about the extension until 2026. I am excited for the work to experience a New England winter too. It is going to look stunning, surrounded by snow,” said artist Mark Reigelman.

In partnership with the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts Design Art and Technology Institute (DATMA) announced today that the public artwork by Reigelman will remain on public view.

“DATMA chose Mark for his thoughtful, powerful, and poignant site specific sculpture. Threshold is a beautiful metaphor for New Bedford’s history of welcoming people to it’s shores, and we are excited that Threshold will remain now in New Bedford as a stunning public art installation,” shared Gayle Mandle, co-founder and vice chair of DATMA.

"This exciting development in DATMA's public art commitment in New Bedford would not have been possible without the community's enthusiasm or local government support."

The timeline was set for fall 2026 by DATMA in consultation with the artist. When the date arrives, discussions will occur if they will continue to keep the piece or invite a new artist to create another art piece in its place.

More about the art piece 'Threshold’

DATMA, the non-collecting contemporary art institute, first presented Threshold as part of its “SHELTER 2023” season to kick off its 5th anniversary in June 2023. Constructed mainly from wood and steel, Threshold draws on the unique architecture of the federal doorway of the site of the oldest building in New Bedford's Abolition Row Historic District, an important site in the early Black freedom struggle.

Its double-sided door references the community’s diverse history, with its blue façade facing the Wharf and rising sun as a nod to the city's fishing roots, while its massive arched window is tiled together with colorful mirrored pieces, capturing the various identities and cultures that have made up the city.

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“This symbol is conceptually unique and strong, and it allowed me to explore architecture, scale and the past and future of New Bedford in an impactful and creative manner,” Reigelman said in a previous Standard-Times interview.

According to a press release from DATMA, the piece's suspended 8-pointed star references a hugely influential New England quilting pattern, activating the static sculpture with mirrored surfaces that encourage visitors to reflect and contemplate in and around the portal. With its massive ornate door, the artwork seeks to promote principles of openness and create a welcoming space, inviting everyone to pass through its threshold.

Reigleman hopes the piece encourages viewers to think about the past and future when crossing the threshold, and even for those who don't, it's meant to be a pleasant and positive experience nonetheless.

The community has embraced the art piece in Custom House Square. In fact, “The Good Wife” Tony-award winning actor Alan Cumming featured the piece in an Instagram video while visiting New Bedford for his two-person show at the Zeiterion on June 28.

"It's Saturday night on Broadway. Pow!" he sang in front of the doors.

Who is artist Mark Reigelman

Reigelman’s site-specific installations deal in the remarkable. Whether it be the materials he uses, their head-turning scale or their placement in public spaces, his works marry wit, context, and the element of surprise. His approach re-evaluates the everyday, reinvigorates public space, and challenges typical urban conditions. Emphasizing research and exploration, his diverse body of work is poised between abstraction and literal representation, which he meticulously integrates into civic spaces.

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Reigelman has exhibited work in public sites, galleries and museums across the country. His works, Manifest Destiny! (San Francisco, CA), White Cloud (Cleveland, OH), Wood-Pile (Cleveland, OH), Upriver-Downriver (Louisville, KY) and The Meeting House (Boston, MA) have been recognized by the Americans for the Arts as being amongst the 50 most compelling public works across the country. His newest award winning site-specific installations include Formation at the San Diego International Airport and Sweetwater at the former Domino Sugar Factory site in Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY.

Mark Reigelman studied Sculpture and Industrial Design at the Cleveland Institute of Art in Cleveland, Ohio and product design at Central Saint Martins University of the Arts in London, UK. He lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. www.markreigelman.com

DATMA to celebrate five years at its ‘Fall Ball’ on Friday

Reigelman will be in attendance at DATMA’s Fall Ball on Oct. 20. The event celebrates the five years of work for the organization. Tickets are still available at the website.

The night will feature creative visuals and sounds, specialty cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, as DATMA unveils what they have in store for the next five years as well as honor co-founders Gayle and Roger Mandle, for their contributions to the arts.

Roger Mandle, who passed away in 2020, was a strong advocate for integrating art into education.

“I've never met a group of people like this and I've been working in nonprofits my whole life. They see art as an investment,” said Lindsay Mis, executive director.

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Founded in 2016, DATMA has a diverse, highly motivated Board of Trustees including prominent members of the regional and global business, civic, philanthropic, arts, design, and technology sectors. Roger Mandle, co-founder and former board chair of DATMA, passed away in November, 2020.

He had 40 years of experience in building museums around the world and was a major contributor of the STEM to STEAM education initiative, championed by the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), which he had served as president. www.DATMA.org

“We have now completed five years of programming and have a story to share about the positive impact of public art. We are ready to take a bigger step and continue to do what we do, but on a larger scale and with longer-term projects," Mis added.

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter:@ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Massachusetts Design Art and Technology Institute exhibit to stay