Artist Richard Marion at his Gallery 21, Hurd St, Lowell, c. 1979 (photo by Kevin Harkins)

I’m posting this 2008 essay (later reprinted in 2018) for the benefit of visual artists and other folks in Lowell who have come to the city since the 1980s or later and may not know about the first stirrings of a cultural renaissance that still has a lot of energy today. Cheers to all the activists, advocates, and patrons who support this important movement. — PM

Here’s the essay with images.