Last week I saw and spoke to Jerry Beck on the sidewalk outside his home at the corner of Shattuck and Middle streets. I hadn’t seen Jerry for a while. He said he and his family are staying downtown and that he plans to open a gallery in the former Revolving Museum space on the first floor. I stopped by the next day and saw him and a crew of helpers installing a lively exhibition of artwork by students at the Innovation Academy charter high school in Tyngsboro, where Jerry is teaching. I was especially struck by the large-scale sculptures in the gallery—impressive and ambitious work by the students. The exhibition includes samples of creative writing. There’s also an installation on the deck at the far end of Mack Plaza, at the intersection of Merrimack and Dutton streets, that looks like Beck-inspired work, but it may be by other artists. (I learned that this is work by the Revolving Museum in association with the Lowell Historic Board and Doors Open Lowell) With the Revolving Museum, being guided by Diane Testa, Bob Forrant, and others, keeping its momentum through projects like the recent immigrant history murals and now Jerry seeming to be back in play, the outlook is encouraging.