The Brush Art Gallery & Studios
256 Market Street
Lowell, MA 01852
978-459-7819
The Water Dragon is a public art piece designed by Jay W. Hungate and built in collaboration with the other Artists at The Brush Art Gallery and Studios, in the Spring of 2007. The forty foot long, solar powered Water Dragon graced the fence of The Lowell National Historical Park Visitors Center parking lot, and welcomed visitors to the City of Lowell, Massachusetts. The funding for the Water Dragon was generously provided by The Revolving Museum as part of the Lowell ArtVentures Series.

 
The fence before... ...and Jay's sketches that ... ..led the way to a proposal for the
Water Dragon.		 Construction starts in hallway at Western Avenue Studios.
The plywood creature takes form... her head is temporarily fitted... and the sanding begins. Brush Artists Penny and Chrissy painting the primer on the plywood.
Brush Artists Gay and Cindy priming "the loop" of the tail. The design evolves as construction continues. The paper legs will be traced on to plywood, cut, sanded, and then painted by Brush Artist Betsy Wish. Color testing and the dragon is starting to take shape!
Jay starts to paint the sky blue body after deciding on the color scheme. Ready for the next colors to be painted! Chrissy starts adding the colorful scales...recycled DVD's and CD's. Brush artist Chrissy and her helpful daughters pause for a picture.
Fastening the pre decorated CD's and DVD's at Western Avenue. Brush Artists Pamela, Cynthia, Donna and Jay start to layout the stained glass pieces at The Brush. "Who's ready to cut more glass?" The artists take turns cutting the beautiful and exotic glass given to the project by Donna Murray. Cindy, Carol and Gay glue down the glass before Donna grouts and seals the glass mosaic head.
The finished head glistens while it cures in the Paper Place at the Brush. Installation starts outside The Brush Art Gallery & Studios. The rough dragon awaits her beautiful head and shield...which are being finished inside at The Brush. The Water Dragon gets her head and the artists add "river weed" fabric dyed by Cynthia and Gay.
A close-up of the DVD's and CD's decorated by the community and visitors to the Brush. The finishing touch, the motto of the City of Lowell, interpreted and painted by Deirdre Grunwald, with translations of the motto written on small mirrors. Lolita Demers creates a sign to celebrate the Water Dragon. The Water Dragon is finished, and comes alive in the afternoon sun.
A crowd gathers in front of the Dragon during the opening ceremonies  of ArtVentures. Taiko Drummers thunder as images are projected onto the large smokestack by volunteers and staff of the Revolving Museum. "Art is the Handmaid of Human Good."
~ motto of the City of Lowell		 The Water Dragon and the festive atmosphere shake the night!

The Artists at the Brush are:

  • Carol Boileau

  • Penny Cox

  • Lolita Demers

  • Vassilios Giavis

  • Deirdre Grunwald

  • Cynthia Hughes

  • Christine Theo Hungate

  • Jay W. Hungate

  • Leslie MacPhail

  • Donna Murray

  • Steve Noroian

  • Gay Tracy

  • Pamela Wamala

  • Will Winslow

  • Betsy Wish

Thank you to everyone who made this work of art possible, including:

  • Jerry Beck

  • The Revolving Museum Staff & Volunteers

  • The ArtVentures Committee

  • Michael Creasey

  • The Lowell National Historical Park

  • The City of Lowell

  • Karl Frey & BPV Lowell

  • United Restaurant Equip. & Supply

  • The Brush Art Gallery & Studios

  • Martha Mayo

  • Jack Moynihan 

  • Peter Pedula and Chelmsford Telecommunications

  • Olivia & Fiona

  • The many friends and visitors who donated and decorated CD's and DVD's for the Water Dragon.
 The Water Dragon was adopted by the community and welcomed visitors to the Lowell National Historical Park from April through September 2007.

The Water Dragon is currently seeking another good home. During her stay in Lowell, she was adopted by hundreds, if not thousands of visitors. She loves crowds and human interaction. Do you think you know of a good home for her? Please contact the Artists at the Brush with your ideas. And come see what we are making in our studios now!

 

All images and content on this page are copyright © Jay W. Hungate 2007; All rights reserved