Springfield Students Showcase Their Tech Creations

11 Springfield middle-school students who have built and programmed electronic music machines under the direction of UMass Amherst engineers will showcase their projects for the public and news media at a special showing on Friday, Aug. 13 from 2-4 p.m. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno is expected to arrive between 2-2:30 p.m.

The students have been taking part in "Circuits and Beats," a free, two-week summer tech workshop by the UMass Amherst College of Engineering, in collaboration with the Greater Springfield-UMass Amherst Partnership. The program was developed by UMass Amherst’s M5 open learning environment for techies, with major financial support coming from UMass Amherst, ProSensing, StandardAero and Bruce and Nancy Urbschat. The intensive program is taking place in the Parish House of the Old First Church on Court Square in downtown Springfield. Each young sound designer has learned how to read circuit schematics and modify computer programs for an 8-bt microcontroller, and will keep his or her creation. The participants did not have to have any particular technical background, but have been expected to have a genuine interest in learning more about computers, electronics and music.

DATE: Friday, Aug. 13, 2010
TIME: 2-4 p.m.
PLACE: Parish House, Old First Church, Court Square, Springfield

UMass Athletics to hold clinic at the Basketball Hall of Fame

As a part of the Basketball Hall of Fame 2010 Enshrinement festivities, UMass Amherst Women's Basketball head coach Sharon Dawley, her coaching staff and team will hold a free basketball clinic, August 11th at 11am at center court at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA

For more information on UMass Amherst Women's Basketball visit: http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/w-baskbl/umas-w-baskbl-body.html

For more information on Sharon Dawley visit: http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/dawley_sharon00.html

Mayor Sarno welcomes Art & Soles artists, community and press to downtown studio

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, along with Maryann Lombardi, director of creative economy for the University of Massachusetts Amherst; Don Courtemanche, executive director of the Springfield Business Improvement District and Nancy Urbschat of TSM Design welcomed artists, community and press to the Art & Soles Main Street Studio.

C&W Realty has donated the retail space at 1200 Main as the downtown studio space for the Art & Soles project. The space has been vacant for years, last used by a financial services firm. The reflective film has been removed from the large display windows to allow people to look in to see these magnificent sneakers being created.

“I can’t think of a better way to showcase this space to potential tenants. Hopefully, by bringing awareness to the space, energizing it, and bringing thousands of people into it, we will also be able to bring about a creative retail tenant to occupy the space long term.” – Don Courtemanche, Executive Director, Springfield Business Improvement District.

The artists who hail from Springfield, UMass Amherst and around the Pioneer Valley then posed for a picture with the Mayor.

Sneakers Arrive in Downtown Springfield

Patrick Keough, all the way from Nebraska, delivered the five-foot sneakers early in the morning July 8th. Patrick along with Don Courtemanche, executive Director of the SBID carried them into the Art & Soles Studio at 1200 Main Street.

Later that morning the studio was visited by a family who were just walking by and wanted to check out what was going on.

UMass Amherst Activities in Springfield highlighted

John Mullin, Chair of the Greater Springfield-UMass Amherst Partnership, was interviewed about UMass Amherst activities in Springfield in the lastest issue of Business West.

http://businesswest.com/details.asp?id=2529

Bamidele teaches African Dance to students in DeBerry Elementary

Students at DeBerry Elemementary School are participating in a six week program on African Dance. They are working with Marilyn and Sekou Sylla from Bamidele Dancers and Drummers. Marilyn and Sekou also teach and perform within the Five Colleges.

Art & Soles is requesting proposals from Valley artists!

Art & Soles is the result of a collaboration between the Greater Springfield-UMass Amherst Partnership, the Springfield Business Improvement District and TSM Design, a Springfield-based ad agency. These three organizations came together during a discussion around the notion that art can change perceptions about public spaces.

According to Maryann Lombardi, Director, Creative Economy, UMass Amherst, “UMass Amherst couldn’t be more excited about this collaboration. It’s a strong example of what the Partnership is all about.”

The medium – fiberglass sculpture – has made its way to cities all over the U.S. Remember the cows in Chicago? So what’s in store for Springfield? Twenty 5-foot sneakers will serve as the canvas for 20 artists whose proposals best answer the question: What makes Springfield great? Judges include Holly Smith-Bove, Springfield Museums, Loretta Yarlow, UMass Amherst University Gallery, and Rosemary Woods, a local gallery owner. A stipend of $500 and $250 materials allowance will be paid to the 20 winning artists.

According to Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, “This is a terrific idea for the City of Springfield in that it will highlight many downtown businesses and attractions. It will help with the city's economic revitalization as it brings people to Springfield to view these art pieces.” He extends his thanks and appreciation to the Springfield Business Improvement District, TSM Design and UMass Amherst for their commitment to this public art project.

According to Don Courtemanche, Executive Director of the BID, “This is exactly the type of project we need to encourage foot traffic through our beautiful downtown. The sneakers will be strategically placed to encourage visitors to view the art and get familiar with businesses in the area.”Area businesses and organizations will have an opportunity to step up and sponsor a sneaker. There are a number of high profile media opportunities and public events that will be offered as sponsor benefits. The sneakers will go on display throughout downtown prior to 2010 Enshrinement festivities and remain until late October. A gala celebration is also planned during which the 20 sneakers will be auctioned for charity.

“The timeline for the project”, according to TSM Design’s Nancy Urbschat, “is pretty aggressive. Our mold guy told us these projects generally take seven or eight months. He’s fast-tracking our sneakers and will deliver finished forms to Springfield by June 28. That’s when the fun will really begin!”

Anyone who is interested in receiving an Artist Prospectus should email Pat@tsmdesign.com.