Drew Furtado

Digital Communicator

DATMA Presents: Water 2021

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The Massachusetts Design, Art, and Technology Institute (DATMA) prepare 2021’s major art Installation, Water 2021. I spent an hour with the team as they prepared their installation, and took some photos to help them tell their story of this year’s art program.

<img data-lazy-fallback="1" data-attachment-id="5344" data-permalink="https://dfurt.com/datma-presents-water-2021/img_7674-2/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7674.png?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="DATMA Water 2021" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>Boarded up windows surround UMASS Dartmouth’s CVPA building as a new art installation takes place inside.</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7674.png?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7674.png?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7674.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-5344" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7674.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7674.png?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7674.png?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7674.png?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7674.png?resize=2048%2C1365&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7674.png?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" />

Boarded up windows surround UMASS Dartmouth’s CVPA building as a new art installation takes place inside.

<img data-lazy-fallback="1" data-attachment-id="5343" data-permalink="https://dfurt.com/datma-presents-water-2021/img_7662-2/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7662.png?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="IMG_7662" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>Volunteers assemble wires to small electrical engines that will vibrate small mallets against cardboard boxes.</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7662.png?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7662.png?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7662.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-5343" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7662.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7662.png?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7662.png?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7662.png?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7662.png?resize=2048%2C1365&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7662.png?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" />

Volunteers assemble wires to small electrical engines that will vibrate small mallets against cardboard boxes.

<img data-lazy-fallback="1" data-attachment-id="5342" data-permalink="https://dfurt.com/datma-presents-water-2021/img_7648-2/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7648.png?fit=2560%2C1706&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1706" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="IMG_7648" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>The art installation developed by renowned artist Zimoun includes over 1000 card boxes and electrical engines.</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7648.png?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7648.png?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7648.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-5342" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7648.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7648.png?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7648.png?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7648.png?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7648.png?resize=2048%2C1365&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7648.png?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" />

The art installation developed by renowned artist Zimoun includes over 1000 card boxes and electrical engines.

<img data-lazy-fallback="1" data-attachment-id="5341" data-permalink="https://dfurt.com/datma-presents-water-2021/img_7646-2/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7646.png?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="IMG_7646" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>The mallets strike the boxes, creating the sound of rain, or water splashing.</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7646.png?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7646.png?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7646.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-5341" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7646.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7646.png?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7646.png?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7646.png?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7646.png?resize=2048%2C1365&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7646.png?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" />

The mallets strike the boxes, creating the sound of rain, or water splashing.

<img data-lazy-fallback="1" data-attachment-id="5340" data-permalink="https://dfurt.com/datma-presents-water-2021/img_7638-2/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7638.png?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="IMG_7638" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>Executive Director Lindsay Mis adds a styrofoam ball to a small electrical engine. </p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7638.png?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7638.png?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7638.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-5340" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7638.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7638.png?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7638.png?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7638.png?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7638.png?resize=2048%2C1365&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7638.png?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" />

DATMA’s Executive Director Lindsay Mis adds a styrofoam ball to a small electrical engine.

<img data-lazy-fallback="1" data-attachment-id="5339" data-permalink="https://dfurt.com/datma-presents-water-2021/img_7631-2/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7631.png?fit=2560%2C1706&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1706" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="IMG_7631" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>Volunteers work all hours to assemble WATER 2021’s main art installation.</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7631.png?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7631.png?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7631.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-5339" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7631.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7631.png?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7631.png?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7631.png?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7631.png?resize=2048%2C1365&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7631.png?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" />

Volunteers work all hours to assemble WATER 2021’s main art installation.

<img data-lazy-fallback="1" data-attachment-id="5338" data-permalink="https://dfurt.com/datma-presents-water-2021/img_7626-2/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7626.png?fit=2560%2C1706&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1706" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="IMG_7626" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>It takes great care to assemble these small engines. Volunteers must install over 1000 components in order to complete the art installation. </p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7626.png?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7626.png?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7626.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-5338" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7626.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7626.png?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7626.png?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7626.png?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7626.png?resize=2048%2C1365&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7626.png?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" />

It takes great care to assemble these small engines. Volunteers must install over 1000 components in order to complete the art installation.

<img data-lazy-fallback="1" data-attachment-id="5336" data-permalink="https://dfurt.com/datma-presents-water-2021/img_7608-2/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7608.png?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="DATMA 2021" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>Volunteers at Massachusetts Design, Art, and Technology Institute (DATMA) assemble pieces for 2021’s art installation project, Water 2021. </p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7608.png?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7608.png?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7608.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-5336" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7608.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7608.png?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7608.png?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7608.png?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7608.png?resize=2048%2C1366&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/dfurt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_7608.png?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" data-recalc-dims="1" />

Volunteers at Massachusetts Design, Art, and Technology Institute (DATMA) assemble pieces for 2021’s art installation project, Water 2021.

The Final Product

About the Author

Drew Furtado is an Emmy Award winning filmmaker, and leader of a nationally recognized high school media arts communication department .

He develops guides and strategies for nonprofit and educational organizations to improve and grow their social media presence, website development, and communication practices that best engages audiences.

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