Almost caught up with some recent temporary art, I’ll share a few views of three murals in my home city, Cambridge. Two, by Be Sargent, have been here for nearly twenty years. One, by David Fichter, has been for fourteen. All three begin above eye-level, so I had seldom made eye contact with the animals or people depicted. That may be why I hardly stopped to look up and take them in, till now. Below are photos with notes and quotes about what I began to notice when gazing up.
Wall of Respect for Animals, completed 1999, Be Sargent
Location: Wall of building for Cambridge Antique Market, 201 Monsignor Obrien Hwy, Cambridge, MA 02141
Wall of Respect for Animals quotes text in upper right: We speak for those who can’t. Within the upper curving border are human images of 29 historical speakers, including Gandhi, Cesar Chavez, Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, Pythagoras, Mark Twain, Frederick Douglass, and Alice Walker. Patrons listed: American Anti-Vivisection Society, Culture and Animals Foundation, National Anti-Vivisection Society, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Be Sargent’s website page for this mural presents close views of individual images as well as photos of Sargent and other artists painting from scaffolds suspended along the brick wall.
Alewife Reservation Mural Project, completed 2004, David Fichter
Location: Cambridge Park Dr. and Alewife Brook Parkway at the Alewife T stop
“An eighty-foot Environmental Mural for the Alewife MBTA Station Depicts Mystic River watershed flora and fauna of Alewife Reservation and public outdoor enjoyment. Made by students and artist with business and community support” quote from the invitation to dedication of the mural, Oct 2004
“Twelve students worked on the project. Some of them actually photographed, illustrated and painted the species of insect, flower, tree, mammal or bird that they observed on the Alewife Reservation. FAR developed a full program with naturalists and recreation on site for the youth in conjunction with the Mayor’s Summer Youth Program which supported the students with stipends. …..The high school youth, mostly from Rindge and Latin High School, gained the ability to dramatize nature by understanding its workings. Renowned educator-artist and mural painter, David Fichter, directed the Project.” quote from Environmental Arts Mural to go on Alewife T stopFriday, October 22, 2004
Women’s Community Cancer Project, completed 1998, Be Sargent
Location: 20 Church Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
“Sargent said she decided to approach the Women’s Community Cancer Project (WCCP) with the idea of painting a mural for the project, when one more friend of hers was diagnosed with cancer. She wanted to create a work of art that would draw attention to cancer’s murderous toll on women-not as a picture of doom and gloom, but as a celebration of movers and shakers for political and social justice, both those living and those killed by cancer.” quote from States of Feminism by Brooke Ackerly, Vanderbilt University
Look up more about the art on these websites
Be Sargent artist’s website: Women’s Community Cancer Project
States of Feminism by Brooke Ackerly
David Fichter artist’s website: Alewife Reservation Mural Project
Friends of Alewife Reservation notice: Environmental Arts Mural to go on Alewife T stopFriday, October 22, 2004
Friends of Alewife Reservation: Alewife Arts Mural Completed, with summaries and links to background information
My Three Wishes
Wish 1: I and others will notice and consider high-up murals such as these three.
Wish 2: The originally informative signs below the murals on Church Street and Alewife T will be restored to more readable form.
Wish 3: People will explore the visually rich websites of Be Sargent and David Fichter for broader perspectives of this post.
Art Outdoors 