Category parks

Ink Block Underground Murals by Women Artists: Indie 184, Silvia López Chavez, Imagine876, Thy Doan

In honor of International Women’s Day, I will first focus on the four women artists who have created murals for Underground at Ink Block, an urban park that opened in Boston’s South End 2017. I have already enthusiastically posted about other murals by Silvia López Chavez and Imagine876 (Sneha Shrestha), but Thy Doan and Indie184 (Soraya Marquez) are new discoveries for me.

Follow up on Elliott Kayser’s Pigs from their Year on the Greenway

The photos in this post come from January 1, 2020, the last time I visited Elliott Kayser’s eight ceramic pigs along the Rose Kennedy Greenway. They had kept their stations well for almost a year. Now that the Year of the Pig is almost over they are gone!

From a very informative Greenway blog post, I have learned that five of the pigs have moved on to the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton. Chiefly the blog post clearly tells a story with great photos of ten steps involved in creating the pigs. If you wondered about the origins or future of these sculptures, about 250 pounds each, read that blog post.

David Fichter and David Phillips Honor Community Histories in Public Art

David Phillips is a sculptor; David Fichter is a muralist. With their distinctly different materials, both are masters of rendering historical figures and events. Both have created public art that is densely packed with researched images and documents. As public art, the expansive colorful mural and the tactile intimate bronze relief wait openly for anyone who wants to focus on some sign or scene and make their own associations.

George Sherwood’s Art and Tower Hill Botanic Garden: A Marvelous Match

Yet again I feel compelled to post without the revisiting, rereading, and rethinking I like to do before pushing the Publish button on this Wordpress site. George Sherwood’s kinetic sculpture exhibit Wind, Waves &  Light, Art in Motion, will end on October 14, 2019. Tower Hill Botanic Garden will continue and develop through the years ahead. I certainly want to see more of both, but first I must urge as many people as possible to plan to go before the sculptures leave.

Admire Animals by Artist Katharine Lane Weems in Boston: Dogs, Dolphins, Rhinos and More

The more I learn about sculpture by Katharine Lane Weems (1898 — 1989), the more I admire the art, the artist and the animals. An earlier post about two rhinos, Bess and Victoria, installed 1937 in Cambridge led me on to sites in Boston with work by this artist “famous for her realistic portrayals of animals.”  Her art combined scientific accuracy, meticulous renderings, and creative design to bring out the animals’ majesty and character. This post notes four places in Boston to be in the presence of her elegant animals. 

Christopher Frost’s “Annex” in Somerville Builds Beautifully on his “Colony” in Arlington

Alerted by the Somerville Arts Council newsletter, I found my way to  “Annex,” Christopher Frost’s newly completed installation on the Somerville Community Path bike trail near Willow Avenue.

Murals by Silvia López Chavez: Uplifting Connections

Starting with one of the newest of many murals by Silvia López Chavez, I want to share some images, notes, and rich resources that convey my enthusiasm for her art and process. For the three murals in this post, as well as plenty more, the artist’s website includes excellent photos that document stages of her work and inspiring stories related to the art.

David Phillips’ Art Engages All Ages at Playspace on the Esplanade

For several years ( since 2013) David Phillip’s bronze turtles, frogs, spheres and connecting features have captivated visitors in Playspace, the lively popular playground on the Esplanade. Recently I renewed my appreciation of their subtly balanced momentum and how readily they stimulate stories.

Nancy Winship Milliken, Pasture Song, plus Earth Press Project: Witness

Pasture Song at deCordova, was originally scheduled to depart this summer. What great news that it will stay another year! ….Meanwhile another time-sensitive matter has sped up my posting about Nancy Milliken’s work. That is Earth-Press Project: Witness, which calls on all of us to each offer one word that might be imprinted in an adobe block of earth for an installation at Minute-Man National Historic Park in Lincoln.

Beauty and Drama Resonate from New Mural, “Resonance” by Super A (Stefan Thelen) on the Greenway

In awe of the art, I’m excited to announce the completion of the latest monumental mural in Dewey Square. I plan to come into its presence many times before it is painted over by another artist or artist team next year. For now I’m posting photos, quotes, and links so you can join me in learning more about and from Super A (Stefan Thelen).