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.
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.
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.
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.
Thanks to David Fichter, one morning in August 2018 I got to visit the Mystic River Mural team at work in the Mystic Activity Center. My photos from a few moments hint at the numerous hours of planning, researching, sketching, designing, projecting, shaping, painting and much much more by teens and adults involved in the project. Outdoor explorations along the river were key features of the project, but indoor studio time was key to creating the mural panels added to the ongoing mural outdoors along Mystic Avenue.
I want to speak out for a poem that speaks for our sidewalks.
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).
The first time I saw Steven Whyte’s Jumbo statue on the Tufts University campus I had big plans to post about it. That was in April 2015 when it was first installed and celebrated. Now four years including several visits later, I know that the massive range of Jumbo’s stories kept me from a decisive post. Today I’ll try to step back and share a bit of the big picture.
Quick Post Now in Time for the Boston Marathon and April Vacation Plans
The statues of Charles Sumner and the Hiker both connect to stories worth telling, well told in the quotes below. The Sumner statue story leads back to a much earlier Boston proposal that was rejected because the artist Anne Whitney was a woman. The Hiker statue story leads on to a much later time when fifty bronze replicas of Kitson’s original around the country became part of a scientific study.
Art Outdoors 