Erin Sunderland is the Communications Manager at Now + There, also pursuing her MSW part-time and spending as much time as possible cycling around Boston. (This blog originally created in June 2022 has been updated to reflect July project openings.)
We’re eagerly anticipating the arrival of three new public art projects from N+T Public Art Accelerator artists coming to East Boston. Eli Brown, Yu-Wen Wu, and Rhea Vedro remind us to draw on the strength of tidal creatures, reconnect us under the same stars, and to hammer intentions with magical tools for protection. Keep reading for details about the opening events and check out this piece from Dig Boston with more info. And be sure to check them out for yourself this summer!
We Belong, 2022. Installation view .
Yu-Wen’s continuously-lit We Belong will be placed at the East Boston Social Center, an acknowledgment and recognition of where the city’s early immigration centers were located. The installation will eventually make a city-wide journey to other Boston neighborhoods, a map that can be seen in the constellation of stars on the eight-foot circular sculpture and is designed to promote ideas of belonging and inclusion as it travels among different communities. For more updates, visit the project website.
JOIN YU-WEN’S OPENING
Wednesday, July 20, 5-6 pm at East Boston Social Centers.
Eli’s Beam Me Down, a UFO and shell-inspired installation will touch down at the Lopresti Park jetty seeking to reframe the narrative of climate change. The sculpture will be steered by tidal animals, Oyster and Barnacle, reminding us to look to the long evolution of tidal species for survival strategies. These animals will also feature as the main characters in an accompanying English and Spanish-language sci-fi comic book, co-illustrated by the artist and East Boston students ages 3-18. For progress updates and the scheduled landing date of Beam Me Down, follow Eli’s progress on Instagram or visit his project website.
In-progress photo of Beam Me Down provided by the artist.
Eli’s sci-fi comic book now available for download!
JOIN ELI’S OPENING
Wednesday, July 23, 5:30-7:30 pm at LoPresti Park
Rhea’s magical tools.
Rhea’s Amulet, is a multi-phased project exploring ideas of journey and collective healing. Phase one is an interactive hammering table sited along the waterfront in East Boston. Come make your wish and hammer it into steel feathers using mallets forged by Rhea for this special purpose. Rhea will later remove the feathers and weld them into a large community amulet — a protective bird-inspired sculpture coming soon to City Hall Plaza. Follow Rhea to find out when and how you can add your wishes for safe passage to this community amulet.
JOIN RHEA’S OPENING
Wednesday, July 23, 6:00-8:00 pm at LoPresti Park
We’ll keep sharing updates and ways that you can engage with these and the others in Cohort Four including muralists Rixy and Mima McMillan, whose progress we will share later this summer. And, the call for Cohort Five is now live (Deadline July 17th!) if you want to co-create public art with us in the coming year. And we’re always interested in hearing what surprises and delights you about public art, share your thoughts here or connect with us on social @now_and_there.