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Side of giant Big Dig ventilation shaft proves perfect for giant mural

By adamg on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 6:00pm

Two Brazilian artists are transforming the plain brown side of that thing in the middle of the Greenway in Dewey Square into a mural - which will stay up until it gets to faded and ugly in the weather to stay up any longer.

Photo of their progress earlier today.

Neighborhoods: 
Downtown
Free tagging: 
art
Rose Kennedy Greenway
Dewey Square


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Comments

By BlackKat on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 6:12pm.

That's really a shame. I much prefer the look of unblemished by grafitti or mural, marble (or marble simulcra).

By pierce on Fri, 07/27/2012 - 9:01am.

i definitely disagree. It's nice to see the ICA continuing to push out into the city (i still fondly remember the julian opie LED installations on the Northern Ave Bridge), and in a big way. We have a couple dozen of these vent towers, none of them are particularly attractive (though at sunset I do like looking across the harbor at the ones in East Boston). I for one am not saddened by one getting painted, especially in such an engaging way that is unique to this city. And while our typical neighborhood murals have their place, I'm really happy this isn't some hodgepodge of historical scenes or faces of Bostonians. Too often (in fact, almost always) Boston sells itself on what HAS happened here, so its nice to have something that hasn't happened before. This city needs shaken up, the greenway needs something jarring and exciting, and this makes me quite happy.

By Jeff F on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 6:22pm.

That's really cool. I much prefer the look of the mural to the blank and dreary wall.

By Will LaTulippe on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 6:37pm.

Jesus, Gaffin, you remind me of my father.

By adamg on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 8:07pm.

YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!

OK, now that I have that out of my system, here's the more exact quote from the Greenway press release:

The mural on Dewey Square will remain up at least through the end of the exhibition at the ICA (Nov. 25) and potentially for as long as 18 months (as approved by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation) or until the mural is compromised by weather and/or other unforeseen circumstances.

Some say "compromised by weather," I say "faded and ugly."

By carreening on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 6:37pm.

That looks like it will be beautiful when finished.

Granted, this particular mural is to my aesthetic taste, but I don't get people who would rather have blank walls than something.

By NotWhitey on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 6:56pm.

Blank walls = Architecture.

By Jeff F on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 8:21pm.

Decorated walls also = Architecture, you mook.

By HenryAlan on Fri, 07/27/2012 - 9:37am.

Lots of buildings leave a blank wall with the expectation that something else will happen there. This city is filled with buildings that are architecturally interesting on three sides yet blank on the other, which usually means it was built to the property line. Very often another building ends up hugging against the wall, so it would be a waste of architecture to do something more elaborate. When nothing materializes, such walls are used for advertising or art (and arguably sometimes both). This is all a normal and appropriate part of the built environment.

By adamg on Fri, 07/27/2012 - 10:29am.

OK, I just wanted to use "Vide."

Also that new building on Boylston that houses Fenway Community Health - or whatever it's called. All of Boylston, actually, is like watching a game of SimCity in slow motion (same with the Seaport area).

Wasn't Dewey Square where the Horticultural Society's giant greenhouse was supposed to go?

By Boston_res on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 10:24pm.

I don't understand people who can't be happy with what they have. In this case, what they had.

By SwirlyGrrl on Fri, 07/27/2012 - 8:55am.

This one is temporary, different, gets people talking.

Why is it so hard to "understand" that we live in a living and modern city? I've been to a number of US cities where these things go on all the time, and I like it even if I don't like a particular piece. I've often wondered why there wasn't more of this sort of thing in Boston, instead of blank foreboding walls that just get uglier and dirtier by the year.

Even zoo animals get their habitats changed around to benefit their mental health. Think of it as "enrichment".

By carreening on Fri, 07/27/2012 - 10:29am.

I don't like every statue or painting that has gone up in the city, but I do enjoy the fact that Boston has public art.

By anon on Fri, 07/27/2012 - 9:31am.

I actually have no problem with blank walls. I do like murals and public art as well. I understand why some people would prefer a less busy piece but I think its fine. I would, however, would like to see some of these blank walls simply painted and kept up. Some cities use colors that are more vibrant than what this city uses on their infrastructure. I'd like to see a combo of murals and blank, nicely colored/painted walls. I think the only thing that is depressing is chipped paint and dirty walls, and strait grafitti.

By O-FISH-L on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 7:13pm.

Couldn't they have gotten someone to do a mural of a historic event in the city's history instead of that vandalism? Only doing the "artwork" that Americas refuse to do.

By anon on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 8:11pm.

Both a museum AND the organization that exists to support the park and property support this art. Calling it "vandalism" is insane.

By anon on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 8:37pm.

I agree!! This art may not be for everyone (just as what hangs in museums or galleries may not be for everyone), but it is incredible. These guys are actually world-famous, and it's absolutely amazing that they are here in Boston.

By SwirlyGrrl on Thu, 07/26/2012 - 10:08pm.

O-FISH-L would probably agree with this program to remove art that people like him didn't "get" from circulation in favor of "historic" or "glorious" works: http://painting.about.com/od/artglossaryd/g/defdeg...

By anon on Fri, 07/27/2012 - 9:25am.

Godwin's Law was put into effect quite early in this exchange!

By James H. on Fri, 07/27/2012 - 7:33am.

Well it looks pretty creepy - is that a pair of eyes peering out of a balaclava? Bring on the weather and make it go away already.

By MovingForwardorBackward on Fri, 07/27/2012 - 10:47am.

From what I've seen it may qualify to meet a standard of both interesting, possibly funny and simultaneously garish, egotistical and silly. Whether it really has value can not be determined except by putting it up there and seeing if anyone salutes.

But it does remind me that much of contemporary art is as significant and worthwhile as the Emperor's new clothes. Many may swoon over it - much the way Jeff Koons' ceramic sculpture of Michael Jackson and Bubbles is worth millions to anyone fitting Mr. Barnum's description - and yet insipid is as insipid smiles.

The advantage of the plain wall is that it does not demand attention. The stone facing is enjoyable and pleasant. The colors and patterns are pleasing but not screaming "LOOK AT ME." But the plain wall supports the already present activities instead of competing for attention.

Is this the best place for the mural? The area is already active: the garden along Purchase Street is a brilliant idea, plus the farmer's market, the food trucks and the everyday activities that happen on the lawn already make that plot used. So will the mural add a positive or negative feeling to an area that has grown to embody a relaxed energy?

Or is the actual intention of the mural to dissuade people from engaging in another occupation?

By Anne on Fri, 07/27/2012 - 1:16pm.

I would probably like it better if it was an actual picture of something. It looks like an egg, or a deflating balloon. Why do murals have to be bizarre? Just leave it blank if you can't paint something nice.