Public Art & Arting in Public
Artist Engagement With Community Is Good For Us All
I’ve written before about arting in public. It was only a year ago that doing so brought me face-to-face with my subject, a poet, who ultimately became a friend. And, although I haven’t written about it on my Substack (yet), I’ve done my fair share of urban sketching (another example of arting in public).
But, recently, I’ve been thinking about “public art” and the act of creating that public art in and for the public - the kind of art that exists on a wall, in a park, or in a place where people convene. The kind of art that actually stays put: public murals and other art displays, sculpture and otherwise.
Today, I took a break from work and walked around the neighborhood. My office is in Nubian Square, Roxbury - the heart of Black Boston. It’s full of new and old works of public art. I was drawn specifically to these in particular, the work of muralists ProBlak, Stephen Hamilton, and Anna Francella.
I don’t need to read the literature (there is plenty! here’s one) about the positive impact of this type of public art on the mind and soul, both at the individual and community levels. When I see art larger than life like this, particulary in public spaces and especially when it is unexpected, my perspective shifts and I feel an expansion.
The artist’s indelible mark is there on display amongst the hustle of the streets, inviting us to engage, appreciate and aspire to something higher than the mundane. There’s no entrance fee, there’s no pretense, and there’s no expectation. It’s there for you to take in whenever you want. Accessible, ever-present, inspiring.
Do you feel the same when you see public art, particularly at this scale?
I’ve been thinking about public art also in the context of my recent work promoting the art of young artists in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda. In a world where beauty is difficult to find, public art invites engagement, lifts the spirit of the artist and the viewer, creates community particularly when its collaborative and inclusive, and buoys us with hopeful messages.
Public art and the act of doing art in public seems quite revolutionary and freeing. It also shouldn’t be restricted just to urban locations. I live in a suburban community where there is public art. Yet, I feel there is an unspoken bias against it. That it’s not refined enough, that it’s too urban, and that it “cheapens” the real estate.
Take for instance, this mural coming to life in Methuen, MA, photo credit to Max Mendoza. A work by Wisemaster Zaybar. I smiled when I saw this come to life, on my daily trips to and from my children’s school. More of this please!
Public art can be a salve, an inspiration, and a joy that greets you day in and day out. It shouldn’t be reserved for one particular place or setting, urban or otherwise.
On the other hand, I am not an advocate for public art that is everywhere all the time without permission. There is a ton of tagged walls, underpasses, and overpasses that don’t inspire me. I have to say that even so, the revolutionary in me, the one that wants to break the rules, secretly feels some envy. The chutzpah they had to do that! Here’s one of my favorites.
With that photo finish end to this mini-essay on public art, I’ll leave you with an invitation: share your favorite public art in my chat thread! I’d love to see what you have in your community that inspires you.
Public art feels different when you can tell that a community painted it, as opposed to a $10,000 per hour muralist. Loved this!
Beautiful ❤️. I love your passion for art. Your words have also inspired me a lot.