Three years ago East Boston became the site of the first outdoor public art exhibition at the Boston Shipyard and Marina on Marginal Street launched by HarborArts. The monumental event of 30 large-scale public art pieces was made possible by Coastal Marine Management and organized in partnership with the Urban Arts Institute at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
On Saturday, September 21 starting at noon HarborArts officials and sponsors will celebrate the organization’s 3rd Annual HarborArts with a daylong celebration of the 30 large-scale outdoor pieces of public art by artists from three continents that was curated by Randi Hopkins from the ICA.
The celebration will also include local artists who will line the Boston Shipyard and Marina’s pier on Marginal Street to display their own creations as well as local food vendors.
This year’s festivities will include live music by Chris Kaz and the Rotations, Miyagi and the Kids, Tripod, Age of Soul, and DC Wonder. Resident DJ, Illdub, will be spinning all day on the pier and London Bridgez will serve as emcee.
If music isn’t enough fun for one festival, HarborArts will have more than 20 local vendors on hand. From face painting to handcrafted jewelry to fine art, there is something for every member of the family.
HarborArts’ first project was the International Outdoor Gallery, set within Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina. This one of a kind gallery transformed Boston’s working waterfront into a vibrant 14-acre public art display of “art with a purpose”.
HarborArts uses public art displays to bring attention to issues and solutions that affect the quality of our harbors, waterways and oceans. It promotes environmentally responsible solutions and creative new ways of living and working that respect our water resources.
This ongoing initiative celebrates Massachusetts’ commitment to the Ocean Protection Plan as the first state to respond to the national call for a coalition dedicated to the awareness affecting our water resources.
Since opening in June 2010, the outdoor gallery has drawn thousands of visitors and media attention.
Among the installations are a 700 ft. kinetic piece ‘Thermal Tidal Sculpture’ by Norwegian artist Gunnar Gunderson and Julia Jacoby of Germany, a 26 ft. tall carbon fiber sculpture ‘Rothko’s Chapel’ by Konstantin Dimopolous of Australia, and ‘Kite and Mirrored’ Steel by New York City artist Margaret Evangeline.
The gallery was made possible with support from Coastal Marine Management, the Urban Arts Institute at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and the Institute of Contemporary Art.