Local public art group HarborArts is collaborating with the international nonprofit PangeaSeed Foundation to bring their globally renowned public art program to Boston. The initiative, known as Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans will install up to 15 public murals throughout East Boston in 2020, as well as have accompanying community events from Sept. 19 to the 26. The poster design for the festival is being revealed here, for the first time and the website is https://seawalls.org/activation/boston-usa/.
Through the Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans program, PangeaSeed Foundation has created more than 375 public ocean-advocacy murals across the globe. By engaging individuals and communities the world over through public art, PangeaSeed Foundation hopes to inspire, educate, and empower communities to become stewards of our oceans and foster a sense of community pride for the artworks and local natural resources.
Sea Walls Boston, produced in partnership with HarborArts, will create the 15 large-scale public murals in the greater Maverick Square area from the Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina to Liberty Plaza by a mix of local, regional, and international artists. Visibility of artworks and sponsors will continue for years through signage on the murals, as well as the potential creation of an “Eastie Art Walk” available for download to your phone.
The week-long programming that surrounds Sea Walls Boston will provide a wealth of opportunities for the community to get involved and learn more about how they can become stewards of our oceans. Events will include an opening reception to meet the artists and a closing festival Sept. 26, to celebrate the installations, as well as mural tours, panel discussions, HarborWalk cleanups, and a speaker and film series. HarborArts is continuing to recruit community partners and plan events. The full lineup will be announced in the coming months.
Many of the events and programs will be run in conjunction with local community partners including East Boston Main Streets and the Donald McKay School. Local leaders, including State Rep Adrian Madaro, are excited about the benefits for East Boston. He stated “I’m thrilled to support Sea Walls Boston in 2020. The Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans program has had a positive social, environmental, and economic impact on coastal communities like ours around the world. It’s an incredible opportunity for East Boston to receive this new collection of powerful public art.”
Sea Walls Boston is being funded by a wide variety of supporters and foundations including the East Boston Foundation, Boston Harbor Now, the Davis Companies, and Ocean Havens. Presenting Sea Walls Boston is longtime PangeaSeed Foundation supporter Linda Cabot, making a $50,000 Challenge Grant. For every gift made up to $100,000, Cabot will increase the power of each gift by 50-percent. With Cabot’s match, a $1,000 donation will bring $1,500. Linda is a lifelong ocean advocate, sailor and founder of Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs, a nonprofit that challenges students to explore issues impacting the oceans through art.
For more information on Sea Walls Boston, please visit seawalls.org or contact the local Sea Walls team at [email protected].