This week the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture award grants to artists and organizations to create short-term public art projects and activations through the Transformative Public Art program.
In Eastie two artists will receive grant money to create public art at the new East Boston Senior Center that is currently under construction as well as Eastie Farms.
The city has allocated a total of $750,000 in funding for mural projects at 10 sites across nine Boston neighborhoods as well as another $323,950 for 27 short-term projects.
In Eastie, Alex Gerasev will work in collaboration with Boston’s Age Strong Commission to create a mural at the East Boston Senior Center.
Construction on the future senior center began last summer at the former Bremen Street branch of the Boston Public Library across from Orient Heights MBTA station.
Construction work on the senior center will include accessibility upgrades, new HVAC systems, new elevator, window replacements, landscaping, new utilities, new bathrooms, new kitchen, sprinkler system and roof replacement.
The newly designed building includes an all glass, 850 square foot addition that will house the senior center’s main entrance, lobby, elevator and stairwell. There will also be an outdoor terrace for seniors as part of the design.
The mural, which will be painted on the side of the building, will enhance the overall design, look and feel of the building, according to the city.
Over at Eastie Farms, Galeria de Chuwi will work with the farm’s staff and volunteers to beautify the neighborhood farm space.
“Murals bring joy and inspiration to communities, and help revitalize our neighborhoods,” said Acting Mayor Kim Janey. “I hope Boston residents and visitors enjoy these beautiful works of art, and that these projects encourage those who pass by them to find creative ways to brighten where they live.”
Last year, Janey said 24 public art projects were awarded grants totaling $35,000. The program relaunched as a key part of Janey’s Joy Agenda, which is a citywide invitation, opportunity, and investment in the City’s collective well-being.
In the spring Janey put out a call to artists for the two Eastie sites. After an exhaustive application process Gerasev and de Chuwi were chosen by the city to create the public art in the neighborhood.
“Paying artists to integrate bold, new artwork throughout our neighborhoods is a step in the right direction as we focus on reopening our city and coming back together around the notion of joy and renewal,” said Kara Elliott-Ortega, Chief of Arts and Culture for the City of Boston.
The Eastie artists will also work with consultant Liza Quiñonez, a creative entrepreneur and founder of the award winning urban contemporary art and design agency Street Theory.
Quiñonez will provide project administration services for the creation of the Eastie murals and provide Gerasev and de Chuwi with proposal development guidance, community engagement strategy and support, technical assistance, and on-site logistical mural production and installation support.
“It’s an exciting time for mural-making in Boston and I look forward to working with the selected artists on bringing their vision to life in big and bold ways,” said Quiñonez.
Many of the murals will be completed by this fall.