The brick and window facade of the old American Thread Company provides a backdrop for the playful and colourful mural by Golden305.
The artist, Venezuelan artist, Cristhian Saravia (aka Golden305), is an illustrator and muralist originally from Venezuela but now based in Miami, Florida.
Photos taken July 2024
On a fence in Salem Massachusetts is a series of paintings by a group of artists who used the book “A Dream Called Home” as inspiration. The book is a memoir by Mexican-American author Reyna Grande and in it tells of her dreams of a stable home and how she makes it happen. Last year several artists participated in the project, including six local artists from the neighborhood. These are the murals on that fence.
Punto Urban Art Museum is the organization behind this project. It was founded by North Shore Community Development Coalition (North Shore CDC) in Salem’s historic El Punto neighbourhood. This fence is but one of their many projects.
below: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Tortugas” by Kearin Alexander Frias is on the left.
below: Anatomically correct heart in blue hands, a painting by Llemonmoss.
below: Left – “Home Cooked Meals Feed the Soul” by Nick Pinciaro and on the right – “Vessel” by Amanda Beard Garcia.
below: Left – “My Father’s Keeper” by Emily Kwong and on the right – “Nou La” by Rachel Domond
below: There is text in the background that is difficult to see in this photo but it is a blend of two quotes from the book: “You are now bilingual, bicultural, and binational. You are not less. You are more, twice the girl you used to be.” Painted by Yixuan Zeng
below: “Last Night Precipice” by Margarita Krylova
below: “Detachment” by T.J. Gansenberg
below: Left – ” A Tiny Home, A Perfect Fit” by ERA and on the right – “Coffee” by Alba Ward
below: Left – “Seek Peace and Pursue it” by Alexa Wilson, and on the right – “Growth” by Joshua Beckett
below: “Raiz Enmascarada” by Jean Cardona
below: “Parque Infantil” by Altagracia
below: Left – “Nesting” by Jacob Ginga and on the right – “Growth” by Vicky Ortega
below: “Eternamente Bienvenida” by Katherine Castillo
below: “Trabajando Por Un Sueño Mejor” by Ramon Santiago
below: “Coming Together” by Tatianna Rivas and Armani Lewis.
Photos taken July 2024
The morning after I posted the photos of the Bordalo2 mouse and bear in Lynn, I saw this on Clemente Street in Holyoke (also Massachusetts)…
It is “Father and Baby Moose”, also by Bordalo II
This is another Beyond Walls project; this time in partnership with the City of Holyoke, El Corazon de Holyoke, and Nueva Esperanza. Clemente Street is in a section of the city with a large Hispanic population.
below: A close up look at baby’s hind leg and all the metal pieces that went into creating it.
Photos taken July 2024
There is an intersection in Lynn where three streets tangle together, Washington St, Oxford St, and Central Ave. That is where I was standing when I took this photo – a great view of two immense murals. They are very different from each other and they are both fabulous.
below: Ernesto Maranje, flora and fauna, rhinocerus, black bear and at least two species of birds.
below: ‘The Resident’ by Smug on Central Avenue painted in 2019.
Both of these murals, and many others, are because of the work of Beyond Walls, a non-profit agency that promotes art in the community. They believe that art and the active spaces that go with it, strengthens cities.
Photos taken July 2024
Portuguese artist Bordalo II (aka Artur Bordalo) is known for his animal creations using trash and found objects. There are now two examples of his artwork in Lynn including this bear. Another feature of Bordalo II’s animals is their ‘split personality’ – one half is colourful while the other is in shades of grey.
below: On the same building as the bear is another piece by Bordalo II, a mouse with perky ears and long whiskers.
below: A side view of the mouse gives a good look at the depth of the artwork.
below: A hardhat, vacuum hoses, a pink skateboard, and something yellow with wheels, are among the items used to make the mouse’s eye.
below: A closer look at the face of the bear and all the bits and pieces that were used.
below: Pieces of metal make claws on bear paws including a lone yellow one.
Photos taken July 2024
If you like Bordalo II’s work, you might like the jellyfish that he made in Lisbon (blog post from December 2023)
Many fire hydrants in downtown Chicopee Massachusetts have been painted by members of Sunshine Village (helping and inspiring young adults on the autism spectrum). This is only a small sample of them! If you get the chance to visit Chicopee, how many can you find?
below: A quarter gets you a gum ball!
below: Olaf from “Frozen”
below: A one-eyed minion – Although there were other one-eyed minions in the Despicable Me series, the most famoud one is Stuart.
below: A very happy fellow!
Photos taken July 2024
Eyes on the Streets 