Ron Newman ([info]ron_newman) wrote in [info]somervillemass,
2008-02-29 15:05:00
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Foss Park Philistines want to destroy local artwork



According to this week's Somerville Journal, Foss Park neighbors want the park's mural painted over. It's only 13 years old, it's in good condition, and it was painted by local artists and teenagers -- but the neighbors think it somehow makes their houses hard to sell.

At yesterday's Board of Aldermen meeting, Ward 4 alderman Walter Pero and Ward 1 alderman Bill Roche filed an order directing the Somerville Arts Council to ask the state to paint over the mural.

More coverage in the Journal's blog here and here. Read the comments there, too.

ETA: Matthew McLaughlin's excellent op-ed explaining why the mural should not be painted over.

How can this happen in such an arts-conscious city?

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  • 26 comments

[info]fefie

February 29 2008, 20:40:08 UTC 4 years ago

Re: "How can this happen in such an arts-conscious city?" I don't know, but just want to express my horror.

The Wall of Respect for Women mural in Davis Sq. was painted over; we get to enjoy a huge blank wall there now. Davis now has another huge blank wall on the parking lot side of the CVS/BSC building.

[info]ron_newman

February 29 2008, 20:49:31 UTC 4 years ago

Not that I approve in any way, but at least Brooks Pharmacy had the excuse that their mural was falling apart and that they couldn't find the artist (who in fact had moved to New Mexico).

I also don't like the blank wall on the back of CVS, but it was probably built that way in the expectation that another building will eventually be built in the current parking lot, covering up that wall.

[info]blacktigr

February 29 2008, 20:42:12 UTC 4 years ago

As a former mural artist, I am appalled that they would want to destroy any public work of art. People put their time, effort, and money into making the building less generic. Trust me when I say that mural art is not a cheap hobby, and painting over it is so disrespectful. Would they want to do that to the Mystic River mural work, too?

Those neighbors should think about the housing situation, not the mural. Very few houses on the market are actually selling, no matter where they are.

[info]i_custard

February 29 2008, 20:43:48 UTC 4 years ago

That is a really nice looking mural and doesn't look like it's aged alot since it was painted. This is actually pretty sad. I'd almost support it if they were going to have a new mural by new teenagers put up to cover a decaying mural, but that is a nice mural that isn't decaying. Sad.

[info]derspatchel

February 29 2008, 20:44:32 UTC 4 years ago

and Ungar said, "a lot of [potential buyers] who come into the market are really turned off."

"It’s hard to get new people coming in when [their house] is facing a mural like that," he said.

Pardon me whilst I casually flip two middle fingers Ungar's way. Bring on ONE person who claimed that the mural (and the mural only) the dealbreaker when they were considering purchasing one of the houses.

In the meantime, I'm gonna think snarky thoughts in all caps along the lines of WAH WAH WAH, PROPERTY VALUES GOING DOWN, BETTER MAKE EVERYTHING BLAND AND STERILE SO AS TO KEEP THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE FOR BUYERS. When the housing market's in a slump, why blame a mural? I mean, seriously.

I do so loathe people sometimes.

[info]in_parentheses

February 29 2008, 20:49:07 UTC 4 years ago

Word. Somerville needs more murals, not fewer. I know if I were looking to buy a house, a mural would make me excited to live in such an artsy, vibrant neighborhood.

[info]daft

February 29 2008, 22:01:16 UTC 4 years ago

I was gonna say..."Sure, it's all about the mural and has nothing to do with the housing market and economy in general being in the shitter."

[info]androidqueen

February 29 2008, 22:29:17 UTC 4 years ago

Bring on ONE person who claimed that the mural (and the mural only) the dealbreaker when they were considering purchasing one of the houses.

To be fair, it doesn't have to be the only thing that is wrong to make a house less buyable. Even if it's just one more thing on top of the rest of it, it makes a difference.

That said, I can't imagine that many people at all would find that mural offensive in anyway (including aesthetics). I mean, I could imagine someone making the argument that the exposed brick would be prettier, but they're not talking about sandblasting it, and brick painted a single color is often very ugly, especially if that color is white or off-white.

[info]ilonaverag

July 16 2008, 02:35:48 UTC 3 years ago

Xw z all sorts of people q73 t all sorts of things q8k n all the more q9L b all the peoples of the world q9m 2 all the same q+c v All the same she came.

[info]thetathx1138

February 29 2008, 21:09:50 UTC 4 years ago

and Ungar said, "a lot of [potential buyers] who come into the market are really turned off."

"It’s hard to get new people coming in when [their house] is facing a mural like that," he said.

Yeah, because it's such a primo location otherwise. /sarcasm

I used to live near that area and walked by it all the time. It's decorating a pool. This guy's just being a jackass, I'll bet he personally doesn't like the thing and is trying to get it taken down for that reason alone.

[info]bombardiette

February 29 2008, 23:27:37 UTC 4 years ago

How can this happen in such an art conscious city? Because really, when it comes right down to it, the natives and current residents are more concerned with money than art. Bottom line.

[info]ron_newman

February 29 2008, 23:41:33 UTC 4 years ago

Except that up until this event, people generally consider Somerville's artistic reputation to be an asset, something that enhances the value of property in our city.

[info]bombardiette

March 1 2008, 01:46:24 UTC 4 years ago

Sure. As long as it isn't "de-valuing" their property. There comes a point when yuppie materialism overtakes art as a form of expression.

Art is not the driving money maker in that neighborhood. It's retail, restaurants and bars that attract the income.

[info]grateful1311

March 1 2008, 18:22:22 UTC 4 years ago

"Because really, when it comes right down to it, the natives and current residents are more concerned with money than art."

Keep in mind that native teenagers painted that mural.

[info]bombardiette

March 3 2008, 17:50:24 UTC 4 years ago

What does that have to do with anything? I'm well aware of who painted it and that was 13 years ago, before Somerville was the hot place to live and deal in real estate.

[info]ron_newman

March 3 2008, 22:30:37 UTC 4 years ago

Here's an excellent op-ed by Somerville 'native' Matthew McLaughlin, denouncing the idea of painting over this mural.

I'll edit a link into the original post.

[info]thetathx1138

March 2 2008, 17:54:17 UTC 4 years ago

I don't even think money has anything to do with it. I think this guy just personally views the mural as an eyesore and is using his political oomph to get it painted over.

[info]ms_info

February 29 2008, 23:43:00 UTC 4 years ago

the mural is the problem?

and not the MS-13 gang members hanging out in the park?
maybe things have changed in the past few years, but when i lived in Winter Hill the mural wasn't even on the list of reasons I wouldn't stay/buy there.

[info]lissie930

March 1 2008, 01:44:16 UTC 4 years ago

Re: the mural is the problem?

That was my first thought (without actually knowing the name of the gang, that is).

[info]delahk

March 1 2008, 08:37:20 UTC 4 years ago

Re: the mural is the problem?

i'm guessing they only want a certain kind of art in their neighborhood.

[info]aquastar

March 1 2008, 13:18:40 UTC 4 years ago

The mural is pretty ... People are stupid.

Done.

[info]sonofabish

March 13 2008, 05:28:33 UTC 4 years ago

Can we keep that one and paint over that creepy one of the psycho-looking prepubescent girl on Summer St instead?

[info]ron_newman

March 13 2008, 11:06:59 UTC 4 years ago

Where's this one on Summer St?

Anonymous

March 16 2008, 05:59:56 UTC 4 years ago

Peter Ungar

The residents of Fellsway West are getting sick and tired of Petey Ungar's heavy handed tactics. He does not like the mural, he does not like his neighbors, he tries to tell homeowners who they can rent to. He is trying to ruin the diversity of this city. We are making a group called stop the Foss Park Neighborhood assosciation. This Jack ass is just trying to make a name for him self!!!

Anonymous

4 years ago

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[info]firepail

April 19 2008, 18:53:43 UTC 4 years ago

I think it is at the intersection of Summer and Lowell. It is decidedly creepy. The first time I saw it nearly 15 years ago, I thought it was a girl with ponytails, but upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a boy with angel wings. Later I heard the story from a person living on that street that the picture is of a (once) neighborhood boy that had a serious illness from infancy and wasn't expected to live to be a toddler, but the boy lived to be around 10 or so and after he passed the mural went up... and then later the wings appeared. The parents still live on Lowell.
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