Rendering of the proposed sign and art installation. Credit: Jessica Finch, Selbert Perkins Design.
The Mystic River Watershed Association launched a campaign to bring public art to the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse in Somerville—thanks to the support of our community.
This project is being done in partnership with two great artists, Carolyn Lewenberg and Jessica Finch, Selbert Perkins Designs, and is being funded in part by a challenge grant of $7,500 from Mass Development’s Commonwealth Places Program. Through a Patronicity campaign, 27 donors gave $8,080—ensuring this art will come to life in the summer of 2021.
“Our hope is that people in the neighborhood will see this building with the new art and be drawn to it and understand that this river and the boathouse are a resource for them,” said Jessica Finch. “They will get to know their river and become stewards.”
The blue waves will echo the surface of the water, while the shapes, which resemble an eye, leaf, fish, or boat will cover the installation, each featuring an image of the river captured by members of the community.
“I am so inspired by the resilience of the river. There has been so much degradation of the natural ecosystem of the river, displacement of the original inhabitants, and people just turning their backs on the river and allowing industrial use to destroy habitats and pollute the river. Now people are turning back towards the river and really understanding that the health of the river and the health of the ecosystem is integral to the health of people,” said Carolyn Lewenberg. Understanding our interconnectedness is the first step in becoming a steward of the river. Nature is resilient and habitat restoration is possible with human intervention, interrupting the course of industrialization and advocating for plants, animals and other species.
This installation is one part of a larger effort the Mystic River Watershed Association and Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is leading to revitalize Blessing of the Bay Park with new amenities and programming to benefit visitors of the Mystic River Reservation. Since beginning this work in 2017, many of the shared-use paths have been restored, more than 20 trees have been planted and new benches have been installed.
“The boathouse sign and art project is a part of this larger effort to improve the park and increase the visibility of Somerville’s waterfront,” said Amber Christoffersen. “We hope this can build momentum for longer-term improvements in the future - think new paths, native meadows and a public dock.”
As part of this effort, the lead artists hosted a community event on May 23rd talk about the project and to encourage the community to share their pictures. Didn’t make the event but want to contribute to the ornaments that represent eyes/fish/boats? Submit a photo through this link.
At five acres, Blessing of the Bay State Park is one of the largest parks in the city, and one of the few opportunities for residents to access Somerville’s mile-long waterfront. The Blessing of the Bay Boathouse has the only public canoe and kayak rental out of Somerville (Paddle Boston) and is home to Gentle Giant Rowing Club. It’s located in the heart of the Mystic River Reservation, a 10-mile, 329-acre linear park system.
