Public Art

So, Boston believes it's a great city. But does it have great public art? Sure, we've got a bas relief of Civil War heroes, but Chicago has a Picasso in Daley Plaza.

Art, ahht, however you might say it, pull a Jackson Pollock and splatter paint our website with your comments.

And while you're at it, send us a cell phone shot, a professional picture, or a tourist snap of your favorite regional public art. Official or renegade, bronze or Banksy knock-off, link them all to our Flickr pool on Boston's public art.

Art Around Our Town

Mags Harries' Asartoon (at left) is just one of her public art works. Next time you're picking up fruits and vegetables at Boston's Haymarket, check out the bronze works under your feet.

Taking a stroll along the Charles River Esplanade?  Be sure to stop by Ralph Helmick's massive bust of Arthur Fiedler.  The layered sculpture depicts Fiedler more clearly from afar. As the viewer approaches,  the scuplture appears more abstract revealing it's layered structure.

While Boston is rich in historical art and memorials, Cambridge boasts hundreds of contemporary pieces of public art in the form of sculptures, murals and tile and glass works.  Cambridge is the only city in Massachusetts that has a mandate to put 1% of the money spent on publicly funded buildings toward a work of art.

Out webchat moderator this week is Nick Capasso, he's the curator of the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, MA.   The Decordova admits all Lincoln residents free and anyone can stroll the sculpture park for free.  It is the only park of its kind in New England and unlike other scuptlure gardens, the DeCordova rotates the collection of large scale contemporary American sculpture displyed on its 35 acre public park.

The Radio Boston Video Installation

Part 1: "Waxing Philosophic, With Mustache"

Part 2: "He Said His Love For Animals Started With a Chance Encounter With a Radio Host"

Part 3: "Damien Hirst Puts a Shark in Formaldahyde. We Put Red Auerbach in Bronze."

Part 4: "Haymarket. No Smells. No Yelling."