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Arts & Entertainment

Planned Mural Celebrates Malden's Past and Future

Community comes together to paint mural at MBTA overpass.

Malden encourages and promotes the arts for a long-lasting, positive impact on the quality of life and vibrancy of this community.

In a move to further that goal, the city is partnering with The Art Connection, artists Tova Speter and Anyahlee Suderman and the MBTA to design and paint a mural at the Malden Center MBTA overpass on Route 60.

Titled “Strong Past, Proud Future,” the mural will be painted in May and June by a group of Malden youth. A Community Painting Day, open to all who would like to help with the project, will take place on Sunday, May 15 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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“This mural project promotes civic engagement and neighborhood pride,” said Speter, program manager of The Art Connection who worked with the youth, along with Suderman, on developing the design of the mural. “Murals not only transform physical environments, they also impact and change the lives of those who create them.”

For participants, Speter said, the mural project provides an opportunity for “positive self-expression, to increase self esteem and to create a lasting testament to the hope they hold for themselves and their community.”

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With a background as an art therapist and mental health counselor, Speter said she also believes that participating in the mural project is therapeutic and healing for the group of youth as well as the community at large.”

 

How the Project Evolved

Deborah Burke, assistant executive director of the Malden Redevelopment Authority, said the mural project focuses on the city’s ongoing efforts to promote the arts and culture in Malden.

About two and a-half years ago, she said the city became aware of the Art Connection when it contacted Speter about whether or not the non-profit would be interested in making a donation of original art work to the Malden Senior Center that opened in January 2009.

The Art Connection was interested and donated 18 pieces to be on permanent display at the center.

“About six months or so after that first introduction, Tova called me to see if the city would be interested in partnering with the organization in a grant application seeking funding to create a community mural in Malden,” Burke said.

Sixteen youth were originally involved in the program. Working with Speter and Suderman, the Malden youth developed the design and eight will return to do the actual painting that begins on May 2.

“The mural will focus on Malden’s Strong Past, Proud Future -- a tagline first developed by the city in 1999/2000 during its yearlong celebration of Malden’s 350th anniversary,” Burke said. “The mural shows an open book tracing Malden’s history.”

The mural will be approximately 14 feet wide by 60 feet long. By the first week of June, weather permitting, it will grace the wall of the underpass of the Malden Center MBTA Station at Route 60 and Commercial Street.

According to Burke, the concept behind the project is that of community collaboration and empowerment. She said Mayor Richard C. Howard noted: “This art project, which will transform a drab wall of an underpass into a lively statement about the city of Malden’s rich 350-year-old history, has been embraced by the community at large and also energized a core group of youth.”

The project has been on hold since 2009 and almost didn’t happen due to lack of funding, Burke said. “The Malden community came together to make sure the project moves forward.”

The painting of the mural is made possible in part by grants from the Malden Cultural Council, a local agency supported by state agency Massachusetts Cultural Council; the Malden Redevelopment Authority; and private donations. The project is supported by the MBTA, the Malden City Council’s Citizens Engagement Committee and the mayor’s office.

 

The Work Behind the Scenes

In 2009, Speter and Suderman asked Malden teens to apply to participate in the design for the project. The students – called the mural crew – represent all three local high schools.

“They were wonderful to work with as they really helped research and develop the theme,” Speter said. “We all leaned about Malden’s rich history together and the students were instrumental in deciding the story told through the design.”

Suderman explained the students met weekly at City Hall, embracing the theme of Strong Past, Proud Future.

“As the weeks went by, they students ha small homework assignments – looking at old historic buildings, sports teams we have currently, where Malden came from and where it is going,” she said. “Each time we met, we had an art project we would look at and then decide where each component would go in the mural.”

The students were extremely committed, Suderman said. “They worked for about eight weeks on the design of the mural which was a process in itself. We then presented it in an exhibition for approval and suggestions from the community.”

All comments from community members were taken into consideration, she said. “It took an entire year and now we are ready to paint.”

The City Council’s Citizens Engagement Committee facilitated the community dialogue about this mural project. This committee also was involved in the Switchbox Art Project. 

 

What the Mural Means for Malden

Work on the mural has offered a wonderful opportunity for creative collaboration, said Speter.

“City residents were involved in deciding the theme and location of the mural through two Community Input events,” she said. “Local businesses are also getting involved: Pisa Pizza is hosting a fundraiser for the project on May 4 and all are invited to attend.”

As the community comes together, Speter said, it evokes a wonderful spirit of collaboration.

“The visual representation of that collaboration will serve as a lasting testament to the colorful energy of this wonderful city,” she said.

Malden has long recognized it has a growing group of people living in its boundaries who are interested in capitalizing on the arts,” said Burke. “It’s wonderful to promote the arts and we truly believe the arts have a positive impact on our city.”

The mural crew will be working every Monday and Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., beginning on May 2 and planning to finish by June 6. 

The project is still accepting youth to work on the project and other volunteers in the community. For additional information, contact Tova Speter at tovaspeter@gmail.com.

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