A dinosaur marching through Behrakis, a mosaic adding a pop of color to the otherwise dreary Columbus garage, an optical illusion above the infamous Punter’s Pub. All these murals and more are popping up around Northeastern, making our days a little brighter and the campus even more beautiful. Boston is known for its classic brick neighborhoods and cobblestone streets but in a recent movement, artists are adding new dimensions to Boston’s classical look.
Whether it’s something humorous, deep and meaningful, or just a simple design, street art has an important place in our lives and creates a new beauty in the cement jungle we live in. Art is a way for a city or community to express how they feel about current social and political issues which is easy to feel strongly about in today’s world.
You don’t have to go far from your dorm to find some gorgeous artwork. It’s easy to see while walking around. The newest piece is an illusion of tunnels across from West Village painted by French street artist Astro. President Aoun continues to surprise us with his Public Art Initiative and the unique designs that cover the campus.
“It’s like sculpture, but not,” Astro said. “It’s a way of drawing attention to a space that people would normally just pass right by.” This interesting illusion shows Astro’s distinct style and gives another international aspect to Northeastern’s global focused campus.
Another addition to this ever-growing art collection is the bright mural created by Silvia Chavez Lopez, which can be seen painted on the 300-foot wall between Ruggles and Ryder Hall. As a Latina immigrant, Lopez wanted to include the surrounding neighborhoods when painting this gorgeous mural so she worked with community art leaders from Northeastern’s area and together, they created a design to stand out on campus. Chavez said that the mural, which is called “999 Cranes,” “explores the intellectual and emotional narratives of joy, struggle, acceptance, and assimilation, as well as the change and growth that affects daily life.” Northeastern has established itself as a haven for international students and those of all different backgrounds, so this mural fits well in the environment the university strives to create.
The collection of other art around campus continues to evolve and create a reputation for Northeastern as a bright spot in Boston. Roxbury, one of four neighborhoods touching Northeastern’s campus, has embraced the new street art trend, using it as a way to to express history, oppression, and struggle as a historically oppressed, predominantly African-American community.
One great example is the Roxbury Love piece which commemorates Nelson Mandela’s visit to the city in 1990. It is a great political piece that shows the African-American community’s connection to the icon and the respect that the people of this area have for someone who fights for their rights. Art is a meaningful, emotion-prodding part of our everyday lives and should be noticed, especially on Northeastern’s special, art-filled campus. Wandering around will lead you to pieces of art you would never find otherwise and make the city even more exciting. Other neighborhoods like the North End, Beacon Hill, and Back Bay all have their own style and add another layer to the great city we live in.