Sculpture in the Park Floods Franklin Square with Attention

"Cheshire Grin" by Lyn MacDonald

BOSTON, Mass.- United South End Settlements’ (USES) sponsors this years Sculpture in the Park outdoor public art exhibit in Franklin Square Park, located in Boston’s South End. Eight local artists and a group of students from USES’ Children’s Art Centre will install sculptures from trees, fences and along the lawn.  This site-responsive display is open to the public and on view from October 19 – November 3, 2013 with a short Opening Reception on October 19 from 1 – 3 pm. Supporters from the Boston Parks Department, Boston Art Commission and United South End Artists have helped endorse the exhibition and donations from the Friends of Blackstone/Franklin Square and Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association will help compensate artists for their participation. Sculpture in the Park coincides with the recent unveiling of the newly renovated fountains which were originally installed around 1850. 

Long time South End resident and participating artist James Paradis initiated Sculpture in the Park last year bringing much needed attention to Franklin Square Park; “With the huge artist population in Boston we need to have more venues outside of commercial galleries where artists can show their work. Sculpture in the Park is just such an opportunity.  We look forward to seeing it grow each year and to see more artists participate” remarks Paradis. Sugar Maple, White Oak and Silver Linden trees stand tall over the densely shaded park welcoming the whimsical and surprising spots of color, glimmering metal and organic shapes that peak through the leaves. During the Opening Reception there will be live music by The Ukulele Union of Boston and visitors will have the opportunity to participate in an inter-active performance led by artist Garima Tripathi entitled “Walk” that focuses on “…the rhythm of our breaths, the natural pace of our body. The idea is not to avow our highly fast paced contemporary world but to just take a walk amidst it which is more in conjunction with  our internal speed than our external maddening speed.” Tripathi is an inter-disciplinary artist with experience in clay, paper making, recycled art among others; she recently participated in USES’ Arts in the Park event this past summer. Other participating artists include: Adria Arch, Gail Bos, Milan Klic, Lyn MacDonald, Brian Murphy, and Joan Schwartz.

Franklin Square Park is on the perimeter of Washington Street and bound on the north by Brookline Street, to the east by St George Street, to the south by Newton Street, and to the west by Shawmut Avenue.