When Art is a Catalyst for Growth

This past Saturday marked the Beyond Walls Block party in Lynn, an event that came at the end of a week filled with 20 artists from area locals to Montreal, Australia, and beyond painting masterpieces on the neglected sides of buildings across the Central Square area of the city. During the week, residents and visitors alike toured the downtown to watch these artists from around the world create their masterpieces. I spent Friday afternoon walking around downtown Lynn in awe of not only the artwork, but the energy and excitement this event brought that was painted not only on the walls but on every onlookers face as they watched the magic happen. “This is just amazing” was the awed reaction a gentleman had as we stood together watching Victor “Marka” Quinonez paint his 6-year old daughter on the side of a 50-foot high canvas. The man told me he came to Lynn from the Philippines decades earlier, and when he told some local family where he was living their response was less than positive. He said he had been out every day during the mural festival checking out the progress and couldn’t wait to show off the new artwork to his family the next time they visit.
It’s little moments like that which help to drive home the deeper impact of what something so simple as a little paint on some old walls in town can do. It’s about pride. It’s about community building. It’s about how the community came together to plan and implement this project. It’s about how the neighborhood advisory committees, the Beyond Walls team, the City of Lynn, local & international artists, U.S. Congressman Seth Moulton’s Office, and how every one of the 1,300+ who donated to the project through a Patronicity hosted crowdfunding campaign, which received a $50,000 matching grant as part of MassDevelopment’s Commonwealth Places initiative, came together to create Beyond Walls! This proves it truly does take a village to make great things happen! “I speak for everybody when I say we truly believe you can transform the community with a can of spray paint,” he said. “I think that going forward this is only going to get bigger and stronger.” -Cey Adams, Brooklyn, New York Beyond Walls Muralist and creative mind behind Def Jam Records.
Up Next- Underpass Lighting Once again, congratulations to the artists, The Beyond Walls team, and the entire City of Lynn for such a successful mural festival! Stay tuned over the next few months for where Beyond Walls goes next and how that continued energy and excitement develops in Downtown Lynn!
Media Coverage of Beyond Walls Lynn Festival
Beyond Walls Meant Business. Daily Evening Item. July 23rd, 2017
Art Becomes an Agent of Change in Lynn. Boston Globe, July 20th, 2017 Artists Transform Central Square in Lynn. CBS Boston, July 17th, 2017
With 15 New Murals in 10 days, Lynn Wants to Show It’s Moved Beyond It’s Negative Reputation. WBUR (NPR), July 13th, 2017
It’s The Talk of The Town. Daily Evening Item. July 20th, 2017

Planning a Visit to Beyond Walls Lynn? Check out the map below which locates area murals as well as nearby points of interest, restaurants and coffee shops to visit on your trip!
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