Passersby on Washington Street might wonder why a man in a Superman costume peers through an optometrist’s phoropter in the massive mural hanging above them during the Marblehead Festival of Arts. The striking portrait of Michael Boulier reflects both his love of superheroes and his playful spirit, serving as a tribute to a man who became familiar to many Marblehead residents through his brother-in-law’s local photography exhibitions and weeks-long visits over the decades.
Boulier, who died June 3 at age 61, lived with Down syndrome and spent decades visiting his sister Maureen Ashley and her husband, Rick Ashley, in Marblehead. Though he resided in Maryland, Michael became recognizable to residents who encountered his likeness in Rick Ashley’s photography exhibitions.
The 9-feet-by-12-feet mural, installed by Gene Arnould of Arnould Gallery and Framery, 211 Washington St., for the festival will remain up until mid-July, transforms one of Rick Ashley’s most celebrated photographs into a public memorial. The image captures Michael in his Superman outfit, complete with the distinctive red cape and chest emblem that became his signature look.
Rick Ashley, a retired commercial photographer, began documenting Michael nearly five decades ago when he first started dating Maureen. What emerged was an extraordinary artistic collaboration that would span decades and earn national recognition, including a spot in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery.
“He absolutely loved them,” Rick Ashley said of Michael’s reaction to seeing his photographs. “I could get Michael to do anything. I’d say, Mike, let’s do this. And he’d sit there and do whatever I say. He loved the whole process.”
The photo shoots made “Michael feel seen,” Maureen Ashley said. Rick Ashley’s photographs reimagined him in various roles, from a sophisticated author to contemplative poses inspired by classical art. But it was the Superman series that resonated most deeply.
“Superheroes, ice cream,” Maureen Ashley said when asked what brought Michael the most joy. “We took him to Dairy Queen all the time.”
Michael’s fascination with fantasy extended to frequent Disney World trips and superheroes galore. Michael’s devotion to superheroes went far beyond casual fandom. Superman was his clear favorite, and he owned an extensive collection of superhero-themed clothing, from pajamas with built-in muscles to capes he wore as everyday attire. His bedroom was a shrine to his heroes, with curtains, sheets and bedspreads all featuring superhero designs. Michael collected superhero movies on an iPad, watching the same films repeatedly and owned action figures that he treasured. When Rick Ashley described Michael’s wardrobe choices, he noted that the Superman costume became like “Michael’s formalwear” — the outfit he felt most confident and heroic wearing for photographs and special occasions
The family developed creative strategies to help Michael navigate public attention during outings.
“People would stare at him because he was different and he didn’t like that,” Maureen Ashley explained. “He would frown and look down. So when Jack Sparrow was the big movie, he got dressed as Jack Sparrow. And when they would stare at him, he would smile because I said, ‘Mike, they like your Jack Sparrow.’”
Later, they gave Michael a sailor hat and taught him to salute when people looked at him. “I said, ‘You do not release the salute until they salute back,’” Rick Ashley recalled with a hearty laugh.
Born March 21, 1964, Michael was the youngest of eight children in an Irish Catholic family. When doctors advised his parents to institutionalize him at birth, his mother refused. The decision proved transformative not only for Michael but for the entire family’s understanding of disability and acceptance.
“That was 1964, and that’s what people did,” Maureen Ashley noted. “My mother said, ‘Absolutely not. He was the baby.’”
Michael thrived in the large family environment, developing his own forms of communication despite being nonverbal. His siblings learned to read his facial expressions and understand his needs, creating a supportive network that lasted throughout his life.
“We all learned everything he wanted, so we knew what he liked, what he didn’t like,” Maureen Ashley said.
The artistic partnership between Michael and Rick Ashley produced images that challenged public perceptions about people with disabilities. Rick Ashley drew inspiration from classical paintings, recreating compositions by masters like Jacques-Louis David with Michael as the subject.
One photograph, “Michael #145973,” which depicts Michael napping in his Superman costume, was selected for “The Outwin 2016: American Portraiture Today” exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.
“I didn’t know anything about Down syndrome until I met Michael,” Rick Ashley said. His own father’s experience with polio had prepared him to look beyond physical differences and connect with Michael as an individual.
The temporary mural represents the second time Michael’s image has been displayed prominently in Marblehead. Years earlier, Rick Ashley organized an exhibition at the Marblehead Arts Association for visitors from Anchor to Windward, a Marblehead-based nonprofit serving adults with developmental disabilities.
“One girl came to me and said, ‘Is he married?’” Rick Ashley recalled.
