As last-minute preparations at the Marblehead Festival of the Arts were underway Wednesday afternoon, a team was busy hoisting a 20 x 20-foot mural from the nonprofit Beyond Walls, led by Marblehead resident Al Wilson.
The artwork, a painting of a woman in hair rollers, will be displayed on the outside of the Marblehead Arts Association, 8 Hooper St., through the summer. It is by muralist Angurria of the Dominican Republic. The original artwork was spray painted in 2017-2022 on a Lynn building, which was later torn down.
“This work tells a great story,” explained Wilson, who launched Beyond Walls in Lynn in 2017. “Angurria grew up with a single mom who owned a beauty salon in Santo Domingo. His calling card is women in hair rollers.”
Beyond Walls works with local and international artists on public art pieces, placing them in 15 communities across Massachusetts. The nonprofit partners with local organizations, municipalities and community members to “enhance the physical landscape, drive positive economic change and bolster community engagement,” according to its website. There are currently 82 Beyond Walls murals across the city of Lynn alone.
“The world is a better place with more public art in it,” Wilson said. “Public art can help foster conversations and give representation.”
On Saturday, July 5, at 7 p.m., Wilson will lead a discussion about public art and Angurria’s piece outside the MAA. Refreshments will be served.
MAA President Jim Murphy was there snapping photos as the mural was installed.
“This is an extension of the MAA’s work to expand the reach and touch of our 100-year-old art association,” he said.
Beyond Walls is about to launch public pieces by a new cohort of artists across Lynn on July 28. To learn more, visit beyondwalls.org.
