Lynn art project to combine past, present

LYNN – A ploy to get students interested in the city’s history has led to a collaboration between Raw Art Works, Centerboard and the Lynn Museum and promises to raise some “Ghosts of Lynn” for a fourth installment of public art in the heart of the Downtown Cultural District.”It’s been a challenge getting students to connect with their own city,” said Chris Gaines, the director of Real to Reel Film School for Raw Art Works, located in Central Square.Gaines said he began exploring an idea that involved revisiting the location of old photos and trying to recreate the exact shot. At about the same time he learned that Carla Scheri, director of Special Projects for Centerboard, a non-profit aimed at revitalizing the city, was looking to change up the public art that hangs under the commuter rail bridge in Central Square.”So I took the same idea and presented it to Carla,” he said.Scheri said she loved the idea of a collaboration and that it involves images of the city. While past public art installments have been well received she said she’s received feedback from folks who are eager to see actual pictures of Lynn used in the project.”Ghosts of Lynn” also marks the first collaborative effort between the three arts organizations, Scheri said.Gaines said he broached Lynn Museum’s Executive Director Kate Luchini, who helped him sort through the museum’s archives for old photos of Central Square.”Then I brought the kids over and told them they needed to figure out exactly where the photo was taken from,” he said. “They had to find the location right down to the exact focal point of the lens.”That directive actually narrowed the number of usable photos, Gaines said.”There are a ton of photos we can’t recreate because the commuter rail is in the way,” he said, adding that they whittled the number of usable photos down to six, which is perfect for the project.”Some are really fascinating,” he said. “We have a photo of Central Square before it had paved roads ? and Union Street you can’t even recognize.”Scheri said once students take the present day photo they will meld it with the old photo to create “a truly unique vision of Lynn’s history attached to the here and now.””I think everyone will be able to relate to the photos and enjoy the parallels that the process creates,” she added.The project will also give some young artists a highly visible showing of their work. Gaines said as nice as galleries are not everyone visits art shows or museums, but Central Square is certainly accessible.”It’s also participatory because as you look at the picture you’ll find yourself looking around trying to figure out where it was taken,” he said. “This is really exciting for us.”Scheri said she expects that the project will be installed and on display by mid-June. The organizations are doing a fundraising bid to help offset the costs and those interested in making a donation can visit crowdrise.com/PublicArtLynn, she said.Scheri said it’s hard to believe it will be the fourth installment of art in the downtown space.”I wasn’t here when the first installment went up but I think everyone felt that it’s a simple way to add some life to the neighborhood and we’ll do it as long as we can,” she said.