LYNN — It’s been said, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
So, with that in mind, the Beyond Walls team, supporters and volunteers will spend Sunday afternoon cleaning up the downtown. The rubbish will be given to Portuguese artist Bordalo II, who is expected to create one of his remarkable “Trash Animals” from the discarded items as part of this year’s Street Art Festival, July 22 to Aug. 3.
Al Wilson, Beyond Walls founder and executive director, said he is thrilled that so many want to “be a part of the art” and give back to the community. He thanks city leaders, the Lynn Department of Public Works, Solomon Metals Inc., and such community organizations as Keeping Lynn Clean, Community Path of Lynn and the Downtown Lynn Beautification Project for support.
The clean-up departs from “LOVE Alley,” 65 Munroe St., Sunday at 1 p.m. A second clean-up is set for July 20. Trash bags and gloves and tools will be provided.
Large-scale murals will again be painted by international and local artists during the two-week festival, which will culminate in a celebratory block party. Other forms of street art, such as metal origami sculptures, will be more prevalent this year.
Beyond Walls, in collaboration with the Essex County Community Foundation Creative County Initiative, will launch PATIO, which will transform underutilized urban spaces into a series of three pop-up “parklets” in the Downtown Lynn Cultural District. Wilson said the parklets will be welcoming meeting spots for people. One will be set up in the “LOVE Alley” on Munroe Street, near Land of a Thousand Hills coffee. A second will call Central Square home, with a stage set up for live performances. The third, at a site to be determined, will spotlight local vendors.
As the Item previously reported, Beyond Walls is partnering with the Economic Development Industrial Corporation of Lynn to bring to life a vacant site adjacent to the Lynn Ferry Terminal just off the Lynnway. Beyond Walls is working to redesign this three-acre waterfront parcel as a seasonal seaside park, called The Launch, that will feature shipping containers that will delineate the parcel’s perimeters, serve as a waiting area for the ferry, canvases for art, and house a revolving series of pop-up shops, beer gardens and cafes. A playground and climbing structures will border a self-guided outdoor fitness circuit and a multi-purpose court that can be used for basketball, volleyball and futsal, a fast-paced variation on soccer.
Plans for the site also include a stage for live music and theatrical performances, with the goal of connecting downtown Lynn with the waterfront.
Wilson said the fundraising drive to make The Launch a reality continues. If Beyond Walls can raise $50,000 by June 30, MassDevelopment will toss in an additional $50,000. As of yesterday, $36,369 had been pledged. Find out more at www.patronicity.com/thelaunchlynn.
For more information on the Street Art Festival, go to www.beyond-walls.org.
