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East Coast,” said Wilson. “We’re really
fortunate Payette and LAM stepped
in, along with Philips Color Kinetics,
donating some of their services and
materials. That brought the price down
about 60 percent. They came in and saw
this former industrial city with a raised
rail going through the heart of it, and
recognized it could be something great.”
The final piece will be a sculpture
donated by GE Aviation paying homage
to Lynn’s rich industrial history as the
home of America’s jet engine technology.
That will be installed next spring. Wilson
also hopes to expand the mural project
from 15 walls to 25.
“I’m excited about the possibilities,”
said Drew Russo, executive director at
the Lynn Museum/Lynn Arts. “People
are looking to rediscover and take pride
in this city and I think this is the great
creative spark we need. It helps to shine
a light on what we’ve all been doing to
build a cultural community and hopefully
will provide more opportunity for the livework-play
experience in downtown.”
The project has been funded entirely
through donations and matching funds
from MassDevelopment. Neighborhood
Development Associates, a nonprofit
housing corporation and subsidiary
of the Lynn Housing Authority &
Neighborhood Development, provided
the group with a 5013c fiscal sponsorship.
In addition to Wilson, dozens of residents
and individuals from local businesses came
together to form a leadership committee
to help bring this project to fruition.
“If we can fund ourselves, we can
become an entity to do more Lynn-based
activities,” said Wilson. “I’d also love for us
to go on the road to another gateway city
next year.”
PHOTO: JIM WILSON
The mural above was painted on the building at the corner of Munroe and Washington
streets in Lynn by Miami-based artist Don Rimx. Below right, Miss Zukie and JPO
painted these lovable figures on the side of 16 City Hall Square.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13
and new businesses and coffee shops have
been opening up — which are all signs of
people trying to do cool things in Lynn —
but there’s still a feeling that the district
shuts down once it gets dark.”
That’s where the lighting comes in.
By adding lighting under the elevated
MBTA tracks and illuminating sidewalks
with vintage neon art pieces, businesses
will be encouraged to stay open later and
residents and visitors will be encouraged
to walk from place to place.
Beyond Walls has also seen the
installation of 12 vintage neon art pieces.
The colorful, dynamic LED underpass
lighting from Payette and LAM Partners
is expected to be completed in September.
The lighting will connect Central Square
and Washington Street, creating a safe
and inviting passageway through the heart
of Central Square. The project will also
include laser mapping of the bridge.
“There’s really nothing like it on the
PHOTO: SPENSER HASAK
14 | ONE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2017