The first public preview of the “Devens Intersection of Communities and Cultures” mural took place on Wednesday, August 7, at the Willard Field Complex (near the intersection of Antietam Street and Sherman Avenue). The completed design was displayed on an easel next to where the mural was planned on paved ground where sidewalks intersect. Local residents and families gathered to paint portions of the mural, which was designed by Fitchburg artist Shara Osgood.
The project was funded by the New England Foundation for the Arts and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s Division of Arts and Culture. According to the Devens Enterprise Commission, the project’s goals include promoting and supporting public art and using art as a placemaking tool; activating an underused recreational area; attracting visitors to perceive the space and reflect on Devens’ cultural and community identity and engage with the art and space; and conveying joy, color, beauty, a sense of belonging and hope.
From left: Zoey and Trinity Schaefer-Richard, Livia Tada and Lynna Boivin paint mural sections at the Community Paint Party on August 7 at Willard Field, Devens. (Photos by Jen Manell)
DEC and MassDevelopment chose the theme “Intersections of Communities and Culture” and worked with a volunteer committee to select a winner from 18 artist proposals. Osgood described how she gathered ideas for the mural. “We had conversations and talked to the community about what was important to them and what they loved about Devens, and we represented all of that in this design.” Osgood told the DEC, “Murals are people’s art. I was invited into spaces to transform them into unforgettable backdrops for people’s lives. My work is meant to lift up a community and give back to it its best, bring hope in dark times, and reinforce the message and values of that community.”
Osgood’s design represents intersections by weaving together pops of color and symbolism. The mural is painted on the ground at a literal intersection of paths. “It’s a lot of different paths that people can actually walk on. You can come in and go one way and then when you get to an intersection, go a different direction. So we’re hoping that the kids will actually interact with it in that way,” Osgood said.
The artist added, “There are many symbols.” An otter in the upper left represents family, playfulness and the Nashua River. A Zuni sun and eagle are both symbols of indigenous people, and the eagle serves a dual function: it represents an infantry that was once at Fort Devens. A butterfly represents beauty and transformation, while vines and growth represent the small forest and concern for the environment. Dynamic keys punctuate the border on the right of the design, representing startups, industry and growth. Stars illustrate five-star generals as well as regular people who want to reach their highest potential.
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Wesley McGinnis shows the part of the mural he is working on while his father Kevin McGinnis watches and helps.
Painters from many generations left their mark on the paint party, adding another layer of intersectionality and community building. The artist’s children, Ethan and Lore Osgood, helped set the mood with upbeat music and worked the paint booth to give the right painters the right colors for the right sections. Before the paint party, Osgood primed the area and used math and geometry to sketch out the design. Then she painted borders on each section so painters of all abilities could participate – with or without a steady hand.
Osgood and her team of assistants and mentees will add finer details, animals, patterns and symbols over the next few weeks. The project will be in progress through September. To view the work in progress, the United Native American Cultural Center/Devens playground provides the closest parking spot. A grand opening will be held upon completion.
