Members of the MUP class of 2013—Holly Masek, James McNally, and Mica Wilson—won the top prize of the first Connect Historic Boston Public Art Ideas Contest. The contest sought ideas for celebrating historic sites and public transportation through public art. The MUP team’s winning entry, called “System Performance,” would transform MBTA platforms, parks, and underused spaces into impromptu stages for Boston’s many performance groups.
“We felt like most people would aim for something static, or traditional visual arts,” said Masek. “We wanted to be a little more liberal with the ‘public art’ theme and do performance-based work instead.” The performances are designed to be unexpected, and take place at multiple times during the day at Boston’s busiest transportation and historic sites.
Some of the team’s proposed interventions include a flash symphony by the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra at North and South stations, revisionist history improv comedy at Paul Revere’s House and the USS Constitution, and short a cappella concerts by local university groups in downtown alleys. “People can’t help but to respond to really great performances, and we hope that these responses will lead Bostonians and visitors to engage with each other, in addition to fostering a greater appreciation for local performing artists,” said Wilson.
The MUP team received the top prize of $500. Their entry will also be displayed along with the other winners through June 17 at the Boston Society of Architects’ BSA Space at 290 Congress Street.
Read more about the competition.