MALDEN - The City of Malden is reaching out to all local residents for their ideas and suggestions for a community mural project. Residents will be asked to weigh in on possible locations and potential themes for a community mural at a public input event scheduled for Thursday evening, Oct. 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the John & Christina Markey Malden Senior Community Center, 7 Washington St. , in Malden Square.
Funded by a grant from the Fund for the Arts, a restricted fund within the New England Foundation for the Arts, this community mural project is supported by the Malden City Council's Citizens Engagement Committee and the Office of Malden Mayor Richard C. Howard and is made possible by the Art Connection in Boston.
According to Ward Eight City Councillor Judi Bucci, who chairs the Council's Citizens' Engagement Committee, the actual design and painting of the mural will be done by Malden residents aged 14-20 years who will work with professional artists from The Art Connection, a non-profit that donated 19 pieces of original art work to the Malden Senior Center prior to its opening in January 2009 and Youth A.C.T. (Activision, Coalition, Trust), a Malden group, that was founded in 2008 with the leadership and passion of youth for positive community impacts. A.C.T. has been involved in several artistic endeavors in the community including an annual Urban Art Competition and Exhibit.
There will be an application process for those 14-20 year olds who want to help design the mural. Applicants do not need art experience to apply. Selected applicants are urged to attend the October 15 community input event and must attend four subsequent design sessions scheduled for Monday evenings: October 26, November 2, 9 and 16. The deadline to submit applications to become a member of the 15-person design team is Tuesday, Oct. 20 by 6 p.m.
In supporting The Art Connection's application for a grant for this project, the Mayor said: The City believes that an investment in the creative capital of our talented artists results in a more vibrant, livable community. There are several artists who in recent years have "discovered" Malden and many of them are giving back to this community in the form of exhibits and art work."
Persons interested in participating in the design and painting as well as members of the public-at-large are invited to this Community Input Event.
For more information about the project, contact Councillor Bucci at judibucci@yahoo.com or the Malden City Council office, located on the sixth floor at Malden Government Center, 200 Pleasant St. , at 781-397-7130. Applications are available at the City Council Office.