When we think about visual art what comes to mind is hanging a painting on the on a wall. But what about the notion that the wall could be the surface for the art? Pope Julius II understood the potential of walls becoming the artwork when he engaged Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel in Rome.
Julius wasn’t the first to understand the power of having art surround and create a dialogue with the with the viewer, but he certainly elevated the art form with his commission.
Murals can be disrupt and enhance a seemingly bland landscape. When you come upon an outside mural, they can surprise you. Public murals cost the viewer no entry fee. If you’ve traveled to Philadelphia and walked the streets you can’t go too far without encountering some wonderful public art in the form of large outside murals often on buildings.
Belmont Massachusetts, home of the Hawthorn Gallery, has some excellent examples of murals. Joe Brown has painted the floral mural adorning the stage at the Senior Center.
Our community is lucky to have the Belmont Art Association running the “Transformer Box Project”, you can see colorfully painted murals throughout our city on these prior drab utility boxes.
Hawthorn Gallery is hosting two mural painters this June 2026. Ian Trance (Inks by Ian) has been working hard this week transforming his creation to the gallery’s outdoor wall. He has battled the challenged of the weather: cold, rain and wind, in attempting to complete his creation. At least he is not struggling to paint the ceiling under the tyrannical gaze of an inpatient Pope!
Crow Raughley (@riso.wizo) will be at The Hawthorn Gallery to begin her mural that will adorn the inside of the gallery. Like Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel Mary Ann, the more people watch the faster the artist’s paint. I am not sure this is a fact but make your way down to The Hawthorn Gallery and cheer them on and check out their work.
