(FALL RIVER, MA – July 19, 2022) – By the end of July, Fall River will have three (3) world-class, large-scale murals to add to its public art inventory.
The Viva Murals project is a collaboration between Fall River Arts & Culture Coalition (FRACC), Viva Fall River, and mural and public art experts Beyond Walls. Installations will be underway on July 19th, with artists painting the exterior walls of buildings as tall as 90 feet high using lifts and ladders.
These murals will be created by world-renowned artists who will partner with the local arts community to reflect Fall River’s rich artistic and cultural heritage. The identified walls are over two stories tall and were selected not only for their high visibility from main roadways but to purposefully engage the surrounding community in placemaking while encouraging visitors to exit I-195 and explore Fall River.
1. 207 Pocasset Upper Wall: Artist Diogo Machado, aka Add Fuel, will reinterpret the language of traditional tile design, and that of the Portuguese tin-glazed ceramic azulejo, on this two-story wall. Add Fuel will be assisted by Southcoast artist, Tracy Barboza.
2. 207 Pocasset Street-Level Wall: Local muralist and artist Greg Pennisten will honor the city's history as a leader of the textile industry, by representing patterns from the Fall River's Historical Society collection.
3. Doran Elementary School, 101 Fountain Street: Artist Kevin Ledo will create a mural at this location, as part of a youth-focused creative cultural exchange with children in Tierra Bomba, Cartagena, Colombia, led by aptART.
Fall River's youth will have the unique opportunity to connect with youth from Haiti through a creative cultural exchange rooted in murals in both countries through The One Blue Sky Project by aptART. This virtual exchange is a crucial extension of the Viva Murals project. The children will work collectively to design a two-part mural concept that depicts their discoveries, with one section of the mural painted in each of the two communities.
In addition, the world-class murals will serve as a place for community engagement. The following events and activities will be offered at no charge to the community.
• Friday, July 22 — View & Chew Food Truck Event at 200 Pocasset St (Fall River Chamber Building), 12 – 2 PM. See the murals in progress! View the murals being painted across the street and chew on some free food and dessert from Green Jar Cocina and Cool Licks Ice Cream truck.
• Sunday, July 24 — Spray Paint Art at the Fall River Farmers & Artisans Market (25 Jeremiah Sullivan Drive, Downtown), 11 AM – 2 PM – A favorite at local events and fun for all ages. Join Little Lambs and leave with your own spray paint art creation!
• Friday, July 29 — View & Chew Food Truck Event at 200 Pocasset St (Fall River Chamber Building), 12 – 2 PM. Check out the finishing touches on the murals and enjoy free food from Green Jar Catering and What’s Up Cupcake.
