Punto Urban Art Museum

The Punto Urban Art Museum is an open-air museum located in Salem, Massachusetts in the "El Punto" Neighborhood. It exists over a three block radius and includes the artwork of many world renowned and local artists and over 75 large scale murals.[1] Some of the aims of the museum are to create neighborhood pride, break down socioeconomic barriers between the neighborhood and the rest of Salem, and provide more economic opportunity for local businesses.

About

In 1978 the non-profit organization, the North Shore Community Development Coalition was founded in The Point, or "El Punto" Neighborhood, in Salem. The neighborhood is a traditionally working class one, and today consists of mostly Latinx and immigrant residents. Many of the historic early 20th century architecture in the neighborhood consists of brick buildings built after the Salem fire of 1914 destroyed much of the property in the area. The Point Neighborhood Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.[2] The historic neighborhood is bounded by Peabody St., Congress St., Chase St., and Lafayette St. Today, the coalition owns a quarter of the properties in the neighborhood as affordable housing.

The North Shore Community Development Coalition is the creator of the mission-driven art program that is the museum. In 2013 plans started forming with how to improve the quality of life for those in The Point with the reduction of negative and untrue stigma as a high priority. There was a year-long community planning process that involved the North Shore Community Development Coalition, the City of Salem, the Point Neighborhood Association, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.[3]

The museum started in 2017 with 50 murals. The coalition's board of directors includes neighborhood residents and business owners.[4] International artists from South America, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Spain, Italy, and more were sponsored to create art at the Museum and to mentor local artists as well.[1]

In 2020 there was a call for local artists to create mural submissions based on Nina Simone’s song “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free.”[5] [6]

Selected artists and works
Artist Title of Work Location Dates
Belin Untitled[7] 64 Harbor Street 2017 September
Bikismo The Chrome Dog[8] 37 Ward Street 2017 September
Chor Boogie Love Child[9] 24 Peabody Street 2017 September
Mr. Cenz The Queen of the Block[10] 113 Lafayette Street 2018 September
Silvia López Chavez Colorín Colorado 37 Ward Street 2017 September
Paola Delfin Katherine[11] 6 Ward Street 2018 August
Golden Our Lady of Guadalupe[12] 104 Lafayette Street 2017 June
Ledania Totem[13] 2019 July
Antonyo Marest Villa Alegra[14] 104 Lafayette Street 2018 October
Maria Molteni Tormenta en la Cancha 15 Ward Street 2018 June
Okuda Cat Witch[15] 64 Harbor Street 2017 May
Pixel Pancho Garden Boy[16] 17 Ward St. 2018 September
Don Rimx Le Quedo Bufeaito[17] 38 Peabody Street 2017 May
Veronica Rivera Untitled[18] 46 Peabody Street 2018 September
Sipros Super Dali[19] 6 Peabody Street 2017 June
Spok Window Phone 96 Lafayette Street
Ruben Ubiera Yerbatero[20] 109 Lafayette Street 2016 November - 2019

Punto Urban Art Museum (home page)

North of Boston Mural Map

North Shore Community Development Coalition

References
  1. Bair, Diane; Wright, Pamela. "A wow-worthy mural crawl north of Boston". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  2. "Point Neighborhood Historic District". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  3. "Can public art be used equitably?". ARTS Blog. 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  4. "Punto Urban Art Museum". Patronicity. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  5. "Salem's Punto Urban Art Museum Will Fund 20 New Murals, All Inspired By Nina Simone". www.wbur.org. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  6. Laidler, John (September 1, 2020). "Outdoor murals in Salem will explore quest for freedom". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  7. "Untitled". Punto. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  8. "The Chrome Dog". Punto. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  9. "Love Child". Punto. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  10. "The Queen of the Block". Punto. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  11. "Katherine". Punto. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  12. "Our Lady of Guadalupe". Punto. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  13. "Totem". Punto. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  14. "Villa Alegra". Punto. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  15. "Cat Witch". Punto. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  16. "Garden Boy". Punto. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  17. "Le quedo Bufeaito". Punto. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  18. "Untitled". Punto. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  19. "Super Dali". Punto. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  20. "Yerbatero". Punto. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
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