The project site at the corner of Dane and Tyler Streets will be used for the winning art installation. — Photo courtesy of Somernova

By Shira Laucharoen

Somernova, a business complex in Union Square that aims to foster creativity and innovation, is partnering with the Somerville Arts Council and Call to Arts to produce the Somernova Art Project. The open call to artists to submit proposals began on May 5, and the work is intended to be finished by June 24. The chosen piece will be displayed by a blank white wall that is part of the Somernova campus.

“They have this wall that has been a blank canvas for a really long time. It was becoming very obvious that this was a project that we could move on quickly, given that the time is just right for something like this,” said juror Maya Nitzberg, who is also a community director at Greentown Labs. “Let’s inject some hope and creativity and vibrancy into our community, during a time that is somewhat dark. This is just an opportunity that presented itself in the last couple of months, and I think it has been amplified because of what’s going on.”

The idea to use the site for a creative project had been in discussion for the past year or so, but the spread of the coronavirus accelerated the need for a public art piece that would embody resiliency and hope, said Nitzberg. The artist with a winning proposal will receive $15,000 to develop his or her project, while an additional $2,500 will be awarded as fellowships to the most interesting, runner up ideas. The project can use any materials and need not only use spray paint, said Nitzberg, who suggested that artists could be as creative as they wish. One theme that artists might choose to build on is the planet and the earth, and they might even utilize plants or solar panels as tools, she said.

Juror Jessica Muise, who is also an organizer with the group Call To Arts, said that when reviewing proposals, the panel is hoping to find ideas that are interactive or participatory. While it may not currently be safe for an art piece to involve touch or physical interaction, it may be possible for a work to have a virtual component that allows viewers to engage with it. Observers may be able to document their responses to a piece online, she suggested, sharing their reactions and impressions.

“We’re going to let artists lead us in seeing what some of those possibilities might be,” said Muise. “Maybe it is accessing that intersection of art and technology. Some ideas are involving augmented reality or virtual reality, other digital tools. Someone could be interacting with a piece, if they’re physically there in person, but it would also make it accessible to people who can’t physically be there. There’s something about, what does the response elicit, and how do people share their response? Another opportunity here is that this artist can help tell our collective story. Having people share their experience on social media, when interacting with a piece, is that resonance, that’s even more important now.”

The chosen art piece will be put together over the next few weeks. Since the coronavirus pandemic will still be very much at large, Nitzberg said that artists will have to follow policies and guidelines to ensure safety. If a team of people is working to develop the piece, they will have to observe the rules of social distancing and wear face masks. Overall, Nitzberg said that she is hoping the public art project will embody the values of Somerville.

“I’ve seen Somerville change so much, over the last several decades,” said Nitzberg. “If there’s one thing that I think about, in terms of the Somerville identity, it’s hope, resilience, and vibrancy. We are a city of immigrants. We are a city of diversity. We are a city of artists. We are a city of innovation. Why not put together public art, to really show that identity, to really be proud of who we are?”

Somernova is a community of entrepreneurs, with a 7.4-acre campus based in Union Square. Its tenants, who occupy repurposed buildings, include Artisan’s Asylum, Greentown Labs, and Aeronaut Brewing. According to Somernova spokesperson Kristin Phelan, Somernova’s vision is to create a place that helps companies iterate and grow faster, through a culture where people feel empowered.