Ocean Conservation Mural Festival Returns to Boston

ARTivists Unite to Give Oceans a Creative Voice

BOSTON, MASS. (June 8, 2021) – PangeaSeed Foundation’s global Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans program will return to Boston July 19-26 to create 11 new ocean advocacy murals and host a variety of public events to increase interest and engagement in marine stewardship within the community. The New England Aquarium will serve as the Honorary Conservation Partner to help welcome the internationally acclaimed initiative to Boston for the second year. A highlight of the project will be the participation of renowned contemporary artist Shepard Fairey, who will paint a large-scale mural at the Aquarium. Fairey is known for his ‘HOPE’ portrait of President Obama.

Produced in collaboration with local public art initiative HarborArts, the new series of public murals in East Boston will add to the seven murals created as part of last year’s inaugural Sea Walls Boston pilot project. An all-star national and local lineup of artists and activists will come together to create a powerful new collection of landmark artworks, each with an important message that aims to inspire residents and visitors to foster a sense of ownership and pride for the artworks and our natural resources.

The New England Aquarium, a global leader in marine research and education, has joined forces with the creators of the 2021 festival to amplify the critical environmental messages depicted in the new murals, to be painted starting Monday, July 19. In the days leading up to installation, artists will team up with marine scientists from the Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life to gain a deeper understanding of the environmental issues facing the Gulf of Maine region, in which Boston sits.

“We are so excited to be partnering with PangeaSeed Foundation and HarborArts to harness the awe-inspiring power of public art to tell the story of the New England Aquarium’s ocean conservation work. This is an incredible opportunity to engage residents of the City and visitors to Central Wharf about the species and habitats we are working to protect, as well as to activate a key part of Boston’s downtown waterfront as we endeavor to make it accessible to all,” said Vikki N. Spruill, president and CEO of the New England Aquarium.

The Sea Walls murals and festivities in East Boston take place as part of Eastie Week, a collaborative initiative of East Boston partner organizations hosted by Boston Harbor Now from July 10-25, which will provide a wealth of opportunities for the community to get involved.

Beyond the curation of purposeful, ocean-themed environmental public art, Sea Walls Boston will feature weeklong public programming designed to help facilitate an ongoing relationship between the East Boston community, the murals, and their environment. Youth workshops, waterfront cleanups, mural walking tours, and a film screening and panel discussion at the Aquarium will make it a well-rounded experience for all ages.

Sea Walls Boston 2021 will come to a close on July 25, but the positive impacts of the murals will ripple throughout East Boston for years to come, fostering a new generation of ARTivists and ocean-positive change.

For information on Sea Walls Boston and sponsorship inquiries, please visit seawalls.org/boston or contact the local Sea Walls team at SeaWallsBoston@pangeaseed.org.

About PangeaSeed Foundation & Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans

PangeaSeed Foundation is a globally engaged nonprofit organization acting at the intersection of culture and environmentalism to further the conservation of our oceans. Their mission is to empower individuals and communities to create meaningful environmental change for the oceans by raising public awareness of critical environmental issues through SCIENCE, EDUCATION, and ARTIVISM (S.E.A.). Through their groundbreaking Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans public art program, PangeaSeed Foundation has created over 400 educational, ocean advocacy murals in 17 countries, bringing the ocean into streets across the globe.

About HarborArts

HarborArts is the East Boston-based initiative creating public art as a platform for dialogue. Since 2009, they have served as the catalyst for the 14-acre Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina becoming an outdoor gallery holding Boston’s largest collection of outdoor art. Through the installation of monumental artworks across the waterfront and beyond, HarborArts is transforming Boston Harbor into an international destination for public art, and building community at the intersection of environmentalism and artistic expression.

About New England Aquarium

The New England Aquarium is a global leader in marine science and conservation, working to safeguard ocean animals and habitats. With more than 1.3 million visitors a year, the Aquarium is one of the premier visitor attractions in Boston and a major public education resource for the region. The Aquarium’s research and rescue efforts build on the institution’s 50-year legacy of protecting the blue planet and advocating for vital and vibrant oceans. In the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, scientists conduct applied marine research that informs ocean management, policy, and industry practices, and contributes to the innovation of new technologies. Through its Sea Turtle Rescue Program, the Aquarium helps protect critically endangered and threatened sea turtle populations through rescue, rehabilitation, and release efforts.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Pam Bechtold Snyder – psnyder@neaq.org, 617-686-5068