Coolidge Square, the heart of East Watertown, will be a construction zone for the next few years, but the area has a pair of new public art pieces to bring a little joy to the area that will endure the chaos of road and sidewalk replacement.
The project, called “Open for Business,” includes “Transitional,” which incorporates materials you might find in construction — sheets of aluminum and the white and yellow reflective tags used on roads — to create a piece that changes as you look at it from different angles. The piece was created by MASARY Studios, which also produced the Solstice light show at Mount Auburn Cemetery.
“Transitional” is on the wall on the side of Coolidge Hardware, on Kimball Road at the corner of Mt. Auburn Street. Down the street, on a group of trees next to the basketball court at Sullivan Playground is the location for “Dazzling the Pines.”
During the daytime, the installation does not jump out, but if you look closely, the silver balls can be seen hanging from and between the trees. Some look like Christmas tree ornaments, others like disco balls. At night, a set of lights illuminate the balls.
The piece was created by Elaine Buckholz, with the help of Sam Webb. Buckholz also created a piece that was on the children’s play area at Sullivan Playground.
The City of Watertown chose the two pieces from the applications submitted to the City. The project was overseen by Public Arts Planner Liz Helfer, and the selection committee included members of the Community Development and Planning Department, including recently-retired Director Steve Magoon.
Economic Development Planner Erin Rathe said the artists could select from a variety of places around Coolidge Square and could have made a mural, a bench, something with light, or other types of art.
The two public art installations will be up for the next two years, during which time the Mt. Auburn Street Project will be under construction.