North Shore CDC Partners with Dominican Artist Ruben Ubiera on Public Art Installation

North Shore Community Development Coalition is collaborating with artist Ruben Ubiera on a public art installation. The project will take place between Dodge Street and Peabody Street in Salem on Thursday, November 5th from 9am - 6pm. The goal of the project is to add a creative feature piece to downtown Salem that allows people to stop and enjoy the rich history and culture of the city. The crosswalk will be in urban-pop style that will attract a diverse group of Salem residents during and after competition of the project.

“The crosswalk installation will be a unique addition to Salem’s downtown streetscape and a creative way of engaging residents in a conversation about our rich heritage and diversity” said Rosario Ubiera-Minaya, North Shore CDC’s Chief Program Officer.

The installation will be created by Ruben Ubiera, a renowned artist who has been commissioned for murals and other large-scale public art installations around nation. Ubiera will work with bright colors and detailed designs to create a Postgraffism or urban-pop styled piece on the crosswalk between Dodge Street and Peabody Street. Originally from the Dominican Republic, his family moved to Salem when they immigrated to the United States in the 1990’s. A former resident of the Point neighborhood and a graduate from Salem High School, this is Ubiera’s first installation in Salem. Ubiera now resides in South Florida.

“My work often engages the community, bringing art to those who might not usually experience art, at the same time that voices my diverse experiences as an immigrant,” wrote Ruben Ubiera. “A building cannot be raised without a strong foundation, the same goes for a community.”

The crosswalk installation is funded by Mass Development’s Transformative Development Initiative, a competitive grant program which invests in Massachusetts’ Gateway Cities. North Shore CDC collaborated with The City of Salem and the Point Neighborhood Association to complete the application. This effort is in response to the Point Neighborhood Vision & Action Plan, a plan created by the same partners in 2013 to improve the quality of life and bring investment to the Point neighborhood.

North Shore CDC sees the project as part of its mission of investing in neighborhoods to create thriving communities, as it celebrates the Salem Point Neighborhood through artistic expression. North Shore CDC invites residents to watch Ruben Ubiera work on creating this installation on November 5th and follow along on Twitter as they live tweet using #PictureThePoint on their account @NorthShoreCDC.

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