Stories in our Sidewalks

Guided by teaching artist Mekhi Mendoza, young people identified cracks in the sidewalk and repaired them using glass leftover from Essex Art Center's popular stained glass classes. 

These "guerrilla" gestures are whimsical and rooted in care. By creating patterns in areas where our street was cracked or crumbling, program participants transformed Island Street in subtle but meaningful ways.

The program was inspired by the work of Ememem, an anonymous street artist based in Lyon, France. 

This project is one of three summer Public Art programs Essex Art Center is running this season. All of them were supported by the Greater Lawrence Summer Fund through and New England Foundation for the Arts.