COURTESY OF THE HYANNIS MAIN STREET BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
HYANNIS – Work is underway to “Dress Up” Main Street Hyannis.
The “Dress Up Downtown” creative placemaking campaign celebrates the stories of downtown and the waterfront by integrating art into unexpected spaces enhancing the area’s vitality and attractiveness.
The project, which is a collaboration between the Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District and the town of Barnsatble, includes the installation of year-round tree lights, a wall mural and nine painted utility boxes, which were expected to be completed this week.
“One is a wave close up. One is a fish close up. One is a sailboat,” said Elizabeth Wurfbain, the Business Improvement District’s executive director. “Some are a little bit more modern than others but they add a nice element, I think, in their modern interpretations.”
Five local artists with connections to Hyannis and Cape Cod are painting the utility boxes. The artists are Mary-Ann Agresti, Vinnie Arnone, Tim Ellis Cole, Mellissa Morris and Amy Neill.
The string lighting is modeled after those seen at Faneuil Hall and arboretums.
“It’s really just plain charming and that’s what we are trying to emulate,” Wurfbain said. “Adding a nice sparkle and something pretty.”
The effort was paid for with money raised during a BID fundraiser last year, donations and a $15,000 matching grant from Mass Development.
Wurfbain said a second phase is being discussed.
“We are in talks with different agencies and institutions to keep adding,” she said. “To keep adding art and way finding and signage and kiosks to the street to add that element of placemaking that we are trying to develop for Main Street.”
A donor and participant thank you party for the first phase of the project is Sunday at 5 p.m. at Fresh Ketch.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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