Regional Trails Creative Placemaking Strategy

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Announcement: Holliston Mural Artist has been Selected!

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and the Town of Holliston are delighted to announce that Caoin O’Durgy, a talented artist based in Somerville, MA, has been selected to create vibrant murals that will connect Holliston Downtown and the Rail Trail.

Learn More About this Artist and the Project

Regional Trails Creative Placemaking Strategy

This project will generate a creative placemaking strategy to help subregions and individual municipalities strengthen connections between regional trails and local commercial areas and to enhance a sense of representation and belonging for the diverse communities living in these subregions.

Process

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s (MAPC) Arts & Culture and Transportation Departments will work with the Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (MAGIC) and MetroWest Regional Collaborative (MWRC) subregions, as well as with the Town of Acton and the Town of Holliston to complete the Regional Trails Creative Placemaking Strategy project from May 2023 – August 2024. 

Funding

The project is funded through Barr Foundation support for MAPC's Arts and Culture Department, the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Unified Planning Work Program, and the MAGIC and MetroWest subregional funds. In addition, the Town of Acton and the Town of Holliston will contribute in-kind contributions of staff time to support the work.
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MAPC's Role

MAPC’s role is to assess the opportunity for creative placemaking interventions in the MAGIC and MetroWest subregions through an existing conditions analysis. In addition, MAPC will advise the formation of Creative Placemaking Advisory Groups in Acton and Holliston and provide technical assistance and funding to the participating municipalities to commission artists and creatives. In addition, MAPC will support the process of commissioning creative works that activate connection areas between trail access points and local commercial areas as a demonstration of the potential of creative placemaking to enhance the Landline Regional Trail Network as a local and regional resource.  In addition to other project deliverables, MAPC staff will develop the curriculum for and facilitate a one-day Creative Placemaking Training Workshop inviting representatives from the two municipalities, as well as representatives from both the MAGIC and MetroWest subregional cohorts.   

For more information, please contact Archana Menon, MAPC Arts and Culture Fellow at amenon@mapc.org.

Importance

Creative placemaking is a community-led process that brings artists into community development and planning projects in order to connect people and places in new and innovative ways, while still honoring the history and distinctiveness of the place. This approach to placemaking aims to activate underutilized spaces, enhance community engagement, and promote economic development in surrounding areas. 

Creative placemaking on trails can also be a powerful tool for building a welcoming and inclusive community. It leverages a community's arts and cultural assets to encourage social interaction and engage diverse communities, foster a sense of pride and ownership for one’s community and create a sense of place. It can increase access and equity by addressing barriers that may prevent certain community members from using the space, thereby collaboratively shaping a place’s physical and social character. 

The MAPC Regional Trails Creative Placemaking Strategy will, therefore, help the participating municipalities achieve the following goals, thereby advancing a shared vision for creating vibrant, inclusive neighborhoods:  

Strengthen strategic connections between trails and downtown commercial centers to support local small businesses and economic vitality.

Convene a wide cross section of stakeholders to form advisory groups who will steward arts, culture and creative placemaking efforts in their communities.

Promote trails as equitable public spaces that foster connections and a sense of belonging among diverse groups of people in our communities.

Connect arts and culture to larger community revitalization efforts.
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Identify areas along the trail that need inclusive signage and wayfinding initiatives.

Meet Selected Mural Artist Caoin O’Durgy

Caoin O’Durgy, a talented artist based in Somerville, MA, was selected to create vibrant murals that will connect Holliston Downtown and the Rail Trail.

This project is part of the larger Regional Trails Creative Placemaking Strategy, an initiative led by MAPC’s Arts & Culture Department to enhance community engagement and connectivity across the region through public art and creative placemaking. The funding for this mural project has been generously provided by MAPC.

Caoin, leading his team, The Good Boy Collective—a trans-led group of artists dedicated to fostering support and collaboration within the artistic community—brings a unique illustrative style that beautifully captures the essence of Holliston’s past, present, and future.

His mural design features a pavilion symbolizing Holliston’s history, with a trail weaving through the town’s architecture and creating a path through time. Portals found in doorways physically connect different eras, inviting viewers to reflect on the town’s rich heritage. The mural also includes dynamic 3D hanging acrylic pieces that depict how the rail-trail might be traveled in different periods, with some figures designed to move in the wind.

In addition to the main mural, Caoin has designed murals for two electric boxes. The box at Green St. represents Holliston’s contemporary community, with figures walking towards downtown, their attire reflecting various historical periods beyond the colonial era. The box at Hollis St. symbolizes Holliston’s future, featuring futuristic elements juxtaposed with the town’s timeless architecture.

Caoin’s work, characterized by a whimsical, children’s book-inspired style and a color-blind friendly palette, is designed to be inclusive and engaging for all community members.

His design aims to spark curiosity, encourage exploration of downtown Holliston, and foster a deeper sense of connection among viewers.

MAPC and the Town of Holliston are excited to see Caoin’s vision come to life as part of the Regional Trails Creative Placemaking Strategy and look forward to sharing more updates as the project progresses.

Stay tuned for details on the upcoming community celebration event where the mural and electric box designs will be officially unveiled!

Murals in Process

Artist Caoin in a white tshirt and jeans stands painting a mural on a large wooden building. He is standing on a blue tarp.

Selected artist Caoin painting one of the murals in Holliston | Photo Credit: MAPC

Four people stand together facing the camera and smiling with a painted mural on a large wooden wall behind them. They are standing on a blue tarp. From left to right: person with short hair, wearing a sea green tshirt and black shorts. Selected artist Caoin wearing a white tshirt and jeans. A person wearing dark pants a white shirt and a dark cardigan over the shirt. MAPC Arts Fellow Archana wearing a dark blue short sleeve shirt and black shorts.

From left to right: Melanie Hamblen, Holliston Economic Development Coordinator; selected artist Caoin; Kathleen Buckley, Holliston Assistant Town Manager; and MAPC Arts and Culture Fellow Archana Menon | Photo Credit: MAPC

Mural painted by Caoin on the doors of the Blair Square Pavilion. An illustration of numerous buildings in a town with animals such as rabbits, mice, and more as the towns people. Text says "explore Holliston" and it includes "@thegoodboy.collective"

Mural painted by selected artist Caoin on the Blaire Square Pavilion in Holliston | Photo Credit: MAPC

Mural painted by selected artist Caoin on an electric box at Washington and Hollis Street in Holliston. It's an abstract illustration of different types of animals as towns people standing in front of buildings. Text on it says, "Look towards our future! Explore Holliston!" and "@thegoodboy.collective"

Art mural painted by selected artist Caoin on an electric box at Washington and Hollis Street in Holliston | Photo Credit: MAPC

Mural painted by selected artist Caoin on an electric box at Washington and Green Street in Hollison. It's an illustration of the bottom of half of people - pants, skirts, walking through doorways. Text says, "Walk with Us! Explore Holliston" and "@thegoodboy.collective".

Mural painted by selected artist Caoin on an electric box at Washington and Green Street in Holliston | Photo Credit: MAPC

Application Materials Archive

In summer 2024, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and the Town of Holliston invited artists to apply for an exciting public art opportunity.

Artists were invited to submit their qualifications and preliminary concepts for mural artwork at three prominent sites where they would enhance connections between the Holliston Rail Trail and the downtown area:

The doors of the Blair Square Pavilion (Rail Trail at intersection with Central Street)
The electric box at the intersection of Washington and Hollis Streets
The electric box at the intersection of Washington and Green Streets

The selected artist or team would design and install murals at all three sites, and would receive a $10,000 stipend to bring their vision to life. The application deadline was in late July 2024, and the artwork would be installed by late August 2024.

Read the Call for Artists Information

Virtual Questions and Answers Session Video

July 9, 2024

Questions and Answers from the Virtual Session

Electrical Boxes and Meters

Question: What is the part that shouldn’t be painted - the whole light gray box or just the glass piece of the meter?

Answer: The whole gray box.

Budget and Materials

Question: Is the material cost part of the $10,000 or will the material cost be provided separately?

Answer: The material cost is part of the $10,000.

Artwork Application

Question: Is it possible to use a vinyl wrap of original art instead of hand painting?

Answer: Yes, it is certainly possible.

Project Timeline

Question: The timeline is so tight, is there any flexibility in the deadline?

Answer: There is no flexibility in the deadline.

Important Landmarks

Question: Besides Goodwill Park, are there any other landmarks that feel especially important to the town community?

Answer: The main objective is to connect the downtown area with the rail trail. The Town Hall and Library are important landmarks, and small businesses in buildings of historic importance are also valued by the community.

Hanging Elements

Question: Is there a preference for how hanging elements can be attached? Is it okay to install hardware directly into wood?

Answer: Nails and hooks can be attached to the rafters. Final confirmation can be obtained from the facility directors.

Priming the Boxes and Doors

Question: Will the boxes and doors be primed for us?

Answer: Yes, the boxes and doors will be primed for the artists to use.

Learning Resources

Question: Do you know of any good resources for learning the history and culture of the town outside of the internet? Perhaps something I can visit, like a museum?

Answer: You are encouraged to visit the Holliston Historical Society.

Door Handles and Locks

Question: Will the handles and locks be removed from the door to allow for painting?

Answer: This will be confirmed with the facility directors.

Permits and Insurance

Question: Do we need to apply for any kind of permit or insurance to install the mural?

Answer: The Town has taken care of permitting and will include it in the form of a rider.

Basis of the Boxes

Question: Should the bases of the boxes be painted?

Answer: No, the bases should not be painted as they will be scraped in the winter.

Use of Pavilion and Doors

Question: What is the use of the Pavilion and the doors?

Answer: The doors are locked and used just for storage space.

Parking and Facilities

Question: Parking seems ample, but are there bathrooms for artist use?

Answer: Collaboration with the town will ensure bathroom facilities are available for the artists.

Key Dates

June 28, 2024: Call for Artists opens

July 9, 2024: Virtual Q&A Session
Register to Join the Q&A

July 19, 2024: Call for Artists closes

July 23 – 25, 2024: Selection Committee reviews submissions and selects finalists

July 26, 2024: Decisions and announcement of artists

July 27 – August 20, 2024: Artists painting on sites

August 24 - 25, 2024: Celebration of completed project

List of Appendices

Appendix I:
Additional pictures of the sites

Appendix II:
Map of the sites for temporary public art

Appendix III:
Sample budget template

Appendix IV:
Selection Criteria and Evaluation Rubric

Appendix V:
Artist Concept Development Grant Agreement

For more information about the project, contact MAPC’s Arts and Culture Fellow, Archana Menon at amenon@mapc.org.