Artwork > Community Mural Projects > Youth Projects > Afterschool Programs
Strong Past, Proud Future, 2011
Malden Center MBTA
The City of Malden and the Malden Cultural Council have partnered with The Art Connection, the MBTA, and artists Tova Speter and Anyahlee Suderman to design and paint a mural in the center of town. "Strong Past... Proud Future", Malden's first mural, was dedicated on July 10, 2011. This project focused on working with youth in the city who developed the design and painted the mural on an MBTA overpass on Route 60. Our core group of participating teens included: Manny, Katya, Corrine, Audrey, Evanah, Sherley, and Angela with additional help from: Cameron, Derwin, Commie, Chris, Anthony, Johnny, and Thupten. Thanks for helping make your community a brighter place!
Over 100 Malden residents came out to pick up a brush and help make their mark during our Community Painting Day and throughout our weekly painting sessions. The mural design was initiated at a Community Input Event in October 2009 when community members brainstormed themes that included Malden's history, diversity, youth, and nature. A task force of local youth was then created to work for a month to further research and develop the design that includes the depiction of a group of youth looking at a book of Malden's past and present. A large hand (made up of the community's diverse handprints) opens the book that highlights Malden's history on the left including the old Converse factory, old high school building, library, etc. On the right, the new Malden high building is pictured with graduates looking forward to the future. The mascots of the three high schools are represented with the lancer, eagle, and lion/tornado. The shape of the water is that of the actual Malden river,; and other natural elements include bicycling in the fells, an oak grove, local squirrels, and geese flying in the sky to form an "M" for Malden. Not to be overlooked, the orange bookmark represents the orange line itself and Malden's slogan of "strong past, proud future" is included as well.
This project was supported in part by a grant from the Malden Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Other funders include the Malden Redevelopment Authority and private donations.