Jeffrey Gibson
By Mike Deehan
Bostonians passing through downtown or stepping off the train at South Station have an intriguing new sightline toward Dewey Square.
State of paint: A massive mural by artist Jeffrey Gibson, titled "your spirit whispering in my ear," is nearly complete and debuts officially on Sept. 19. It adorns the side of the tunnel air intake facility in Dewey Square on the Rose Kennedy Greenway.
Flashback: Dewey Square was the epicenter of the Occupy Boston protest encampment in 2011 and afterward became one of the city's premier public art canvases. The area wasn't much of a public space until the Big Dig's removal of the overhead expressway and creation of the greenway.
What they're saying: "'Your spirit whispering in my ear' are words that I wrote earlier this year as I thought about the challenges that my ancestors, and others, have endured during their lifetimes and how they met those difficulties with faith, courage and strength," Gibson wrote about his new mural.
The work features colorful patterns, masks representing natural spirits, a collection of pins from social movements and a beaded snake symbolizing rebirth and transformation. Gibson took inspiration from his Choctaw Indian and Cherokee heritage.
Live art: The Sept. 19 opening ceremony will feature music, drag and dance performances, plus food trucks including Zaaki, Vaz & Mac, Jamaica Mi Hungry and Cookie Monster. The Night Shift Brewing beer garden is just under the mural.
Zoom out: This will be the 10th installation to adorn the Dewey Square building. Previous murals there depicted a dreaming figure, an indoor scene with a giant balloon, a psychedelic landscape and a child with a boombox.