Malden Arts Complete Frank Stella Mural Located Behind MHS

Malden Arts is an organization that celebrates the cultural history of Malden by displaying artwork across Malden so people can appreciate the city they live in. A couple years ago they started their project ArtLine with the goal of beautifying the bike trail. The ArtLine features several pieces of art from musicians, writers, and artists from Malden.

 Just recently Malden Arts completed their Frank Stella mural located on Eastern Ave on the wall behind Malden High School. This mural was funded by Patronicity, which is a part of Mass Development. The mural was put in place to pay homage to Frank Stella and to appreciate his contributions to Malden.

Frank Stella is one of the most influential modern artists still alive today. He is known for his minimal and abstract art. Frank Stella was born in 1936 in Malden, MA. Stella was born to first generation Italian parents. He grew up right across Bellrock Park on Main Street. During his elementary and middle school years he attended Belmont School and Beebe School. He then went to Phillips Academy in Andover, MA for his high school years. He went to  Princeton University and after he graduated, he eventually moved to New York where he still resides today.

The mural is a part of Frank Stella’s “Protractor” series that he created in the 1960s, which is a collection of bright, curved bands of color on large canvases, cut to resemble the semi-circular shape of protractors. Frank Stella’s work can be found in the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, and the Malden Public Library.

Naomi Kahn, who is a board member for Malden Arts, was in charge of the fabrication and layout of the mural. Malden Arts reached out to artists from Malden and Frank Stella responded by sending some of  his designs. It was her job of increasing the size of the paintings so it could be turned into a mural. She chose the location of the high school because “it was a wall nobody noticed.” Now people are drawn to it because it is “colorful and it brightens things up.” The mural has an anti-graffiti laminate on it which produces the shiny effect and makes it even more appealing. She believes the location of the mural is beneficial to high school students because it will allow them to “become aware of modern and abstract act.” 

Sharon Santillo, who is also a board member for Malden Arts, was in charge of contacting Frank Stella. Santillo has always admired Frank Stella’s artwork and it was her idea to use his artwork for the border of the Malden Walk signs displayed around Malden. She believes it is important to value public art because it is beneficial to the community because it brings people together and Santillo states “everyone can enjoy it no matter their background.” Also, displaying public art around the city  “attracts businesses into the community” which benefits the community economically.

Malden Arts is having a ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Frank Stella mural located on the wall of Malden High School facing Centre Street and the Northern Strand Community Trail. They want everyone to come and celebrate Frank Stella’s artwork and his work will be on display at Malden Public Library’s Converse Memorial Building Art Galleries. The ceremony will be on December 11th at 3pm, they will be walking one block to the Malden Public Library’s Converse Memorial Building Art Galleries. During this ceremony, three of Frank Stella’s pieces will be on view from 3:30pm to 6pm, also light refreshments will be served. Please spread the news and bring your family and friends!