New art project installed in Fitchburg’s Mill Street Corridor

February 9, 2021 : Sentinel & Enterprise

FITCHBURG — Activate Mill Street, with the support of ReImagine North of Main, recently installed a new work of art along the Mill Street Corridor as part of its continued efforts to develop an engaging space for arts and culture in downtown.

This artwork is the collaborative effort of a small team of local artists and business owners who came together to further support the revitalization of downtown Fitchburg by sharing their time and expertise.

“I believe that public art is one of the best ways to engage with an audience,” Thomas Moser, one of the artists, said. “I’m incredibly grateful to have been a part of this project.”

The artist team was made up of Fitchburg residents Justin Tarbell, Eugene Finney and Moser.

Tarbell’s design concept “Break the Pattern” embraces the creative journey and risks these three artists took together as they left behind traditional studio practices and entered into uncharted territory to create the new work.

“It’s my little haiku to the city that I call home,” Tarbell said of the design.

Finney, with three decades of experience in the arts and a seasoned educator, led the team.

“It was a true pleasure to work with Justin and Thomas on this project,” he said. “Their willingness to experiment and overcome challenges is a true testament to their character and demonstration of the spirit of Fitchburg.”

In June of 2019, ReImagine North of Main, in partnership with MassDevelopment, launched the Activate Mill Street campaign to raise $40,000 of which an additional $40,000 would be leveraged through a grant by MassDevelopment and its Commonwealth Places program.

The Activate Mill Street project has used low-cost, flexible design solutions to create a temporary, unique space for concerts, downtown events, or provide a quiet lunch-hour with friends.

Activate Mill Street was approved by Commonwealth Places for a second consecutive round of fundraising, which will be matched by MassDevelopment if the fundraising goal is achieved.

There will additional updates related to the Mill Street Corridor project this spring and summer.