Project installation to begin July 8th
(Beverly, MA – June 27, 2019) The Cabot is pleased to announce that artists have been officially selected to complete its 2019 mural installation. Helen Bur of London, England, was selected for one wall; her artistic partner, Sam Worthington, will join her in creating a piece collaboratively. Alex Senna of Sao Paulo, Brazil was selected for the other wall. The artists will travel to Beverly in early July for the mural installation, which will take place from July 8th – July 20th.
“I would like to work with my partner [Sam Worthington] to collaborate on a mural that symbolises the strength of the community and its ability to give a platform to creative expression with a view to empowering people,” said Helen Bur, in regards to her forthcoming piece at The Cabot.
Stemming from a grant awarded by Essex County Community Foundation’s Creative County Initiative and in partnership with Beyond Walls, a creative placemaking nonprofit based in Lynn, The Cabot received over 70 mural artist applications, both from local/regional artists and those across the globe. To narrow down the list of applicants, The Cabot created a public art advisory committee comprised of Beyond Walls staff, Beverly residents, business owners and public art enthusiasts. The committee made selections by scoring each application, engaging in thoughtful discussion, and taking a series of votes in mid-May. As part of fundraising efforts required to complete the murals, The Cabot raised nearly $40,000 compiled of over 150 donations from Beverly community members, businesses, and other arts supporters.
“I’m going to put a historic and elegant design together,” said Alex Senna, The Cabot’s other selected muralist, “a character that represents the people (of Beverly) and the theater.”
The public is encouraged to stop by and watch the installation in progress, and there will be a series of events celebrating the installation. The Cabot will be hosting a “Meet the Artists” party on July 16th, open to the public, that will include a free public art film screening. When the murals are complete, there will be a ribbon-cutting party and community dedication ceremony featuring Riverwalk Brewing, food trucks, and more at The Cabot on August 6th. Beverly Athletic Club will be sponsoring the ribbon-cutting ceremony, hosting family-friendly games and offering membership promotions. There will also be a private welcome party for the artists at Chianti’s in early July.
“It has been truly exciting to watch this installation come together and see how involved our community is in enhancing The Cabot’s natural beauty and presence in Beverly. We are truly thankful for their participation,” said J. Casey Soward, Executive Director of The Cabot. “We cannot wait to see the completed installations and hope that Helen, Sam, and Alex’s work will inspire other similar public art works, which are of such tremendous benefit to the community.”
About The Cabot:
For nearly a century, The Cabot in Beverly has been a local treasure, a dream palace at the heart of the downtown, and a welcoming gathering place for generations of North Shore residents. Originally known as The Ware, this opulent, neoclassical-style theater was built in 1920 by the renowned architectural firm Funk & Wilcox. Originally used for vaudeville shows and silent movies, it was later owned by the movie chain E.M. Loews. In 1976, The Cabot was purchased by Le Grand David and his own Spectacular Magic Company, and for the next 36 years was home to this world-famous magic show.
The Cabot is now being transformed into a 21st century venue for audiences of all ages, with nationally recognized live performers, current and classic movies and community events. Since its reopening in November 2014, The Cabot is once again a vital part of the North Shore’s artistic life. The Cabot will celebrate its 100th anniversary all year long in 2020, with aim to complete renovations by its 100th birthday on December 8th, 2020. For more information, visit https://thecabot.org.
