Team Haverhill’s public art initiative has a mission of bringing high quality artworks to the downtown.
The Team Haverhill Mural Project
Location: Merrimack and Washington Streets, downtown Haverhill
More than 30 eye-catching murals depicting Haverhill history adorn what used to be boarded-up windows on historical downtown buildings. Many generous sponsors and businesses supported this concept and gave generously to make it a reality. You can be greeted by John Greenleaf Whittier at the “Window of the Past,” or experience George Washington’s visit to Haverhill, Archie Comics’ chocolate shoppe, Barnum and Bailey’s woman circus performer Gert Swazey, and noted children’s author John Bellairs. Download the Haverhill Mural Project Downtown Walking Tour Map.
The first phase of the project was unveiled in September 2007, when six murals depicting colonial times were unveiled at 100 Washington Street, adjacent to the Tap Restaurant. Another 24 murals were commissioned and created by Discovery Club students, along with local and regional artists.
Connecting the Community through the Arts Banner
Location: Wingate Street
As part of the public art initiative, Team Haverhill sponsored the creation of an innovative mural banner for the Wingate Street arts district, entitled “Connecting the Community Through the Arts.” The mural banner was a community wide collaborative painting project that offered the public an opportunity to participate in creating a unique work of art for Haverhill. Thirty-two Haverhill community organizations created an expression of “what art means to the community.”
This community banner was also featured in a Boston Globe article reporting on Haverhill’s revitalization.
River Path Sculpture
Location: Washington Square, adjacent to Transit Center
The River Path, by Haverhill sculptor Dale Rogers, was brought to downtown Haverhill with the goal of connecting historic downtown with the mighty Merrimack River that runs through it.
The piece features two sweeping arcs made of different kinds of steel. One arc represents Haverhill’s hills and is made of COR-TEN steel. The other arc is stainless steel, with a swirled finish representing the shimmering water of the Merrimack River. This arc bears an excerpt from the John Greenleaf Whittier poem “The River Path.”
The sculpture links a Haverhill visual artist, Dale Rogers, with a Haverhill literary artist, John Greenleaf Whittier, in a very visual and very prominent presentation.
