‘Art in the Park at Riverside’ is a multi-year program of large-scale public art installations in Haverhill’s Riverside Park.
Art in the Park at Riverside, created in tandem with Creative Haverhill and SJ Arts Consulting, has been conceived as a dynamic outdoor space filled with sculptures and public artwork. Existing Art in the Park art work includes an eye-catching 14-foot-tall bright red kinetic sculpture by Waldo Evan Jespersen entitled A Divvied Dadaism Emoted; and the Riverside Eco-Labyrinth Garden, created by regional artist Maia Mattson with Haverhill High School Art Department students.
Additional sculptures will be added in the coming years, depending upon funding and resources.
Art in the Park at Riverside has been funded by a generous donation from the Pentucket Bank Charitable Foundation, as well as grants from the Haverhill Cultural Council, and Haverhill Public Schools. The project team will be conducting additional fundraising in the years to come to support new projects.
‘Art in the Park’ Installations
A Divvied Dadaism Emoted
The acquisition of Waldo Evan Jesperson’s kinetic sculpture titled “A Divvied Dadaism Emoted” was made possible through a state earmark by Representative Andy Vargas and was selected in partnership with Ryan Kelley of Wire by Ryan.
Jesperson is a Merrimack Valley-based sculptor, working in a variety of mediums to “elegantly resolve challenging situations,” through his artmaking. His work has been shown around the world, and we are excited that this brilliant red, kinetic sculpture will be among the first to be installed as part of the Riverside Art in the Park project. We look forward to how this sculpture, which was made to explore balance and movement, will help us to experience the weather systems along the Merrimack River as it moves and changes with the wind. More of Jesperson’s work can be found at his website.
Riverside Eco-Labyrinth Garden
The Riverside Eco-Labyrinth Garden, created by regional artist Maia Mattson with Haverhill High School Art Department students, features large-scale, naturally dyed tapestries displayed through double sided plexiglass and integrated with bench seating. Native perennial flowers, grasses, and ornamental shrubbery border mulched pathways.
The garden honors the life and contributions of long-time Haverhill art teacher Sheila Jameson. Her family will mark the garden entrance with an arbor created by woodworker Adrian Scholes.
Riverside Art in the Park – The Origin Story
Riverside Art in the Park and Edible Avenue stems from an idea proposed at Team Haverhill’s 2021 Possible Dreams event. Originally known as the Bradford Rail Trail Extension Art Walk and Edible Avenue, the two-part plan included the installation of permanent sculptures, and an “Edible Avenue” garden of indigenous edible plants to be installed along the trail. In 2024 the project was moved to its current location at Riverside Park.
Questions? Email us at: info@TeamHaverhill.org