The Writing's on the Wall
When the first paintbrush stroked the concrete canvas of the Wickenden Street underpass, a graffiti-ridden eyesore became a collage of renowned artistic works. From a portrait of Van Gogh to the Mona Lisa to the Venus on the Half Shell, the Wickenden Street Mural added color and flavor to a city ascending to artistic prominence. But that was ten years ago. The scene today is something radically different from that beautiful pastiche. Caged behind massive steel girders, the artwork beneath the I-195 underpass is locked in its cell, awaiting demolition as if on death row. Due to the relocation of the highway, the walls will become an unfortunate victim of this construction project.
It all started with one man, local artist Brent Bachelder. He would drive to Wickenden Street and observe the graffiti vandalizing the underpass. One day, Brent was inspired to replace the unsightly defacement with real, visually stimulating art. But there were no grants for revitalizing a highway underpass. Instead, Brent looked to the community for support and even wrote to then mayor Buddy Cianci. The neighborhood responded, and Buddy sent back letters of thanks and encouragement. Bachelder began selling marquee sponsor ads to pay for the creation of the mural. What began as a community improvement project rapidly became Bachelder's signature piece.
