Davis Square statues

The Davis Square statues, known collectively as Ten Figures, consist of life-sized concrete sculptures crafted by James Tyler in 1983. These public artworks are situated near the Davis subway stop in Somerville, Massachusetts. They portray residents from the local community during the 1980s. In 1996, bronze "masks" were installed on the sculptures to repair damage and help prevent further vandalism.

Arts on the Line

These works were commissioned as part of the Arts on the Line program, a collaboration between the MBTA and Cambridge Arts Council aimed at incorporating art into the MBTA's Red Line Northwest Extension during the late 1970s and early 1980s. This initiative became a national benchmark for integrating public art within transit systems. From more than 400 submissions by artists, 20 pieces—including Ten Figures—were chosen to be displayed across five newly constructed stations. The initial budget for these twenty installations was $695,000, which accounted for only 0.5% of the overall cost of the Red Line Northwest Extension project.

History

The majority of these sculptures represent actual individuals who lived in the vicinity of Davis Square during the 1980s. For instance, one sculpture depicts an elderly couple who operated a neighborhood restaurant known for their generosity. Additionally, the artist included a fictional representation of a mime entertaining a teenager—who was a Vietnam War casualty—and his mother.

Originally, the cast concrete figures were grouped together in a plaza near J.P. Licks and Store 24; however, in 1996, they were dispersed throughout Davis Square and around subway entrances by efforts led by the Somerville Arts Council and city officials. That same year, bronze masks were added to protect the statues from repeated facial vandalism, and these masks have since become a distinctive characteristic of the installation.

External links

Arts on the Line

History

See also

External links