LOWELL — High above the intersection of School and Broadway streets, international artist Felipe Ortiz swayed across 3,000 square feet of wall space as he painted a mural on the Kathryn P. Stoklosa Middle School in Lowell’s Acre neighborhood. “When I’m up there, it’s almost as if I’m dancing with the wall,” said Ortiz as the sunset cast a warm glow on the mural during one of his last days of the project.
“I sway with the wind and I stretch myself a little here and a little there to push myself a little further than I could reach on my own.” Over the course of 19 days in June, Project LEARN’s ArtUp Lowell program invited Ortiz to don the massive building with his signature style — bright bursts of color, bumbling bees, hummingbirds and purple wildflowers. This newest piece by Ortiz, who is originally from Medellín, Colombia, adds a fresh layer of beauty and cultural representation to the area.
“The energy I experienced during the installation was uplifting,” said Ortiz.” The community in Lowell was incredibly supportive. “From the daily commuters to curious neighbors, many seemed to enjoy it and the comments and responses were gratifying.
” Following the success of his September 2023 collaborative piece with fellow artist and longtime pal Adam O’Day, “The Bee,” on UMass Lowell’s University Crossing, Ortiz was excited to return to Lowell for his second ArtUp Lowell installation, “Splash Pollinators 2.” Launched by Project LEARN in 2019, ArtUp Lowell is a communitywide program that coordinates dynamic, vibrant, and culturally relevant art in public spaces. ArtUp Lowell seeks to celebrate Lowell’s diverse communities and empower its aspiring young creatives and has enabled the installation of 13 large-scale murals by local & international artists.
James Cardaci, principal of the Stoklosa Middle School, expressed how the mural “enhances the beauty of the Stoklosa and the Acre community.” “The Stoklosa community truly appreciates the beautiful mural by Felipe. Special thanks to the Stoklosa students for participating in the project,” said Cardaci.
The students were keen to know more about public art in their community and what it’s like to be a working artist. Earlier in the spring, Project LEARN teamed up with Stoklosa educators and local art gallery Curation 250 to organize a citywide mural tour for students to engage with art in their own backyard. After the tour, rising seventh grader Guillermo Fernandez mentioned that his favorite piece was Ortiz’s 2023 mural “The Bee.
” “I liked how it was colorful and that you could see the texture,” Guillermo recalled. On one of the final days of the installation, Kristen Eschmann, a seventh and eighth grade teacher of newcomer students, brought students out one day to meet the artist. “Felipe took the time out of painting his beautiful mural to talk with my students and ask each one where they came from,” Eschmann said.
“It inspired my students, who are all new to the U.S., that by working hard, they could also follow their passion when they grow up.
” Pollinators and the role they play in sustaining vibrant ecosystems are a unifying theme of Ortiz’s body of work. “I believe their impact on the future of our planet is a great foundation to share with young people in Lowell,” Ortiz said. For Ortiz, one of the most gratifying parts of any project is sharing this message and engaging with the students on what inspires them to be leaders in their community.
Ortiz’s mural is part of a series of six new art installations that the ArtUp Lowell team, in collaboration with Refuge Lowell, will be launching this summer designed to engage and inspire young people in the city. “We’re proud to create opportunities for young artists to have a lasting impact on their communities through these art installations,” said Project LEARN Executive Director LZ Nunn. “These students are helping to shape our city’s future creative economy.
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