New Bedford Art Museum/ArtWorks!, artist Maria Molteni, and partners have officially launched Creative Courts, a transformative art mural-style court project. The colorful mural-style courts serve as beacons for community engagement, as they are public spaces that meet more than just one need. You can find Creative Courts at Clasky Common Park in New Bedford and Edmond P Talbot Middle School in Fall River.
About the artist
Maria Molteni is a Nashville-to-Boston-based multimedia & performing artist, educator & organizer. Having studied Painting and Printmaking at Boston University, her practice sprung from formalist roots and has grown to incorporate research, social engagement, and transdisciplinary experimentation.
Courting the Sky at Clasky Common Park, New Bedford
Courting the Sky by Maria Molteni and New Craft Artists in Action
Courting the Sky by Maria Molteni and New Craft Artists in Action
Courting the Sky by Maria Molteni and New Craft Artists in Action
Courting the Sky by Maria Molteni and New Craft Artists in Action
Courting the Sky by Maria Molteni and New Craft Artists in Action
Courting the Sky by Maria Molteni and New Craft Artists in Action
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Courting the Sky by Maria Molteni and New Craft Artists in Action
Image: John Maciel -
Courting the Sky by Maria Molteni and New Craft Artists in Action
Image: John Maciel -
Courting the Sky by Maria Molteni and New Craft Artists in Action
Image: John Maciel -
Courting the Sky by Maria Molteni and New Craft Artists in Action
Image: John Maciel -
Courting the Sky by Maria Molteni and New Craft Artists in Action
Image: John Maciel -
Courting the Sky by Maria Molteni and New Craft Artists in Action
Image: John Maciel
COSMIC COURT at Edmond P Talbot Middle School, Fall River
New Bedford Art Museum/ArtWorks!, artist Maria Molteni, and New Craft Artists in Action have done it again! Edmond P. Talbot Middle School in Fall River, MA celebrated the second basketball court mural commissioned by NBAM, Super Flat NB, City of Fall River, and the SouthCoast Community Foundation.
As with their other courts, Molteni began the design process by visiting art classes at Talbot Middle School. They discussed creativity in the athletic realm, including the difference between mascots (as the spirit and energy of a team dynamic) and logos/branding, meant to sell a product to spectators. Students chose personal dream mascots as an icebreaker, then proceeded to make wild drawings of their dream courts. Molteni noticed many circular, cyclical, planetary motifs (eyeballs! flowers! planets! basketballs!) among the drawings and used them as inspiration for Talbot/Fall River’s own luscious basketball universe.
While the court was in progress, students brainstormed new games they’d invent for different shapes and positions they saw in the design- “how many points would we score when shooting from the flower or the Saturn or the infinity?” they would say. The new court, complete with color wheels and diagram, is also intended to be a participatory teaching tool for the art classes who were studying light and shade the weeks of install.
Special Thank You
Brian Raposo
Jacqueline Francisco
Kathy Castro
City of Fall River
SuperFlat NB
New Craft Artists in Action Painters
Isabel Mattia
Laura Ganci
Eli Brown
John Knudsen
Holly Popielarz
Nazli Dinçel
Aerial photos by John Maciel.
join the team!
Creative Courts are made possible through the support of our generous partners and sponsors. Get off the bench and join the game by sponsoring this amazing project.
Click here to become a sponsor!
Sponsors
The Lodge of Saint Andrew
Chuck Smiler
Partners