Public Art Cranes Necks at
Copley Square

Grafitti matures to new heights in Copley Square, Boston, MA. The French “street artist” who installed the public art high above Berkley Street in Copley Square, Boston, in the tradition, maintains some anonymity by identifying himself only by the initials JR. The tradition comes out of avoiding arrest for painting or posting on public and private property.. Fishermen’s Voice photo

Beginning with spray painting images on urban buildings in the middle of the night grafiti art moved to railroad freight cars, subway transit cars and most famously in the United States Shepard Fairy’s posters on buildings and “how did they get it up there” locations under highway overpasses, etc. Fairy designed President Obama’s 2008 campaign poster with Obama’s face and the one word HOPE below. Banksy, first known as England’s most famous grafiti mystery man is now known internationally by his street artist name only.

The French artist JR, who is not wholly unidentified has received grants to continue his effort to catch the eyes of the world with his Inside Out project of public art, which includes the Copley Square image.

The image of a man standing on a float was applied to the former John Hancock, now known as 200 Clarendon building, in Copley Square. Unannounced, but with the buildings owners permission, the vinal image was applied in September from a large swing staging ordinarily used for washing the windows suspended from the roof. The image is seven stories tall and is located between the 44th to the 50th floors on the 60 story glass facade building. The image, 500 feet above the Berkeley Street side of the building, is a temporary installation.

View from the 52nd floor observation area of the Prudential Tower west of Copley Square. The irregularities in the large windows support an illusion of a watery surface. Fishermen's Voice photo

Inside Out Art
https://www.ted.com/participate/ted-prize/prize-winning-wishes/inside-out