SPark! has transformed Pynchon Plaza in Downtown Springfield into a museum without walls, bringing dynamic public art installations to the heart of the city. This project reimagined the plaza as a vibrant, immersive art space—a museum without walls with innovative multi-media art installations by local artists. Each installation was inspired by Springfield’s cultural and historical legacies, including its residents, neighborhoods, traditions, landmarks, and architecture, highlighting the city’s unique character.
Goals:
- Use the arts to connect neighborhoods and people, creating equitable partnerships that demonstrate the power of civic engagement for more vibrant and livable communities.
- Turn an under-utilized urban park into a free outdoor art gallery that all city residents and visitors can experience as an inviting place to gather, socialize, and enjoy their city.
- Improve physical access between neighborhoods by improving traffic patterns and pedestrian and public safety.
- Encourage tourism throughout the city.
Featured Artists:
- Roberley Bell: Artful Seating
- Lauren Celini: Utility Art
- Jeffrey Lara: Sculpture
- Beth Crawford: Sculpture
- Ryan Murray: Fence Mural
- Alvilda Sophia Anaya-Alegría: Mosaic
- Michelle Falcón Fontánez: Mosaic
- Make-It Springfield Artist Sheldon Smith: Free Little Library Boxes
- Acoustic Arts: Sound Art Sculpture
Support for SPark! was generously provided by the National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town Grant” & a City of Springfield Community Development Block Grant. SPark! was a collaboration between The Springfield Museums, Springfield Cultural Partnership, The Springfield Parks and Recreation Department, and the Springfield Business Improvement District.
Thank you to our funders!
Support for SPark! Igniting Our Community has been generously provided by: National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Grant & City of Springfield Community Development Block Grant!
Project Partners:
Springfield Museums, Springfield Cultural Partnership and City of Springfield Department of Parks & Recreation
A two-year public art project to envision and create public art that serves to connect our city, residents and visitors, that will transform recently reopened Pynchon Plaza into a vibrant public space!
- Collective process to imagine, select, and commission public art that celebrates Springfield’s citizens, culture and heritage.
- Use the arts to connect neighborhoods and people, creating equitable partnerships that demonstrate the power of civic engagement for more vibrant and livability communities.
- Turn an under-utilized urban park into a free outdoor art gallery that all city residents and visitors can experience as an inviting place to gather, socialize and enjoy their city.
- Improve physical access between neighborhoods by improving traffic patterns and pedestrian and public safety.
- Encourage tourism throughout the city.
The award winning, split-level urban park featured a concrete courtyard, abstract sculpture and fountain, an elevator and stairs aimed at providing a gateway between the Springfield Museums and downtown Springfield. The design ultimately had many functional flaws, leading to the closure of the park for 40 years.