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MassArt Painting Alumni Bring ‘I AM Codman Sq’ Sculpture to Life

Two women pose outdoors beside colorful, large letters spelling Jamaica with cool in blue balloon-style text above. Trees, a white building, and vibrant sculpture elements inspired by Destiny Palmer are visible in the background.
Lead artist Destiny Palmer, right, and collaborating artist Alaina Mahoney posed in front of their signature art piece “I AM Codman Sq” on Monday during the community opening of Codman Park. Photo courtesy of Seth Daniel, Dorchester Reporter.
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  • Painting

During a Labor Day BBQ in the heart of Boston’s Codman Square neighborhood, MassArt alumni Destiny Palmer, BFA ’10 Painting, and Alaina Mahoney, BFA ’11 Painting, unveiled a new 10 foot tall ‘I AM Codman Sq’ statue in the middle of a renovated city-owned park. The purple “Codman Sq” signifies the native American tribes that used to frequent the intersection – which is of ancient origins as a pathway for travelers. The colorful ‘I AM’ letters were all hand-painted by Palmer and Mahoney fabricated the sculpture.

“I took a lot of inspiration from the meetings we had in the design and heard ‘I Am Codman Sq.’” Palmer said. “I heard a neighborhood of people that believed in community and wanted a space for people to thrive…This intersection is historically very relevant for a lot of people over time having come together here and having respect for and of one another.”

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