Turning Fences into Forums: Chain Link Galleries Bring Art to the Streets

MassArt’s sparc! the ArtMobile features artwork of Magda Léon, MFA ‘24, and Silvia López Chavez, BFA ‘00 .

Four women stand smiling in front of vibrant street art on a chain-link fence. The mural features a child in a graduation cap and superhero cape, riding a tricycle, adding charm to these unique chain link galleries. The sky is partly cloudy.

sparc! team member Rocelyn Metayer, sparc! Director Ekua Holmes, sparc! Programs Manager Isabelle Higgins, sparc! Graduate Assistant Camryn Connoly

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Written by Rachael Dubinsky

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, as the world faced isolation and uncertainty, MassArt’s sparc! the ArtMobile found a bold way to answer an urgent question: Who are we in a socially distanced world?

The answer didn’t come through silence but through vibrant colors, poetic voices, and collective creativity — just down the street from the MassArt campus.

Enter the Chain Link Galleries, a public art initiative that transformed utilitarian fences into dynamic canvases. These once-overlooked structures now pulse with life, storytelling, and resilience, thanks to a stunning array of vinyl panels adorned with bold imagery and poetic verses. Installed in Roxbury, most notably along Columbus Avenue near Roxbury Community College, these open-air galleries bring the talents of local and MassArt-affiliated artists directly into the heart of the neighborhood.

“We believe art is essential for a healthy community,” the sparc! team explains. And with this belief in mind, they’ve turned streets into artful spaces that invite connection and healing.

People read large posters about artist Silvia López Chavez attached to a chain-link fence, featuring her bio, photo, and colorful public art mural artwork along a city sidewalk on a sunny day—transforming the space into vibrant chain link galleries.

Silvia López Chavez’s work at the Chain Link Galleries

Community members, Silvia, and the sparc! team.

Art doesn’t just belong in galleries. It belongs in our streets, our neighborhoods, and our daily lives, transforming ordinary spaces into extraordinary experiences. sparc! team

The Chain Link Galleries do more than showcase art; they foster accessibility, amplify the voices of diverse artists, and transform fences into bridges. In every painted line and printed poem, they remind us that creativity never stops. The gallery adapts, responds, and thrives — even in the most challenging times.

This year, the two featured artists, Magda Léon, MFA ‘24, and Silvia López Chavez, BFA ‘00 and 2023 Common Good Award recipient, had the opportunity to bring their work to life through a series of artist talks at the Grove Hall Public Library. These gatherings provided neighbors with a chance to meet the creators behind the art, fostering conversations, collaboration, and a shared sense of belonging.

“It was truly an honor to work with sparc! and be featured in the Chain Link Gallery,” said Magda Léon. “Sharing work that is so close to my heart in such an accessible, community rooted space was incredibly meaningful. The workshop and artist talk were moments I’m still reflecting on, not only was I received with openness, but I felt deeply seen, welcomed, and connected. From the artist talk event, I was able to build meaningful connections and even new friendships. It was a beautiful gift, and I’m so grateful to have been invited.”

As the Chain Link Galleries continue to grow, they reaffirm a simple yet powerful truth: art doesn’t just belong in galleries. It belongs in our streets, our neighborhoods, and our daily lives, transforming ordinary spaces into extraordinary experiences.

Learn more about sparc! the Artmobile and MassArt’s community-based work.