Mural Artists Inspire Local Students
Published in the Lowell Sun on November 23rd, 2023
LOWELL — Last month, mural artists and longtime pals Felipe Ortiz and Adam O’Day shared their lived experiences to a packed room of Lowell High and UMass Lowell art students at Project LEARN’s Youth Innovation Space, days after finishing their mural, “The Bee.”
Over the course of one week in October, Ortiz and O’Day transformed a 42-foot wall at UMass Lowell’s University Crossing on Merrimack Street into a vivid celebration of nature and creativity.
“When we tackled this mural, we had a crystal-clear idea: Let’s forget about who does what,” said O’Day, one half of the dynamic duo behind “The Bee.” “We weren’t thinking, ‘I’ll do the bee, you handle the background.’ It was a different vibe — we just pitched in and painted it together.”
“And you know what?” O’Day smiled. “It was an absolute blast. It was a shared canvas where we were both artists, and it made our art adventure that much cooler.”
O’Day and Ortiz have shared a deep sense of artist kinship for years.
“Adam and I go way back,” said Ortiz. “We’re like art buddies. We’ve spent years working side-by-side, experimenting and just having fun.”
O’Day described “The Bee” as a fun creative conversation the two artists had been having for years. “And now it’s up there for everyone to enjoy,” said O’Day.
“The Bee” is the latest installation in a series of murals as part of Project LEARN’s ArtUp Lowell, a youth art and creative placemaking initiative that celebrates the city’s diverse multicultural communities.
“Art has the power to bridge gaps and connect generations,” said Project LEARN Executive Director LZ Nunn, “and Felipe and Adam’s new mural is doing just that. ArtUp Lowell isn’t just about installing art in public spaces; it’s about empowerment, social cohesion, and nurturing emerging talents.”
Over the summer, Lowell High arts educator Eric Allshouse worked with eight student artists on a vivid mural installation celebrating Lowell’s Greek heritage on the wall of Sophia’s Greek Pantry. Allshouse reflected on having two professional artists who make a living through selling their pieces and creating public art meet with his students, citing that it was “instructive and informative.”
“Providing high school students with an opportunity to meet these mural artists, ask them questions, and hear more about their artistic journey, allows them to learn about the path to becoming a working artist,” said Allshouse.
Both “The Bee” and Allhouses’ mural were partly funded by a grant from MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative Creative Catalyst Grant Program, which supports public-facing projects that enhance local arts, cultural infrastructure and contribute to economic revitalization. An important component of this project is providing mentorship and guidance for young artists to learn skills to support their future endeavors.
ArtUp Curator Ellen Casazza remarked how special it was to have such talented artists speak to young creatives in Lowell. One student mentioned to her that he doesn’t like traditional art, but loves the ArtUp murals around town. “I think that’s why it’s important to offer variety in Lowell’s art and culture scene,” said Casazza.
Ortiz shared his own journey growing up in Colombia, where cities like Bogota celebrate creativity through street art, creating an informal open-air gallery throughout neighborhoods. While Ortiz learned his craft at MassArt, some of the most valuable lessons he gained were from meeting professional artists and staying connected to professors.
Both Ortiz and O’Day stressed the value of networking and making connections to support your art.
“You’ve got to go to your friends’ events, First Fridays, and gallery shows,” O’Day said. “Become friends with a gallery owner. There’s nothing like the human connection, building trust and keeping the relationships in your network close.”
When a student asked if they had advice for the budding artists in the room, Ortiz said, “The one thing I wish I did was get everyone’s contact information, and then follow up. Send them a thank you for coming to the show. Show your appreciation.”
On the subject of getting feedback, even when it’s negative, Ortiz said, “Be grateful for the people who are trying to guide you. You never know what kind of opportunities that might bring in the future.”
After the panel, Jeremey Claudio, a junior at UMass Lowell studying graphic design, said, “At this stage, we often grapple with indecisiveness due to a lack of experience.” Claudio continued, “It’s incredibly beneficial to learn from artists who have already made it. Interacting with them is undeniably inspirational, and motivates me to do more in the field of art.”