Public art doc

Public Art and Placemaking

a documentary film illustrating the benefits and necessity of public art in communities through the artists who make it happen.

Documentary film

Public Art Doc

The film explores creative processes, public spaces and community engagement through artist interviews and working processes.

Mural

This mural illustrates the rich history of the Cambridge Port, which is known for its social reformers like Margaret Fuller, Clement Morgan, and William Lloyd Garrison as well as its technology and inventors like Elias Howe who invented the sewing machine.

Perfomance

The public performance Waterfall flew down the Cambridge City Hall steps.

Sculpture

Tell site visitors about this employee, detailing their expertise, education, or passion

Architecture

The Frank Gehry-designed structure was completed in 2004 to pretty much universal acclaim.

Documentary film

Featured Artists


David Fichter 

has been creating community murals and mosaics for over 30 years, his murals deeply connect to the neighborhood and communities, every figure in the mural you can find a story relate with, and telling the history and story through the mural in Cambridge.  

Wendy Jehlen

 A talented choreographer, her work is international around the world, and her performances also connect deeply with her neighborhood and community, such as her public performances in Cambridge and Somerville.

Richard Bertman

A registered Architect and Sculptor, and has worked in the medium of welded steel and carved wood sculpture for 45 years. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a founding Principal of CBT/Childs Bertman Tseckares Inc., a Boston architectural firm. 

A documentary film

Filmmakers

"Filmmaking is a chance to live many lifetimes."

Director

Olivia Huang

 is an award winning documentary filmmaker. Her documentary ‘City as Canvas: Above the Free Walls’ won the Best Human Interest Documentary at the World Premiere Film Awards in 2020, was also won the ‘Best New England Doc’ at the Shawna Shea Film Festival. The film, funded by a grant from the Cambridge Arts Council,  and was screened internationally as well over 10 other film festivals. 

Producer

Eric Taylor

is a producer, screenwriter, and music composer. He is the producer of the City as Canvas: Above the Free Walls. And a multi-instrumentalist who has released music as The Dystopian Rhythms & performed on global stages from Paris to Belgrade, Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco.

Editor

Min Yan

is a creative filmmaker with a background in film and digital media. She wrote and directed the interactive short film “Hunter” to explore creative genres to improve the audience experience. In addition, she has produced and edited various documentaries, narrative films, TV shows, and short videos. Ming holds a master’s degree in digital media from Northeastern University. 

Art is language and public art is public speech.

- Jonathan Jones, The Guardian
A documentary film of 

PUBLIC ART AND PLACEMAKING

It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.
― Henry David Thoreau
Film
Events
Date
Screening



Filmfestival



FilmProduction



FilmTrailer