I propose an ode to the least welcome animals of the city. I’m not suggesting we go through the streets greeting rats and cockroaches, but I think we can find useful parallels to our local pests; they echo the Bostonian resourcefulness, stubbornness, and building of communities in harsh conditions. I want to depict our local critters with respect, rather than disgust. By adorning them in plants that are native to the area, I want not only to showcase our local flora and fauna, but also to demonstrate that nature can show us how to be part of our city.

Charlestown, 2023.

Commissioned by The City of Boston.

Acrylic, spray paint, sealant