Massachusetts: Mayor Wu Responds To The “I Hate Boston” Billboard
Last night Boston Mayor Michelle Wu posted a great response to the “I Hate Boston” billboard, which caused quite a stir last week.
In case you missed it, singer Reneé Rapp was behind the three-word billboard that was put up in the North End. Rapp’s new record, Snow Angel came out last Friday, August 18. The second track on that record is a song called “I Hate Boston.”
CBS Boston found a quote from Rapp discussing the song on WBZ-TV and has a photo of the billboard. “It’s more fun when people don’t know, and are very curious as to why I would do such a thing, and it is to incite fights and arguments. Cause you guys [in Boston] are very good at that, and you love that,” she said. CBS then noted Rapp has a well-admired reputation for satire.
Mayor Wu To The Rescue
On Mayor Wu’s Instagram, Wu posted a photo of new mocked-up billboard with a three word response. The billboard image contains the same black text style on a white background in all capital letters. Wu asks Rapp in the post, “give us another chance,” then tags Rapp.
The billboard message (see the post here), says “BOSTON LOVES YOU.”
If you are wondering why Wu’s response asks for a second chance, Rapp’s song “I Hate Boston,” contains the lyrics, “How Did You Make Me Hate Boston?” It is then followed by, “It’s not its fault that you don’t love me.” It would appear Rapp is telling a story of an experience with someone who associates a bad experience with Boston.
This will all be an interesting (and maybe awkward) on Saturday, October 28. Rapp will be in Boston performing at the Road Runner that evening. The show is already sold out. In the meantime, we’ll have these billboard wars to joke with.
Massachusetts: Local Street Art Is Getting National Exposure
A New Bedford, Massachusetts street art display is now getting national attention by being published in a book by Simon & Schuster.
On the Wall Posters: Street Art is described as a one-of-a-kind collection of posters, all from local artists. This book showcases 30 graffiti and street mural-inspired wall posters. Furthermore, it is all from the local mural art project, Superflat NB.
Founded in 2017, Superflat NB works directly with New Bedford’s residents and other artists around the world. Together, they are creating transformative public art. The collection of posters they will be publishing into a colorful book will bring these art pieces to life. In fact, you can now insert them right into your home.
What Superflat means
Japanese contemporary artist, “Takashi Murakami coined the term to express spatial compression and the blending of high and low art in his own work.” Superflat NB explains via their website. “Surperflat NB will provide access to the arts by directly engaging New Bedford’s youth, artists, and its residents in the ideation and creation of transformative public art through the traditions of mural-making,” they conclude. Their aim is to revitalize the city of New Bedford by inspiring youth with this creative outlet. In addition, their murals will bring national artists’ work into the community.
Book Introduction
“Today, street art is used worldwide for self-expression and to add character to unexpected places,” the book quotes. What can you expect to find when you crack open this poster book? On The Wall Posters: Street Art explains it as “wildstyle graffiti tags and colorful B-boy characters, to pop-art, stencil-style mural and more.”
Here, we will look at three pieces featured in this Massachusetts street art book that will now receive national distribution.
The book is available for pre-order now. It will be officially released on September 19, 2023. In the meantime, you preview the images and find more information on their Simon & Schuster page.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
