John Devaney
Danehy Park

Title: "Wheeler Water Garden Mural"
Date: 1998
Materials: Oil paint on bituminous surface
Dimensions: 60' diameter
Location: Sherman Street Entrance

In the center of an outdoor amphitheater, a painted frog pond sets the stage for a water-play area, where children can cool off during hot summer days. The challenge that faced Cambridge artist John Devaney in this unusual mural project was to transform a blacktop surface into a realistic looking waterscape with water lilies, fish, frogs, and salamanders.

Devaney studied painting at The New York Studio School of Painting and Sculpture, at Marlboro College in Vermont, and at the Boston University School of Fine Arts. He is well known for his paintings of swimmers. "Water is a fascinating and challenging environment to paint," he explains, "because of its miraculous offering of weightlessness and suspension."

Funded through a generous donation from Ms. Cornelia Wheeler.

Holly Alderman
Danehy Park

Title: "Hockney by Holly"
Date: 2001
Materials: Acrylic paint
Dimensions: 40' x 30'
Location: Sherman Street Entrance

Alderman's mid-summer mural magic was done in bright colors that mimic the narrative style of British painter David Hockney. Alderman describes her painting as a "superscenic placemaker" that celebrates the park and reminds the viewer of local history. Depicted in the mural are lush wildflowers, a reflection pool, garden folly, picnic table with umbrella, and many other playful references to the pleasurable uses of Danehy Park.

Alderman studied art and architecture at Harvard University and graduated magna cum laude in the Department of Visual and Environmental Studies. She has taught at Buckingham Browne and Nichols School and Williston-Northampton School and painted several murals in the Greater Boston area.

Commissioned by the City of Cambridge through the Human Services Program.