Urban planners around America, take note: Boston has raised the bar on the city park deal. It’s called the Lawn on D.
Photo by Lisa Richov
Beantown’s first outdoor interactive space, the Lawn on D is an open space that is the locale of a series of wild, sometimes wacky, events through Oct. 12. Located in the epicenter of the city’s Innovation District and South Boston, the space is meant, according to its website, “to encourage public engagement, foster creativity and test opportunities for integrating the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center into the urban fabric.”
Events range from free to ticketed programs. You can also rent space for private fun. Depending on what works best, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority will use this summer’s programming to help plan a permanent outdoor space as part of the convention center expansion.
Photo by Lisa Richov
Perhaps most notable on the Lawn are the changing large public art installations, all of them part of D Street ArtLAB WonderLAND. Last week’s exhibit by Australian artist Amanda Parer, which featured five illuminated giant inflatable rabbits, is just one of the varied exhibits planned for the summer.
Also among the planned events is Lunch Break on D, a weekly Friday musical showcase of Berklee College of Music musicians and their bands. Take caught up with Matt Politoski, a Berklee grad and the creator behind Animal Flag, which performs July 17.
Animal Flag | Photo by Olivia Laratta
Politoski, who’s been playing guitar and writing music since he was 15, says the band’s current iteration is rock based, with elements of shoegaze. “It’s very poppy,” he says, “very lyrically driven.” Shoegaze, for the uninitiated, started in the ‘80s in England with groups like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. “It’s characterized by a wall of sound with a lot of reverb and distortion,” Politoski says. “It’s impressionistic music. Our newer sound draws from that palette.” Politoski’s top pick to get a feel for the band’s vibe? “Sensation.”
There are worse ways to spend a Friday lunchtime.
