The newest episode of Idaho Public Television’s createid asks the question, "Can art heal a community?"
On a hot summer night in 2021, vandals sprayed swastikas on the walls of a downtown Boise tunnel leading to the nation’s only memorial to Anne Frank, the young diarist and victim of the Holocaust. The hateful act made national news.
Leaders in Boise had a choice: simply cover up the antisemitic graffiti or do something bolder. The City of Boise decided to partner with the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights to transform the dark tunnel into a piece of art. The resulting mural reclaimed the space and sent a message of inclusiveness to those who pass through the tunnel. The project is documented in a short createid video called “Love Wins, Hate Loses.”
“There is such wonderful synergy between art and human rights,” says Dan Prinzing, former director of education at the Idaho Human Rights Center. “Art can draw you in, art can create a conversation, art can express. But it’s also subject to interpretation.”
The city sent out a call to Northwest artists in the summer of 2022. “As soon as I read the art call I went back and read the diary of Anne Frank,” explains Portland, Oregon muralist and writer Addie Boswell. “I kept telling my husband, ‘Oh I just really want to get this project’ because it just spoke to me in so many ways.”
“The committee was really drawn to Addie’s proposal because it had that element of community engagement,” explains Stephanie Johnson, public art program manager for the City of Boise. “The committee’s hope for this mural is that it would take back this space and shine light into a previously blank, dark tunnel. We wanted to instill a sense of hope and belonging.”
In September of 2022, Boswell came to town with a mural design, tools, paints, brushes and a vision that the community would help her paint. “I love working with community centers and I feel like there are not a lot of places left where we can meet on equal footing,” says Boswell.
“Love Wins, Hate Loses” follows Boswell as she preps, paints and seals the mural. With the help of volunteers and passers-by, Boswell completed the work of art in just six days.
Boswell was impressed with the Boise community. “There’s something beautiful happening here that really doesn’t happen very often,” she says. “You have a shared vision.”
“I hope that the energy resonates and continues with that space, because I think that’s what this was all about,” says Johnson. “The goals and mission of our public art program exemplify the city’s desire to create a city for everyone. And I think this is a really cool example of how that’s done. And how on the spot you can say, ‘Everyone is welcome to come paint and leave their mark in a tunnel. '"
To watch “Love Wins, Hate Loses,” check out the createidwebsite. You can also watch a time-lapse of the 8th Street mural project and a video about another muralist on the show’s social media pages! Follow createid on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.