For a city better known for sports rivalries, accents, and the mafia, Boston is making great strides in public art these days! Walking through town you can see murals, light installations, public pianos, sculptures, concrete barriers and electric boxes that have been lovingly painted, wacky public seating (Street Seats), and more. Many of the pieces have been located on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a stretch of green parks that loop around the city, but lately it seems like art is popping up around every corner.

In the past few years there’s been a movement in Boston to illuminate historic monuments, buildings and landmarks at night, and one of the newest additions is the old Northern Avenue Bridge, the pedestrian bridge connecting the Seaport District to the main part of the city. The artist, John Powell, worked with the city’s Public Works department, the non-profit LightBoston, and Phillips Color Kinetics to create a stunning LED light show. It’s an interesting case study on public and private sector working together to make change in the neighborhood.

I’ve been walking over this bridge almost every night for the past year, and this colorful installation (which was turned on last month) completely changes the entire experience. I can’t quite explain it, but it feels positively joyful – the lights make the bridge beautiful, and not only do you want to be there, but it feels safer, too. This is definitely a welcome addition to my evening commute!