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(Cambridge, MA) – DivcoWest, the national investment and development team behind the latest destination neighborhood and innovation hub, Cambridge Crossing (CX), unveiled a new public art installation, HERstory: A CX Collection of Cambridge Trailblazing Women. The portrait collection was created in partnership with Artists For Humanity (AFH) and is displayed at 100 North First Street within CX at The Shed. This collection serves to memorialize and honor the legacies of six women, celebrating their accomplishments and powerful contributions to history.
The impressive 7 by 8 feet portraits, which make up HERstory, depict local female Cambridge pioneers. Those honored include: Amelia Earhart who was the first women to fly across America; Gertrude Wright Morgan who was a leader in both the civil rights and women’s suffrage movements; Harriet Ann Jacobs who was a 19th century abolitionist and women’s rights advocate best known for her autobiography “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl”; Julia Child who was an iconic chef and one of the first women to host her own television cooking show; Katherine “Kittie” Knox who was the first African American to be accepted into the League of American Wheelmen; and Maria Louise Baldwin who was the first African American principal in New England. The six women all have their own stories, but together they have all overcome adversity and paved the way for women today. This public art installation honors these women’s achievements and courage while inspiring the future of this community.
In addition to the newest art installation at Cambridge Crossing, each of these women are named throughout the neighborhood, being honored on street names, open spaces, and a community cycle center – coming soon. Naming these prominent locations at CX is a symbolic gesture that provides recognition to these women who have shaped Cambridge and beyond, while supporting the neighborhoods mission to create an inspiring and equitable community.
“We are so proud to bring HERstory to Cambridge Crossing and are honored to celebrate these inspirational women who have sculpted our futures.” Said Tina Snyder, Senior Director and Head of Marketing at DivcoWest. “This installation not only reinforces the importance of creative expression, identity, and a sense of belonging, but also demonstrates how art can make a meaningful impact in our neighborhoods. We commend the teen artists from AFH for their amazing work and hope this collection inspires all who visit.”
The art installation ribbon cutting, and community celebration was held on June 14th by DivcoWest in collaboration with the East Cambridge Business Association (ECBA), and was joined by former Mayor of Cambridge and City Councilor E. Denise Simmons, the Artists For Humanity teen artists, and family members of those honored. The unveiling was followed by a community picnic featuring live music by local musicians The Duppy Conquerors.
“I am so proud to have joined the DivcoWest team in celebrating the launch of HERstory and the unveiling of the incredible portraits painted by teen artists at Artists For Humanity,” said Simmons. “It’s projects such as this that truly make a neighborhood feel like home.”
Each HERstory portrait was researched and created by teen artists of AFH, providing them the opportunity to draw inspiration from these powerful local women, and the impacts they have built into our community. “Artists For Humanity seeks to enrich urban communities by introducing young people’s creativity to the business community,” said AFH Founding Executive/Artistic Director Susan Rodgerson. “We appreciate the opportunity to celebrate these trailblazing women through our contribution to the CX community.”
Owned and developed by DivcoWest, a national operator, owner, and developer of real estate in innovation markets across the country, Cambridge Crossing is a new 43-acre neighborhood and innovation hub comprised of an abundance of activated open spaces, vibrant retailers, world-class workplaces, and soon a new residential building, Park 151. CX is situated at the intersection of Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville and is part of the Kendall Square and East Cambridge communities. As the new home to world-class life science companies such as Bristol Myers Squibb, Philips, Sanofi, and Cerevel Therapeutics, this new innovation hub is designed to promote collaboration and inspire breakthrough ideas in science that impacts lives.
CX is easily accessible by two MBTA stations, including the Lechmere Green Line stop on site and the Community College Orange Line stop just steps away, buses, cycling and walking paths, and ride and bike shares.
At completion, CX will be comprised of 4.5 million square feet of commercial, residential, and retail plus 11-acres of open and green space. 375k square feet of commercial space is currently under construction, and preleasing for Park 151, a 20-story 468-unit multifamily building, has commenced.
For more updates on everything happening at CX, follow @CXCambridge on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.