DivcoWest Unveils Large-Scale Artwork by Renowned Artist at Cambridge Crossing

Artist IMAGINE celebrates the story of immigration and her journey in her artwork. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – June 20, 2024 – DivcoWest, a DivCore Capital Company and the national investment and development team behind the destination neighborhood and innovation hub, Cambridge Crossing (CX), has announced that Green Tara 2, a large-scale painting by Boston-based artist Sneha Shrestha that greets visitors at 441 Morgan Avenue, the newest life science building at Cambridge Crossing, is now open for public viewing. Shrestha, known in the art world as IMAGINE, is a Nepali artist whose practice lies at the intersection of art and innovative social impact. The commissioned artwork at 441 Morgan draws upon Sneha’s Celebration Series, which centers around the visa and immigration process in the U.S., embedding the artist’s cultural lineages and ongoing sense of community orientation. She incorporates her native language and meshes the aesthetics of Sanskrit scriptures with influences from Boston’s graffiti scene. In this painting, she used layers and poetically resonant letters to spell out an identification name that heads one of the many immigration forms that were filled out through Sneha’s own decade-long immigration journey. Composed of a randomized mix of letters and numbers, such as 1040-A or I-120A, these codes are often cryptic, intimidating, and impersonal. In a mode of re-personalization, the colors in this painting are inspired by an outfit worn by her mother during a celebration that the artist missed in her hometown of Kathmandu. The lettering and colors together form a jubilant celebration that marks the end of a grueling immigration process, complete with the systemic barriers and emotional sacrifices of missing valuable time with loved ones back home. “My largest painting to date – Green Tara 2 – celebrates all those people undergoing an immigration journey as I did,” said Sneha Shrestha a.k.a. IMAGINE. “Focusing on the joy of concluding such a journey, Green Tara 2 offers a message of hope to the Cambridge Crossing neighborhood. Thank you to CX for making this artwork possible, and for sharing with the community.” Shrestha recently made history as the first contemporary Nepali artist to join the prestigious Permanent Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston, with her captivating piece, "Home416." Beyond her MFA showcase, Shrestha's art has graced venues in Boston, Cambridge, and across the US. Notable exhibitions include her solo display "Ritual and Devotion" at Cantor Arts Gallery, College of the Holy Cross (February 1-April 5, 2024), and participation in the group exhibition "Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now" at The Rubin Museum (March 15-October 6, 2024). Next on the horizon is her eagerly anticipated showcase at Abigail Ogilvy Gallery, Los Angeles (November 2-December 21, 2024). “We are thrilled to introduce Green Tara 2 at 441 Morgan and to have worked with Sneha whose story and talent is truly amazing and aligned with our mission.” said Mark Roopenian, Managing Director at DivcoWest. “East Cambridge is a wonderful melting pot, and it is important to us that CX reflects the unique fabric that makes it so vibrant, while uplifting the voices and experiences within the community. This meaningful painting not only represents Sneha’s journey but also represents inclusivity and opportunity.” Public art continues to play a transformative role at CX, creating opportunities for conversation and reflection in common areas throughout the neighborhood. Green Tara 2 joins other art installations including HerStory, a series of portraits created by Artists for Humanity that celebrates the life and legacy of six trailblazing Cambridge women who have made a significant impact in the community and beyond, to various outdoor installations, such as an interactive Musical Fence, a permanent sound sculpture by The Pickup Music Project. Now leasing, 441 Morgan Avenue is the fifth lab-ready building at Cambridge Crossing and is situated at a gateway to the neighborhood with views of the Charles River and beyond. With wellness, connectivity, and tenant experience at the forefront, 441 Morgan offers five outdoor terraces, direct access to a five-acre park, integrated building technologies including smart technology View Glass, three underground levels of parking and a bike room. The art installation project was facilitated by art_works, an art advisory dedicated to creating opportunities for local artists and communities often overlooked within the traditional art landscape. This collaboration marks another milestone in their partnership with DivcoWest, following the successful unveiling of Collective Ascension, a community art installation on the Brian P. Murphy Memorial Staircase in June 2023.