Washi Art by Mitsuye

Special Project

Home Is Where the Art Is

Children's Hospital Boston
Artwork for The House on Kent Street, a home for families

I had an exciting opportunity to submit a piece of artwork for this special project being undertaken by the Children's Hospital Boston. They accepted one of my pieces to be among the works that will become permanently on display for the families who stay at the House on Kent Street. Before being installed in the house, the pieces will be part of a traveling exhibit, on display according to the following schedule:

Boston Convention Exhibition Center - Northwest Lobby - until April 30th
Logan Airport - Terminal C - until May 24th
Brookline Public Library - until June 24th

The exhibit will be installed in its permanent home at 241 Kent Street at the end of June.

Artists submitting work for this project were asked to provide some background about how their piece tied to the concept of home — a theme they want to have throughout the House on Kent Street. Here is what I said about my piece:

"New Year's Activities"
(click to see
a larger image)

"I grew up in Japan and came to the states 35 years ago. I have been here longer than my original 'home.' Even though it is not Japan, I have many things that remind me of Japan. I work with Japanese paper all the time. The paper takes me back home when I'm working with it, so that part of home doesn't disappear. New Year was a very special time at home. The bunnies are all doing an activity related to New Year's Day, which reminds me of where I came from."
— Liz "Mitsuye" Horwitz

About the Project

In partnership with the Urban Arts Institute of Massachusetts College of Art and Design, a call-for-art went out to local artists in December 2008. Sixty-five artists were invited to create and original work of art on the 18”x 18” boards provided, expressing their interpretation of home. In total, 110 artworks were received. The pieces that were selected will be on display throughout the community; at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Logan Airport and the Brookline Public Library before being installed in the House on Kent Street, opening June 2009.

To learn more visit: www.childrenshospital.org/art

The House on Kent Street

The “Chateauesque style” house was built in 1889 by Andrew Houghton, the original owner of the A.J. Houghton Company and the Vienna Brewery in Roxbury and Jamaica Plain, MA. Houghton was considered a “visionary” business leader, owning one of the first breweries to use artificial refrigeration. To date, it is the only landmark brewery in Boston protected by the Boston Landmarks Commission. The property was purchased by Phi Gamma Pi, a Northeastern University Fraternity, in 1945.

The brothers of Phi Gamma Pi wanted to have a lasting, positive legacy, so they approached Children's Hospital Boston to probe its interest in the property. Coincidentally, the Hospital was in search of a property nearby to convert into patient family housing. At the significantly reduced price, Children's was able to purchase the property from the fraternity in 2006. The renovations began in February of 2008 and the house is scheduled to open in the spring of 2009. The completed house will feature 22 bedrooms, shared bathrooms, common areas, kitchen, dining area, and a playroom as well as live-in staff space.

To learn more visit: www.kentst.org

Liz Mitsuye Horwitz |