Boston's Downtown Crossing just got a dose of circus vibes with two giant clown heads unexpectedly floating in an alley, jolting locals and visitors alike into a double-take. The whimsical installation, part of the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District's (BID) artsy initiative to spice up the streets, has sparked curiosity and selfies in spades. "Well, it is definitely surprising and something that catches my eye," Cheri Hill told CBS Boston when describing her encounter with the hovering harlequins.
These oversized jesters, part of the "WINTERACTIVE" art experience, are the talk of the town. One with a merry grin and the other akin to a sad pantomime, they hang like eerie sentinels in the Theater District, with EXMURO and Canadian artist Max Streicher behind their creation from recycled materials. "It really makes you stop, like literally in my tracks," Kim Lucas said in a statement to CBS Boston. Some love it, and some, well, they might just avoid that particular alley.
There’s more than just clownery at play here. These installations—as many as 16—are designed by BID to lure Bostonians out into the frosty winter air and through the doors of local businesses during what's typically a slower season. Michael Nichols of the Downtown Boston BID emphasized that the program aims to provide another reason for folks to wander downtown, according to an interview with CBS Boston. The complete art spectacle will be ready by January 17 and is set to stay up through the Boston Marathon weekend in April.
The reaction has been mixed but definitely not muted. Some are amused or impressed by the "Endgame" installation, while others might shudder at the sight of the floaty faces. Regardless, the spectacle is doing its job—getting people talking and snapping photos. An intrigued BID president, Nichols highlighted, "You don’t have to like clowns to find it interesting and whimsical that there are two inflated clown heads 15 to 20 feet off the ground wedged in an alleyway in downtown Boston," as he told Boston.com. Curious onlookers can spot the overhead jesters next to Modern Theatre at 525 Washington Street. And for those not amused by the clown craze, the BID has other installations in the pipeline to be revealed in the coming days.
