Article September 27, 2004 Issue

WALL * ART

By Warren Bolon

Maybe it was the larger-than-life Holstein cow sculpture protruding from the building's facade that made this particular ice cream shop the perfect place to talk with artist and mural maker Alex Cook.

Both artist and shop radiate a love of whimsy, of wholesomeness, childlikeness, and pure fun. And this artist and shop owner apparently share a conviction that art is not only for the public, it's also needed in public spaces to sweeeten and elevate a community's spiritual life. But it's that latter need that separates an artist's aims from even socially conscious ice cream vending. To Alex Cook, the elevating power of art—its capacity to touch and heal the heart—is the core reason for putting paint on brick walls. What happens to those who see the murals is more than a happy side-effect or a means of ego gratification for the artist.

Cook lives and paints in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston. JP, as locals call the neighborhood, revolves around Centre Street and its several blocks of quirky shops and foodie haven cafes—more one-of-a-kind than franchise businesses. It's also a diverse section of the city where Hispanic Pentecostal churches coexist with condo conversions.

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