“Block Calico” by Greg Was Here
“Block Calico” focuses on the block printed and woven textile patterns of Fall River Massachusetts. Produced from the mid 1800’s until roughly 1940, block printed textiles were an aside to the single most dominant export of the city, print cloth. The patterns found in this mural were produced at and/or by The Algonquin Printing Company, Durfee Mills, Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates and lastly American Printing Company which could be found in its former home at the end of Anawan Street just down the block. These vibrant and rich patterns speak to the character and history of the city while still being abstract enough as to not be overtly obvious. I think it’s easier to look forward when you are confident or settled in your past. It’s still possible to produce beauty and export a unique view that no one else has dependent on your story. In much the same way that vibrant fabrics built the city so too shall the vibrant fabric of the city rebuild it.
Greg Was Here is a Southeastern New England multidisciplinary artist who has been painting professionally for the past decade. A child of the mid 80’s and early 90’s subculture boom he transformed a fascination with graffiti, skateboards, BMX, punk rock and hip hop into a language of his own. Largely self trained he works primarily in spray paint when painting large scale murals. Thematically his murals often deal very closely with local social histories as he seeks to form a close relationship between subject and viewer. His intention is to spark conversation and reflection with the past in order to furth question concepts involving regionality and identity.
