For the past decade, Greg Cook, the editor of Wonderland, has been painting large banners—used in parades and festivals and as temporary murals in Malden, Somerville, Providence, Beverly, Gloucester and Arlington. His style is cartoony and graphic. Sometimes the banners are simply charming and cute—sad trees, suns, tree houses. Sometimes the Malden, Massachusetts, artist uses cuteness and humor to speak in catchy ways about serious subjects—bees decimated by pesticides, climate change (Santas and reindeer against global warming), border walls, equality. His art addresses social justice, caring for the environment, how we can improve our world.
‘Bee’ Banners and Installations
Greg Cook’s “Bees and Strawberries” banner, July 2015. (Greg Cook)Greg Cook’s “Save Our Bees” installation at Malden Access Television, Sep. 24, 2015. (Greg Cook)“Strawberries” painting by Greg Cook on back of van in annual Gloucester Horribles Parade, July 3, 2015.Eddy Toussaint Tontongi, a Haitian immigrant, read his poem responding to Donald Trump’s insults of his homeland at the Starting Over Festival, organized by Greg Cook and the Somerville Arts Council, April 22, 2018. (Greg Cook)“Tomatoes” by Greg Cook, house paint on bed sheet, July 2, 2015.Jef Taylor, of Boston’s Urban Nature Walks group, leads a tour. (Greg Cook)
‘Birds Respect No Borders’ Temporary Mural
Greg Cook’s “Migrating Birds” banner, Aug. 8, 2017. (Greg Cook)Greg Cook’s “Birds Respect No Borders” banners at AS220 Foo Fest, Providence, Aug. 12, 2017. (Greg Cook)Greg Cook’s “Birds Respect No Borders” banners at AS220 Foo Fest, Providence, Aug. 12, 2017. (Greg Cook)Greg Cook’s “Birds Respect No Borders” banners at AS220 Foo Fest, Providence, Aug. 12, 2017. (Greg Cook)
Greg Cook’s “Sun” banner at Harold Parker State Forest, July 22, 2017. (Greg Cook)Greg Cook’s “Sun” banners in Middlesex Fells, July 16, 2017. (Greg Cook)Greg Cook’s “Sun” banner in Middlesex Fells, July 16, 2017. (Greg Cook)
