Manuel “Manny” Ramirez and Cecilia Ulibarri, co-founders of Positive Street Art (Photo by Matthew J. Mowry)

For 13 years, Positive Street Art has been transforming plain building walls into works of art and literally had people dancing in the streets of Nashua and other NH communities … and beyond. Founded by artists Cecilia Ulibarri, executive director of the nonprofit for the past three years, and Manuel “Manny” Ramirez, the organization’s creative director, Positive Street Art is challenging people’s perceptions about graffiti and transforming cityscapes.

Positive Street Art provides dance, hip hop and art workshops at area nonprofits and in the community. It produces the Nashua’s Downtown Arts Fest, Views From a Cell community photography contest, the Live Art Battle series, and has a revolving art gallery. Positive Street Art has also undertaken a multi-year project to exhibit modern art from indigenous artists called Echoes and Shifts.

Positive Street Art worked with teens to develop an inclusive fashion show and works with adults with developmental disabilities to create art that was showcased at a recent exhibit. “We empowered them to be artists” and not just be looked at by what “society tries to label you,” Ulibarri says.

Despite all these ventures, it is primarily known for helping artists find places to produce murals in the community. Its vibrant murals adorn the walls of old buildings and bridge underpasses with images that celebrate diversity, heroes, the movies, nature, and the imagination. The  work is not only energizing the streets of Nashua as they have been asked to take on projects in other communities from nearby Manchester to Honduras. Positive Street Art has even offered mural internships to mentor the next generation of street artists.

“We have a place where this type of art is recognized in state,” says Ulibarri, who in 2010 was a single mom raising two kids and asking herself, ‘what am I doing with my life?’ Her answer? “I was going to create my own art and take my art journey seriously,” she says.

She started experimenting with her own art and finding ways to connect with other artists in the community, including participating in fundraising for art shows, where she met Ramirez, a street artist who was intrigued by her work. They became friends and realized they shared a passion for elevating street art in Nashua. “We wanted to have a space to share art,” Ulibarri says.

Attending a “pitch party” held by Visualize Nashua, they pitched putting up temporary art walls to allow community members to express themselves. People loved the idea but pushed them to take the idea further and establish a nonprofit that would educate the public about street art and inspire people to express themselves.

Positive Street Art launched in 2012, working with area nonprofits on mural projects and holding art shows to showcase local artists. In its second year it expanded beyond the visual arts to celebrate dance and hip hop culture.

“We welcome people and empower them to do what they love,” Ulibarri says, and to do so in ways that elevate the city through public art. Positive Street Art even had a wall designated by the city where people could create street art without being considered vandals, and it continues to thrive with new imagery. “There’s some really cool stuff there. It’s been a cherished project,” Ulibarri says.

 

The nonprofit aims to make art accessible to all. “We’re a BIPOC-led organization and there’s not a lot of us represented in these sectors,” Ramirez says. “We try to make things as accessible as possible. People ask who is our demographic—everyone.”

And it has succeeded, attracting a wide swath of the community to its events while funding its efforts through grants. “The arts are so much more than pretty things. They can help empower people, educate them and bring them together,” Ramirez says, adding Positive Street Art has been helping people to see “graffiti” less as a nuisance and more as the evolution of the oldest form of art in the world.

“It’s all about relationship building. We’re trying to change negative connotations and bring positivity. We bring people together to express themselves and explore art,” Ulibarri says. “We are trying to build the local artist economy and educate people about the value of art.” For more information, visit
positivestreetart.org.

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