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Somerville 'Pop-Up Art' Prompts Mixed Reactions From Residents

SOMERVILLE (CBS) – It's the mystery of guerilla art in Somerville.

About a week ago an anonymous artist put up about 20 figurines. But not everyone was happy.

Even a pardon by the Mayor wasn't enough, and now people are wondering, what's next?

You might call it pop-up art, installed when no one was looking. They're whimsical wooden cut-outs on a traffic island in Union Square.

Woody Woodpecker is there, with plenty of kids fishing, and three little cats, all in a row.

"It's springtime and these are reflective of spring. They're joyful, colorful," says Bob Priest who lives in the area.

Somerville Art
Wooden pieces of art have popped up in Somerville. (WBZ-TV)

"I love the artwork. It just gave us a little bit of livelihood to the place. No one should be complaining about it," says Fernanda Macedo, who owns Fernanda's Beauty Salon just across the street.

But someone is complaining. Last week someone called City Hall to do just that. The Department of Public Works came out and put up signs asking the artist to take it all down.

But then Somerville's Mayor thought better of it and in a tongue and cheek announcement, gave the figurines a break.

"They pose no risk or public nuisance. We hereby pardon their stay and their occupancy as long as they want," Mayor Joe Curtatone declared.

Somerville Art
Decorative items have been placed in Somerville. (WBZ-TV)

But even the mayoral pardon didn't get it done. Someone took the figures down, but then someone put them back up. And that's where the standoff remains.

"You can't please all the people all the time," says Priest.

Now residents and business owners in the Union Square area are waiting for the next move. The artist remains anonymous and so does the person who complained.

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