Chain Link Fence Industry Honors Beth Galston’s Serpentine Fence with Prestigious Design Award
In 2011, a public art installation in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, reshaped what the world thought chain link fencing could be. Designed by artist Beth Galston in collaboration with landscape architect Ray Dunetz, the Serpentine Fence Project transformed a standard urban park barrier into an elegant and iconic sculptural form. The project’s innovative use of chain link mesh earned it the Les Grube Memorial Design Award, presented by the Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute (CLFMI)—one of the fence industry’s highest honors for design excellence.
Installed as part of the revitalization of the South Street Mall and Courts, Galston’s fence defied expectations of the material. Spanning 126 feet in length and standing 8 feet tall, the structure is composed of purple-coated chain link mesh stretched over custom-curved steel rails and angled posts. The result is a billowing, rhythmic form that mimics a flowing ribbon—visually light and fluid, yet sturdy and functional. It serves both as a tennis court barrier and as a landmark sculpture within the park, offering passersby a dynamic experience that shifts with light, shadow, and perspective.
The CLFMI Les Grube Memorial Design Award, named after longtime industry leader Les Grube, recognizes the most creative and effective use of chain link fencing in design and construction. It highlights projects that elevate the material beyond utility, demonstrating its potential for beauty, innovation, and integration with architecture or public space. Galston’s Serpentine Fence is a quintessential example—pushing the boundaries of a humble material through artistic vision, precise engineering, and deep community engagement.
The fence has not only won national recognition, but also the hearts of the local community. It reflects Jamaica Plain’s creative spirit and stands as a testament to what can be achieved when artists and designers are brought to the table from the very beginning. The Serpentine Fence remains a symbol of transformation: from barrier to bridge, from ordinary to extraordinary.
