Anonymous Boston Project - "a multi-media exhibition incorporating painting, photography, text,
audio, collage and sculpture components by a variety of Boston-area
artists. Through varied mediums, artists explored their interpretations
of the effects of community violence, and media’s role throughout urban
crime cycles". www.anonymousbostonproject.com
A friend and fellow artist, Ernesto "Eroc" Arroyo invited me to the closing reception of the week-long show at the Fourth Wall Project. Ernesto's work, titled "What is Beautiful Never Dies",
consisted of a series of photographs depicting families who have been
deeply impacted and scarred by violence in Boston. Each photograph
showed a mother and other family members holding a portrait of their
dead child, giving viewers a glimpse into their process of mourning,
healing and remembrance. Along with the portraits were statements from
the families. One statement in particular which stuck out was written by
the parents of a 13-year old boy, named Steven. An aspiring artist (a
poet and singer), Steven wrote about the need for peace and the end to
violence in the streets of Boston. Ironically, his young life was
extinguish and devour by that same violence which plagues inner cities.
The air felt heavy with sorrow as the space filled with families, friends and community members who
gathered to celebrate the lives and memories of those whose young lives
were cut short. The live music calmed but also stirred up our hearts
which tighten around our throats. A reminder that PEACE & COURAGE,
help the living survive the dead. Projected on the walls, their faces
stared back at the living. Glimpses and memories of their time on earth
slid by, showing us what their lives were like.
I made my way around the gallery and explore the work, I was drawn to "Violence Impacts Every Step" - Three
pairs of shoes, one of a child (perhaps 2 years old) rested on
pedestals, a 4th pedestal awaited to be filled. This reminded me of the
shoes which too often hang on the power lines of crime-plagued
communities. A circle of newspaper clippings encircled the
pedestals: "Mother-to-be shot to death"; "Stabbing leaves teen dead";
"Biking teen critically injured by spray of bullets in Roxbury";
"Teenage opens fire on T bus, injuring 3"; "Stress of violence tied to
changes in children's brains"; "We still have no justice" ... The circle
appeared to spiral endlessly as more headlines recounted violence
and served as reminder to the vast amount of peace-building needed in our communities.
What is the root of all this violence? one may ask. The mural by Thomas B. Kwest shed some light into this question as it clearly depicted the systemic oppression sustained by disenfranchised communities. The disproportionate distribution of resources has left communities (predominantly of color) with limited opportunities. 2007 statistics for the state of Massachusetts show how government funds are prioritized: $78,580 spent per prisoner, while $12,857 per student. Over 6 times the amount of resources are allocated to keeping people in prison rather than using funds to provide adequate education for our youth and the creation of job. Mothers weep while our youth kill one another and the prison system benefits from the violence. Why does this continue to be acceptable? Why have we no demands that people be put first over profits?
As
the night drew to an end, I looked around and realized that there was
much more to be read, seen and felt. I wish I had given myself more
time to explore the large body of work which filled the gallery.
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