Archive 2007

April 2007 witnessed the launching of Violence Transformed’s first visual arts exhibit in Doric Hall of the Statehouse of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The exhibit was held in concert with the Annual Victim Rights Conference of the Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance (MOVA). Every year since 2007, the Statehouse Exhibit of Violence Transformed has served as the centerpiece of an annual series of visual and performing arts events designed to engage the public in acknowledgement and celebration of the transformative power of art. This first Statehouse exhibit was curated by community artists, academics and representatives of diverse community service and arts organizations who ultimately formed the core of a growing list organizational sponsors, contributing artists and visual and performing arts curators. To learn more about the organizational sponsors and key players in Violence Transformed, please click here to visit our About page. HIGHLIGHTS: This exhibit was highlighted by a memorable display of works by young and emerging artists and by mature artists from throughout New England as well as by works selected from both local and international collections. The Maquette of “Ibis Ascending” by sculptor Judith McKie was provided to the exhibit by The Garden of Peace in remembrance of homicide victims and their families. It and other compelling works were celebrated at a Performing Arts Reception that opened with Taiko Drumming by Mark Rooney followed by an incredibly wide range of performances.

2007

Violence Transformed: An Exhibition of Selected Works

April 23-27, 2007

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    • Location

      Doric Hall, Massachusetts State House, Boston, MA

      Description

      Opening Event: April 26, 3-9pm. Designed as part of National Crime Victims Rights Awareness Week, this exhibition represents a collaboration among artists, activists, academics, museum professionals and community service providers working in the greater Boston area. We share a belief in the transformative power of art and art-making, and in artists’ ability to confront, mediate and challenge the prevalence of violence in contemporary society. The exhibition celebrates the diversity of visual cultures engaging with issues of political, sexual, domestic, and community violence that exist in Boston. From shrines to peace gardens, murals to performance art, quilts to video installations, our community is remarkably creative in using art to highlight violence, express collective horror, commemorate victims, foster healing and imagine alternatives.

      This exhibition was curated by Violence Transformed’s Artistic Director Jonathan Shirland, Director Mary Harvey, Community Arts Coordinator Gail Bos and by representatives from four different organizations in Boston each of whom has selected works in a variety of media that articulate, for him or her, art’s transformative relationship with violence. They are:

      Barry Gaither, Director of The Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists, Inc.: selected works by: Kofi Kayiga, L’Merchie Frazier, Ben Tau, Khalid Kodi, and Gail Bos.

      Kathleen Bitetti, Executive Director of The Artists Foundation:selected works by: Gayle Caruso, Robin Masi, Robert Markey, Melissa Shook

      Stella Aguirre McGregor and the Teen Curators of the Cloud Foundation: selected works, including pieces submitted from H.U.M.A.N, by: Jasmine T, Maria, Ayanna, Anita, Stephanie, Shayla, Megan, Jasmine C, Lakeisha, Elizabeth, Jibrie, Kiara, Punan Zhou, Simon Kercz, Eben Haines, Stacey Leonard, Norris Duncan, Sydney Fletcher, Julia Ryan, Jona Mauricio, Jonny Rodriguez, Connie Choi & Amanda Connors

      Ann Tobey, Associate Professor and Director Juvenile Justice & Youth Advocacy and Brian Price, Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Wheelock College: selected pieces from the Wheelock exhibit, “Life Worth Remembering: Images From Four Street Memorials”.

      In addition, Jonathan Shirland, Ron Wilhelmson and Gail Bos curated a digital display of works by: Marthe Aimée, Gail Bos, Terry Boutelle, Tara Conant, Mark Cooper, Michele Demers, Paula Estey, Garden of Peace, E.C. Gower, Gwendolyn Holbrow, Carol Johnson, Catherine Pedemonti, Nicole Maynard, Mari Novotny-Jones, Catherine Tutter & Anna Wexler, Mardi Reed, Brenda Steinberg, Mary Walsh and Betsy Warrior.The exhibit also featured:

      Artists Books by: Nancy Marks – Postcards From Southern Lebanon; Steven Muller – Notes on Life; and Mari Novotny-Jones, Catherine Tutter & Anna Wexler – The Book of Iraqi Children.

      The Maquette of “Ibis Ascending” by Sculptor Judith McKie was provided to the exhibit by The Garden of Peace in remembrance of homicide victims and their families.

      Faces of Survivors: Voices Reclaimed a photographic display by Catherine Pedemonti.

      Curators

      Gail Bos, Carol Daynard, Mary Harvey and Margot Hurley (School of the Museum of Fine Arts), Leslie Foley (Massachusetts College of Art), and Jennifer Hughes and Marshall Hughes (Roxbury Community College Media Arts Center), in conjunction with Jonathan Shirland, Artistic Director of Violence Transformed.

Photos

Youth Transforming Violence: Ubuntu in the Works

April 22, 2017

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    • Location

      Doric Hall, Hall of Flags, Grand Stair Case and Nurses Hall of the Massachusetts Statehouse.

      Description

      This was Wheelock’s first Ubuntu/Violence Transformed exhibit.

      The 2007 Victim Rights Conference of the Massachusetts Office of Victims Assistance (MOVA) focused on the importance of “Voices United in Action,” working across agencies and disciplines to prevent crime, create positive change, and support crime victims in seeking healing and justice. Of particular note was MOVA’s pending legislation, S.802, a bill to strengthen the existing Victim Bill of Rights and return Massachusetts to its former status as a national leader in victim rights.

      The conference began with an Awards Ceremony at which Mary Harvey, founding Director of Violence Transformed (and retiring Director of the Victims of Violence Program at the Cambridge Health Alliance) was honored by MOVA with a Lifetime Achievement Award. It closed with a Panel Discussion on Art and Public Policy chaired by Kathleen Bitetti, Director of the Boston Artists Foundation and was followed by a memorable opening reception of Performing Arts. at this event.

      A reception featuring memorable performances and an array of interactive arts events was organized by Marshall Hughes, Jonathan Shirland, Gail Bos, Ann Tobey. These included:

      Odaiko Drumming by Mark Rooney Spoken Word by the Teen Curators of Cloud Place Spoken Word by artist, poet and educator L’Merchie Frazier Dance Performance by Elders Group of Prometheus Dance Performance Piece by Present Tense Aparna Sindhoor by Navrassa Dance African Drumming Guitar Performance by Mike Verge, Garden of Peace Solo Voice by Marshall Hughes Dream catchers by Gail Bos Tree of Hope artmaking (organized by Ann Tobey)