From color changing lights to healing vibrations… to augmented reality, myth-making and the joy of possibility with “creepy crawlers,” artists of the sixth Cohort of N+T’s unique Public Art Accelerator program are using new media to make their mark in Boston this coming summer.
Picture this: N+T wisdom as your North Star, Cohort support as your trusty sidekick, and a rollercoaster of 1, 2, 3... 4 pitch deck iterations navigating the thrilling maze of public art. And voila! Cohort 6 emerged victorious last week, dazzling us with their ideas for not one, not two, but four public art projects set to open up and highlight our shared spaces.
With an all-star jury serving as their cheering squad, the five-month rollercoaster ride paid off big time for Michael Berthaud, Sarah Brophy, Jeremy “Sobek” Harrison, and Nelly Kate, securing a substantial total funding of $108,000 for these Boston artists!
Cohort Six’s artworks will work with a range of media, from interactive and adaptable viewfinders exploring climate change through myth-making, light-bulb moments on the complexities of overlapping identities, healing spaces through vibrations and sound, and a mural and nature-based installation created in collaboration with local youth.
From left to right: Marguerite Wynter, Michael Berthaud, Nelly Kate, Sarah Brophy, Jeremy “Sobek” Harrison, and Jasper Sanchez
For now, here’s what you need to know:
Michael Berthaud, Boston-born video game designer, is crafting an interactive light sculpture that explores the journey of identity and the intersections of creativity, career, and culture. Using LED lightbulbs, the experience connects to Michael’s upbringing in Mission Hill, delving into identity, self and code-switching;
Sarah Brophy, new media artist, is set to collaborate with local youth, crafting a collective myth surrounding a climate change "monster." Through the fusion of Augmented Reality and a tangible storybook, visitors will embark on a mythical journey along a Boston boardwalk. Sarah will reimagine a binocular optical viewfinder, weaving light and new media to transform myth into reality, promising an unprecedented experience that ventures beyond the realms of the familiar;
Jeremy "Sobek" Harrison, Boston-based graffiti artist, is gearing up to transform a local school with his passion for "creepy crawlers" and nod to his Indigenous roots through mural art. Collaborating with Boston students on an interactive - and hopefully buggy - installation piece, get ready for an immersive exploration of ecosystems as he brings his unique artistic vision to a school near you;
And Nelly Kate, visionary studio artist, is using a bench and a fountain as her instruments - with healing vibrations that beckon a captivating multisensory journey, she’s translating sound through the language of haptics and light.
Michael Berthaud
Jeremy “Sobek” Harrison
Nelly Kate
Sarah Brophy
Jasper Sanchez and Marguerite Wynter, N+T team members and the wonderful facilitators of the N+T Public Art Accelerator program, were excited to see months of hard work pay off last Wednesday.
“I know I can speak for all of us at Now + There when I say the dialogue we’ve had the last six months with the artists presenting today has been radically generative. It has been a privilege to imagine with each of these talented artists, and to see the cohort learn from one another and also teach us about their own practices and processes along the way. We are incredibly grateful to the five-person jury who thoughtfully selected Cohort Six way back in August 2023, and who are back and eager to hear their project proposals.” - Jasper Sanchez, N+T Assitant Curator and Facilitator of the Public Art Accelerator Program
Three of our jury members - from L to R: Sarah Rodrigo, Rhea Vedro, and Ekua Holmes (We’re missing Silvia López Chavez, and Mswati Hanks, who joined us virtually!)
And cheers to our exceptional jury! Back in August 2023, they sifted through the most competitive pool of local artist applicants we've ever had, handpicking the four who have now become the heart of Cohort 6. Major thanks to Sarah Rodrigo, Rhea Vedro, Silvia López Chavez, Ekua Holmes, and Mswati Hanks for their pivotal role in making these pitches a success. We're incredibly grateful for their ongoing support!
The Now + There Public Art Accelerator creates an on-ramp for early-to mid-career Boston-area artists to successfully participate in the dynamic realm of public art. Accelerator artists build the skills and sensibilities necessary to conceptualize compelling, neighborhood-centric temporary public artworks and receive substantial funding to realize their projects. Together we develop a pathway for future success and a pipeline of artists for future projects in Boston.
Launched in 2018, the Public Art Accelerator chooses a new cohort of local artists each year and provides a six-month training curriculum to help augment their practice with the curatorial, technical, and financial support they need to develop new temporary artworks in Boston. In the second phase of the program, artists present before a jury for the opportunity to receive $27,000 in funding and continued one-on-one Now + There staff support to create a neighborhood-focused project.
Now + There's Public Art Accelerator Program is possible thanks to the generosity and leadership of Joyce Linde, who supported the 3-year pilot program. She is joined by James and Audrey Foster, the National Endowment for the Arts, and other donors who believe the work of local artists, especially artists of color and those underrepresented in traditional art systems, belong in public space.