As part of our commitment to fostering a more vibrant city through bold public art, we strive to build culturally responsive relationships through our partnerships and participatory programs. This year at Lot Lab is no different; we are connecting with the community of Charlestown and beyond through dynamic programming of performance, spoken word, theater, workshops, and much more.
Fresh off the incredible feat of bringing Simone Leigh’s spectacular artworks from Boston to Venice and then to Boston, Kate Herlihy brings to Now + There balanced respect for artists’ vision with planning rigor. blu prinston, N+T Communications Assistant, chatted with Kate about how early access to arts education, mentorship, and teamwork make her ready to “pay it forward” as N+T’s Managing Director.
As a veteran of two Chicago Architectural Biennales, Marguerite Wynter brings FOMO-inducing stories of events we all missed out on—did we hear joy riding through the South Side?—and a deep commitment to engaging community in the co-creation of public art. Learn more about Marguerite and drop her a line to welcome her to a new event, space, or idea!
Now that we’re getting ready to launch Lot Lab in the Charlestown Navy Yard on June 7, I’ve been reflecting a lot on my Now + There journey, which began with me becoming a Public Art Ambassador two summers ago. If you’re considering becoming a Public Art Ambassador for Lot Lab, I hope my reflections about my time as a PAA can help to guide you!
Talking to artists and community members--listening and learning from them--brings life to all our projects. This year of Mending looks at stories of innovation, global connection, individual perseverance, and tenacity, weaving together the impossible and offering opportunities to amplify what is most delicate (collective joy), transient (dreams), or everlasting (love) in our interconnected world.
On May 15, 2020, we hosted our seventh N+T Asks conversation. This week Executive Director Kate Gilbert asked you and our guests, artist and creator of Public Trust Paul Ramirez Jonas and President of the Lewis Family Foundation, Juma Crawford, "When will we stop being afraid?" Click to watch or listen to the full conversation.
On May 8, 2020, we hosted our sixth N+T Asks conversation. This week Executive Director Kate Gilbert asked you, Nia Evans, Director of Boston Ujima Project, and Steve Lambert, artist and Director + Co-founder of The Center for Artistic Activism, "Is arts activism enough?" Click to watch or listen to the full conversation.
On May 1, 2020, we hosted our fifth N+T Asks conversation. This week Assistant Curator Leah Triplett Harrington asked you and our guests, artists Destiny Polk and Rob “Problak” Gibbs and Executive Director of Amplify Latinx Rosario Ubiera-Minaya, "Can today’s crisis spark tomorrow's cultural equity?" Click to watch or listen to the full conversation.
We were glad to have special guests artist Stephen Hamilton (2018 Public Art Accelerator and creator of The Founders Project) and Tiffany Cogell, a driven advocate and community organizer (and one of the powerful women featured in Elisa Hamilton’s 2017 project Slideshow) join us for our second installment of N+T Asks and help us answer: “What does care mean right now?”
On April 3, 2020, we launched our new online conversation series "N+T Asks." We were excited to welcome artist Silvia Lopez Chavez, Program Director of Public Art at New England Foundation for the Arts, Kim Szeto, and more than 75 participants from across the cultural sector as we asked: “What does public mean right now?”
We’re thrilled to introduce our powerhouse keynote speaker for the Now + There Forum: Public Art Accelerator, Dr. Kymberly Pinder! A public art curator with decades of experience with community-oriented and ephemeral public art projects, Dr. Pinder was named the Provost and Senior Vice President of MassArt in 2019.
