Shut It Down! New Photography Exhibit Captures Energy of Black Lives Matter Movement in Boston

Opening Reception: April 22, 6:00 - 9:00 pm

On View: April 22 - May 31

Conversations: Wednesdays, April 27 - May 25, 6:15 - 7:30 pm

Boston, MA – United South End Settlements (USES), Mission Gallery and Leonardo March are collaborating to bring Shut It Down!, a community photography exhibition and conversation series to USES’ Harriet Tubman Gallery at 566 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA from April 22 – May 31.

Over the last few years the Black Lives Matter activist movement has attained an enormous impact across the nation. Following the murders of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice as well as the acquittal of the perpetrators, cities across the United States experienced a resurgence of protests and calls to demolish institutionalized racism.

Embedded in this context, Boston experienced a distinct heightening of actions between the fall of 2014 and winter of 2015 with thousands participating in rallies, marches and die-ins. The chants “I can’t breathe!”, “Hands up don’t shoot!”, and “Shut it down!” were heard across various neighborhoods almost on a daily basis during December 2014. It was a time when new leaders and organizations emerged and the city experienced new energy in activism.

Shut it Down! is a collection of various photographers documenting this energy and its manifestations throughout the city. Throughout the duration of the exhibition community partners will facilitate weekly conversations on Wednesday evenings at 6:15pm with respect to the content of the exhibition and the work each group engages in. The series will run Wednesday, April 27th through Wednesday, May 25th and be held in the Harriet Tubman House atrium space.

An opening reception will be held on the evening of Friday, April 22 6:00 - 9:00 pm in the Harriet Tubman Gallery and will feature a chance to speak with the artists and organizers.

For more information, check for updates on the Facebook event page here or sign up below.

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About the Harriet Tubman Gallery
The Harriet Tubman Gallery showcases a range of diverse, cultural and community-driven works that foster a strong sense of neighborhood appreciation where all individuals are welcome. Located at 566 Columbus Avenue in Boston’s South End, the Harriet Tubman Gallery is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8 am – 8 pm. The gallery is wheelchair accessible, with limited meter parking is available in the area, and only a 5 minute walk from the Massachusetts Avenue Orange Line stop or the #1 and #43 buses.

For more information please contact Evan Gray at egray@uses.org.

About Mission Gallery
Mission Gallery is a traveling gallery that focuses on creating community based art shows and events. The inspiration for Mission Gallery came from a desire to create a recognizable platform for emerging and established artists in their community. Being a mobile art gallery we take pride in being able to truly engage and inhabit any landscape or establishment. The concept of re-envisioning and reworking an environment into something new is an art of its own; this transformation is powerful. There are many voices waiting to be heard within the arts, and many spaces that could be converted into holding vessels for these voices even if just for one night, and that's our goal.

For more information, contact info.missiongallery@gmail.com or visit missiongallery.org.

About Leonardo March
Leonardo March is a freelance photojournalist based in Boston, MA experienced in covering community events, political events and cultural festivals. Recently he worked at Boston Creates as one of the three artist in charge of documenting community conversations where feedback was gathered by the city related to art and culture in neighborhoods.

For more information, contact Leonardo March at info@mneyid.com or visit mneyid.com.