|
|
ANONYMOUS BOSTON (WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL NEVER DIES -PHOTO GALLERY)
|
|
|
|
Artist Statement-
These images are a collaboration with the families with support from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts; everything from the portrait they are holding of their loved ones, to the locations where the images were actualized. We hope that Anonymous Boston helps to counter what far to often has become a normal response in our local and national media coverage. A sensationalized "news" story that appears to serve to dehumanize, desensitize and devalue our communities and its members. As a consequence, in many cases, these tabloids export ignorance, fear and bigotry to their readers. One way this is evident is in the anonymous comments that are written by the readers.
These images of survivors counter this seemingly underhanded media/reader response with a sense of humanity and dignity for both the victims and their families. The young people who appear in the picture frames in these images who were murdered, are more then statistics. More then what the newspaper articles may lead us to believe. They are us, you, me, they are our community. They/We had and have a right to EXIST. Simply because we may come from working class communities and communities of color it appears that our lives are not given the same value in this society. We will not stand for that.
One of the very same days, just weeks ago, while I was sitting with families for this project, Kenny "Blackk" Soto a close friend of my families was murdered in Jamaica Plain, he was 19 years old, yet his death never even reported by the newspapers. A reminder that the fight for peace, love and justice is needed now as much as ever.
In conversation with the families there were many truths, stories, tears. Much laughter, reminiscing, silence, strength and courage. Many, if not all the families, conveyed their disappointment in the act of many people to simply forget. Forgetting that our communities were shaken up by these atrocities and that too many of us carry on without that acknowledgment to the families and loved ones of the victims. This was lesson I will take with me.
Love is an action, peace is a verb, and it is with that in our hearts that we must stand up for our communities, our children, our families and our existence. What is beautiful, with our love, courage, and action, indeed, will never die.
When this exhibit concludes these images will be given directly to the families.
-Ernesto "Eroc" Arroyo-Montano
These images are a collaboration with the families with support from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts; everything from the portrait they are holding of their loved ones, to the locations where the images were actualized. We hope that Anonymous Boston helps to counter what far to often has become a normal response in our local and national media coverage. A sensationalized "news" story that appears to serve to dehumanize, desensitize and devalue our communities and its members. As a consequence, in many cases, these tabloids export ignorance, fear and bigotry to their readers. One way this is evident is in the anonymous comments that are written by the readers.
These images of survivors counter this seemingly underhanded media/reader response with a sense of humanity and dignity for both the victims and their families. The young people who appear in the picture frames in these images who were murdered, are more then statistics. More then what the newspaper articles may lead us to believe. They are us, you, me, they are our community. They/We had and have a right to EXIST. Simply because we may come from working class communities and communities of color it appears that our lives are not given the same value in this society. We will not stand for that.
One of the very same days, just weeks ago, while I was sitting with families for this project, Kenny "Blackk" Soto a close friend of my families was murdered in Jamaica Plain, he was 19 years old, yet his death never even reported by the newspapers. A reminder that the fight for peace, love and justice is needed now as much as ever.
In conversation with the families there were many truths, stories, tears. Much laughter, reminiscing, silence, strength and courage. Many, if not all the families, conveyed their disappointment in the act of many people to simply forget. Forgetting that our communities were shaken up by these atrocities and that too many of us carry on without that acknowledgment to the families and loved ones of the victims. This was lesson I will take with me.
Love is an action, peace is a verb, and it is with that in our hearts that we must stand up for our communities, our children, our families and our existence. What is beautiful, with our love, courage, and action, indeed, will never die.
When this exhibit concludes these images will be given directly to the families.
-Ernesto "Eroc" Arroyo-Montano
