2022
Pauca Paucis Performance for the camera
This video can only be viewed in exhibitions or special showings
Pauca Paucis meaning a few for the few in Latin is a social experiment inspired by the conflict between scarcity and excess in our global society. Twenty participants were fed for four consecutive hours using the Pauca Paucis collective stainless steel utensils sculptures. This project is a collaboration with videographer Aaron John Bourque and lovingly co-directed with Matthew Barrieau.
All stills and filming by Aaron John Bourque at Factory on Willow, NH. Patrick Farley - thank you for making ALL the food! Thank you to the performers: Matt Barrieu, Galia Traub, Kosta Zavras, Catherine Demore, Nicole Westrom, India Dumont, Kristy Jordan, Dania Hadass, March, Omar Norris, Joe Wight, Ben Sano, Abby Howell, Oscar Corripio, Ariel Clark, Kevin Chiang, Isaac Hale. Thank you Liz Hitchcock for your support in making this happen.
Speaking Truth to Power
Boston City Hall, Mayor’s Gallery
This series is a ramification of Csekö’s written paintings. They feature words from women, BIPOC, Latinx, and LGBTQIA thinkers who question structures of oppression and domination, ranging from colonialism, patriarchy, and supremacist ideologies, to advanced capitalism. Each author takes us on a journey through realms of intimacy as well as macro social-political scenarios, both denouncing and presenting alternatives, sometimes sweetly others brutally. Each of these paintings and murals is an effort to preserve the memory and ideas of referential writers.
September 1st to October 21st
furthur, Boston City Hall Atrium
The title of this piece is an answer to the question: "what is the opposite of APOCALYPTIC?" Inspired by Tom Wolfe's "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test". A chronicle of the civil disobedience-fueled adventures of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters across North America. The bus often driven by Neal Cassady and used as a mobile home by the Merry Pranksters was affectionately named "Furthur". This word embodies a humorous and upbeat countermeasure to apocalyptic narratives.
Each flag adds a symbol of inclusion, diversity, and peaceful coexistence to the conversation, the Progressive Pride Flag, The North American Flag, the Democratic Socialist Flag, The Black Lives Matter Flag, The Anti Fascist Action Flag, the American Indigenous Movement Flag, the “No Step on Snek” Flag, and the Trans Pride flag.
September 1st to October 15th
With congresswoman Ayana Presley and co-creator and collaborator Eddie Maisonet
A Message to the Future
These panels are a part of a Stonybrook Neighborhood Association negotiated community benefit package for a Jamaica Plain development project.
This project is a collaboration with Eddie Maisonet, born and raised in Jamaica Plain. He holds a BA in Psychology from Smith College and was awarded an artist residency with The Theater Offensive in 2017 and 2019. His 2019 collaborative project, Narratives of Home, is a response to the question of the unique ways gentrification impacts our communities. Maisonet has forged important relationships with community builders who continue to organize and care for its members.
These three panels honor Jamaica Plain local community leaders—featuring them as role models for younger generations and bringing visibility to their invaluable work. Csekö and Maisonet hope to inspire future generations to engage in the continuous fight for human rights and social justice. These panels speak of memory, community leadership, and social engagement.
The first panel features an homage to Julia Martin, an elder Jamaica Plain community organizer. Maisonet began a dialogue with Martin in order to quote her in this panel. Martin learned community activism first-hand in the 1960s with other “Mothers for Action” who took on causes from stopping Interstate I-95 construction from cutting through neighborhoods to fighting addiction. Today her name graces the Julia Martin House, Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation’s building in Jackson Square, where low-income seniors live independently in a loving, supportive environment.
The second panel features original text by Maisonet. Showing his care for and knowledge about Jamaica Plain, Maisonet’s panel vows to give continuity to Martin’s legacy.
The third panel features Jamaica Plain local Ernesto "Eroc" Arroyo-Montano’s words, also sourced by Maisonet. Arroyo-Montano is an educator, artist, facilitator, organizer, youth worker, community activist, and a proud father of three. Known for his leadership in a range of initiatives from youth program development and intersectional movement building, he has shown his dedication to racial, gender, economic and environmental justice.
Fort Point Open Studios
Showcasing emerging and accomplished mid-career artists, and a variety of media, from video installations to award-winning comic books, the works on view address ideas of immigration and community building. Experiences of trauma are commonplace in the lives of immigrants, but that does not invalidate or diminish the experiences and narratives of love, found family, resilience, resistance, and friendship. We dive into this conversation with heightened awareness, open ears, and hearts, taking in the ideas presented to us in hopes to learn, offering safe spaces, and creating more welcoming and safer environments for immigrant and refugee populations
A+J Art + Design
Lani Asuncion
Joanna Tam
Iaritza Menjivar
Wen-Hao tien
Kledia Spiro
Allison Maria Rodriguez
Ben Spalding
Caron Tab
Raquel Fornasaro
Raul The Third
Dave Ortega
with MCA President Kurt Steinberg and Gallery Director Lynne Cooney
Speaking Truth to Power Montserrat College of Art
Speaking Truth to Power features words from women, BIPOC, Latinx, and LGBTQIA thinkers who question structures of oppression and domination, ranging from colonialism, patriarchy, and supremacist ideologies, to advanced capitalism. Each author takes us on a journey through realms of intimacy as well as macro social-political scenarios. Both denouncing and presenting alternatives, sometimes sweetly others brutally. Each of these paintings and murals is an effort to preserve the memory and ideas of referential writers.
Video by Matt Ossowski
Sculpture Space Artist in Residence Winter 2022
furthur
The title of this piece is an answer to the question: "what is the opposite of APOCALYPTIC?" Inspired by Tom Wolfe's "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test". A chronicle of the civil disobedience-fueled adventures of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters across North America. The bus often driven by Neal Cassady and used as a mobile home by the Merry Pranksters was affectionately named "Furthur". This word embodies a humorous and upbeat countermeasure to apocalyptic narratives.
Each flag adds a symbol of inclusion, diversity, and peaceful coexistence to the conversation, the Progressive Pride Flag, The North American Flag, the Democratic Socialist Flag, The Black Lives Matter Flag, The Anti Fascist Action Flag, the American Indigenous Movement Flag, the “No Step on Snek” Flag, and the Trans Pride flag.
Photo Matt Ossowski
APOCALYP - Landmark
APOCALYP - yes, the word is unfinished. It was not so much a decision, but a realization, that there’s no need to succumb to the hopelessness of harmful intolerant narratives. Alternatives abound. The piece was created while in residency at Sculpture Space, Utica, upstate NY. It responds to the rust belt post-apocalyptic landscape, of crumbling abandoned industrial buildings, homes, and farms in the region. The word is left unfinished to indicate a landmark of how close we are to this outcome, but also that we are not there yet, there is still time to course correct, and always there is hope for improvement. Made with trump (de-capitalized on purpose) flags, a "don’t tread on me" flag, a (north) American flag, and a thin blue line flag.
Photos Matt Ossowski
Let’s show candidates running for the MA Governo’s office that the arts and culture sector is paying attention and that we are a strong community that will ask for what we need.
Who our communities elect will have a direct impact on the future of arts and culture in Massachusetts. That’s why we urge you to add your name to the Create the Vote Coalition’s arts and culture policy platform. The platform provides a clear roadmap for the next Governor and Lt. Governor of Massachusetts to prioritize a stronger and more equitable creative sector for all residents of the Commonwealth. Add your endorsement today!“
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On February 15, 2022, MASSCreative announced that nine artists and creative leaders have been selected to participate in the first class of Create the Vote Fellows.
A key feature of the Fellowship will be co-designing a strategy to strengthen and support local and regional networks of arts and cultural advocates. Create the Vote Fellows will also work collaboratively with a broader coalition of arts and cultural advocates in the Commonwealth to engage voters and candidates in the 2022 statewide elections. The Create the Vote Fellowship is funded by the Barr Foundation.
