ART OF ACTION
Welcome to our online gallery for Art of Action, a series of seven works of art illustrating MCAN’s impact in each of the cities and regions where our affiliates are at work for equity and justice in the areas of housing, immigration, education, carceral reform and community safety, voter engagement, and beloved economy. MCAN is delighted to partner with the following artists for this series which debuted at our annual friendraising fundraiser, Carry It On: a celebration of the art of community organizing for equity and justice, on October 15, 2023. Enjoy scrolling below to learn about the art, the artists and the affiliates whose work they are bringing to life. If you are an artist interested in partnering with MCAN, please contact Karen Elliott Greisdorf, MCAN Director of Communications and exhibit curator.
Organizing is not a science
It is an art & each day we…
IMAGINE the world we are working for
INNOVATE to disrupt the status quo
INSPIRE others to join us
…such as our 2023 ARTIVIST COHORT
MCAN AFFILIATE: ESSEX COUNTY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION (ECCO)
ARTIST: MIGUEL CRUZ (pictured in banner) TITLE: WHEN WE HAVE SURFACED
SEPTEMBER 2023
3” X 12” ACRYLIC ON WOOD
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In “When We Have Surfaced” by Salem artist Miguel Cruz, we see a representation of ECCO leaders gathered in front of the Lynn City Hall, a familiar site of community protest and agitation. ECCO’s centering of black and brown leaders drives the work disrupting the status quo of housing, immigration, and criminal justice reform. In the multiracial, multifaith, and multigenerational scene set against backdrop of the North Shore coastline, he has also placed scales of justice; a chess pawn to illustrate that citizens aren’t pawns, but rather humans, not choices you can skip and throw out of a game; and stars and stripes represent the liberties sought by each and every black and brown person for which they sacrificed to cross the border.
When we organize we learn
Once we learn we speak louder
Once we speak louder we are heard
Once we are heard we have surfaced.
-Miguel Cruz
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Miguel Cruz, who works under the artist name Okaje, graduated from Montserrat College of Art in 2013 with a Bachelor in Fine Art Illustration. Known for his mural work across the North Shore and beyond, he weaves in illustrations of his childhood heroes, the strength he found, and empowerment he discovered by finding sense of his path and making his mark as a Latino male. The movement within his work is rooted in his childhood love of Animes and cartoons and his use of his color stems from Dominican ancestors and the everyday vibrancy his mother carried as he grew up. He believes his work carries the weight of a future not only for those who have been lost, but for the ones who remain in need of direction to grow and thrive.
“The community places a cornerstone where activism and art meet, because the community has to make that connection real by developing an intimate conversation in which the activism can be rooted in a deeper truth and the art can define its truth by the people. It’s like they say knowledge is power. That’s what I’ve learned from working on this piece with ECCO and MCAN.”
See Miguel’s work at: Instagram: @oka.je
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MCAN AFFILIATE: WORCESTER INTERFAITH
ARTIST: BIL GARDINER
TITLE: PROGRESS?
JULY 2023
24” X 24” PHOTOGRAPHY ON CANVAS
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In “Progress?” Worcester photographer Bil Gardiner illustrates the dichotomy between what the city believes is progress, such as new retail and “fair-market” housing, and the reality of a huge housing and homelessness problem at the same time. What the Worcester Telegram & Gazette has reported as progress, is not affordable to many citizens. As area rents go up, existing neighborhoods become harder to afford by pricing out generations of families who have been living there and newer residents who can’t afford to eat out and frequent the many niche retail shops that are opening. This collage also details the building of Polar Park for the Boston Red Sox farm team at over $160,000,000 and which pundits are already estimating the cost of it will never be recouped. Worcester Interfaith is seeking to address this crisis as they work to develop community leaders and organize power to work for social justice and change. The MCAN affiliate also builds bridges across religious, socio-economic, racial and ethnic boundaries to foster systemic change while drawing attention to the disproportionate ways in which these issues affect low-income, minority and newcomer residents.
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William “Bil” Gardiner is a portrait photographer and photographic artist from Worcester, MA.
Bil has been a photographer most of his life, getting his first camera from a bubblegum type vending machine when he was around 8 years old. In April 2012, he embarked on a yearlong personal assignment “A Picture a Day,” carrying his camera with him wherever he went, producing one image every day for a year. Through this body of work, a fellow artist noted that his work in this area resembled the Tibetan concept of Miksang, or “Contemplative Eye.” In this way, his work captures only segments of objects, rather than the whole, inviting the viewer to deeper contemplation. Bil also teaches photography in and around central Massachusetts.
“Art stimulates the creative mind and often creates empathy for what it represents. By using art in activism and organizing, you are bringing the viewer that much closer to empathizing with the subject of your cause. I was interested in taking part in this project with Worcester Interfaith because it gave me the opportunity to help influence the minds of Worcester residents with my work.”
See Bil’s work at: www.wgphotography.com Instagram: @wgphotog and on Facebook.
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MCAN AFFILIATE: I HAVE A FUTURE
ARTIST: EYEVAN
TITLE: A DEEP SENSE OF PURPOSE
SEPTEMBER 2023
24” X 24” ACRYLIC ON WOOD
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A “Deep Sense of Purpose” depicts a young man holding a door wide open having come through himself so that more young people can cross the threshold of possibility as he has. This inset 12x12 wooden canvas was created by the artist Eyevan to illustrate the promise and opportunity for young Bostonians engaged with I HAVE A FUTURE in their legislative advocacy and professional development cohorts. The 24x24 wooden backdrop canvas was created by IHAF Executive Director Keturah Brewster with rays of powerful and bold sunshine to symbolize that the work - the crossing of the threshold - requires courage and hope. The three birds, which echo the IHAF logo, represent the resilience needed to persevere in the face of inequity and injustice growing up here.
“Deep Sense of Purpose In a world that has become so silent, all it takes is one voice… …a voice so powerful the world is forced to listen. We are all those voices. Walk in your deep sense of purpose with us.” - Keturah Brewster
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Eyevan is a multi-disciplinary artist born and raised in Boston, MA. As a first generation Dominican male growing up in Jamaica Plain, income inequality was not the only thing he became aware of at a young age. The graffiti art that laced the walls and the subway underpasses lit a flame of inspiration that has transformed over time into a passion for activating public spaces, abstracting type, strategic branding, guerilla marketing, expressing the human experience and obsessing over color theory. The hieroglyphics of the streets awakened a genuine desire to learn everything he could about the art form and it's history. Learning and becoming part of the graffiti culture lead to a journey of self discovery, and art related mentorship.
“The role of art in activism is to make it look more appealing/attractive and for there to be more resonance. I was interested in working with I Have A Future it to continue to inspire young people to follow their dreams the same way I continue to by creating a career in the creative economy.”
See Eyevan’s work at: www.aoasupply.com/eyevan Instagram: @eyevan617
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MCAN AFFILIATE: UNITED INTERFAITH ACTION OF SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
ARTIST: EDEN SOARES
TITLE: WRITING A NEW HISTORY
SEPTEMBER 2023
36” X 36” ACRYLIC ON WOOD
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“Writing a New History” by New Bedford muralist Eden Soares depicts United Interfaith Action’s vision for New Bedford and Fall River and the story they are working to tell in the future. The lighthouse and bridge represent the two communities respectively and the flock of birds speaks to a team in flight and coordination working within the movement for equity and justice to foster liberation. UIA leaders from both cities have prioritized working on the issues of education, centered in this work through all of the buildings designed as books, and housing, illustrated with the neighborhood block in the foreground. Public safety, an additional priority for the New Bedford team, is present with the precinct and officers on foot in conversation with residents while community health, a priority selected by Fall River leaders, is centered through the hospital and wellness center. The interfaith nature of the work is represented by the stained glass building in the midground and classic organizing techniques, such as a research action or training (at right by tree) and one to one relationship building (sitting in front steps of UIA building) are seen in the foreground. Because the work as a whole is about bringing the community and issues “to the table”, the scene is set on picnic style table. The blue building, which lends its name to this artwork, is a work in progress signifying that the work of liberation is not performative and completed, but rather is transformative and ongoing.
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While Eden is widely known as a muralist, his creativity spans multiple applications including illustrations, hand-brushes paintings, working with vinyl, graphic applications for printing and package designing, and screen printing. Whether it's a simple or complex project, Eden has the expertise to develop eye-catching and remarkable brand-based designs that elevate products and services. As seen in his artwork for UIA, his designs are strategically crafted to align with a message, mission, and values.
“Art can document and memorialize important moments in activism, preserving the history of social and political movements for future generations. I am collaborating with United Interfaith Action due to their unwavering commitment to enhancing the quality of life for the residents of New Bedford and Fall River. Through an array of foundational programs, they endeavor to ensure a secure and prosperous future for individuals, their families, and the broader community.”
See Eden’s work on Instagram Facebook and LinkedIn -
MCAN AFFILIATE: BROCKTON INTERFAITH COMMUNITY
ARTIST: NELO
TITLE: AJUDA MÚTUA
SEPTEMBER 2023
36” X 36” DIGITAL ON WOOD
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“Ajuda Mútua”, which translates to English from Portuguese as mutual aid, was created by Brockton based graphic artist Nelo. His typography art draws on an image of two children from a Brockton Interfaith Community (BIC) public action and the keywords defining the issues, vision, and purpose of BIC’s community organizing. To see the original image and the keyword list, please click here. This particular image was chosen for Nelo to work from, because all of BIC’s work is centered in the impact their work can have for generations to come. It also calls on the power of our childhood stories and how we moved through the world at that age. Additionally, there is a strong metaphor in the creation of the cairn or rock prayer stacking the children are engaged in: the work for equity and justice takes teamwork, patience, balance, mindfulness, and intentionality.
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Agnelo “Nelo” Barbosa honed his artistic skills at the University of Massachusetts Lowell where he developed a strong foundation in graphic design and fine arts. While he has established himself as a logo and visual identity designer, his true passion resides in the world of fine arts, where he merges abstraction, language, typography, and mark making. Nelo’s work is inherently language and typography-driven, blending the worlds of design and analog art, resulting in pieces that challenge perceptions, ignite curiosity, and explore the boundaries of visual storytelling.
See Nelo’s work on Instagram
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Click here to learn more about Brockton Interfaith Community
MCAN AFFILIATE: PIONEER VALLEY PROJECT
ARTIST: BRIANNA WOODARD
TITLE: OUR POWER
SEPTEMBER 2023
16” X 24” GRAPHIC DIGITAL ON METAL
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“Our Power”, by Springfield based graphic artist Brianna Woodard, is a testament to the centering of leaders closest to the issues who are the driving organizing force of Pioneer Valley Project and the MCAN network as a whole. This intergenerational collective is representative of the team transforming community issues of teen mental health, police accountability, and voter engagement among others. The senior leaders root the team with their wisdom and give rise to younger leadership. The rays at the top of the design convey an upward momentum and energy as power grows through the amplification of peoples’ voices.
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Brianna Woodard is a painter and graphic design artist in Springfield, MA who has always admired the simplicity and elegance of minimalism and has based most of her artwork on this style. Brianna has always been a dreamer, which shows through her art with her whimsical and colorful designs. Brianna is heavily inspired by 70’s retro colors and contemporary art. She is very proud of her African-American culture and believes that representation matters.
“I believe the role of art in activism is to inspire a call for social change. The artist is able to create a powerful impact that sticks with the viewer long after they have moved along with their day. Famous artist Dannie Snyder said that ‘good artivism should inspire critical thinking and empathy’ within the viewer. Through artivism, I am able to share my values and what causes I hold dear to me. My goal as an artist is to use my platform to inspire others and to provoke thought and emotion. As a resident of Springfield, MA, I think it is imperative for us to create social change within our community and I was inspired to take part in this project with PVP because of their work they are doing in Springfield.”
See Brianna’s work at:briannawoodard.myportfolio.com/ and on Instagram
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MCAN AFFILIATE: PROPHETIC RESISTANCE BOSTON
ARTIST: MUSHEN KIETA
TITLE: RESISTANCE
OCTOBER 2023
12” X 18” PHOTOGRAPH (16” X 20”FRAMED)
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“Resistance”, captured by Boston based artist Mushen Kieta, tells the story of an ordinary moment in the extraordinary, life-changing work of Prophetic Resistance Boston as PRB works for the sealing of CORIs, a record of someone who has been criminally charged regardless of conviction. For the last several years, PRB has partnered with local businesses, public entities and corporate employers to host job fairs and neighborhood information tables where the sealing process can begin to make a new way forward for someone. As seen here in “Resistance”, these tables are often anchored by PRB organizers and leaders.
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Born and raised in Boston, Mushen is a multi-disciplinary artist and filmmaker. Since the age of 10, Mushen has adored making films and creating art. He brought that passion to Artists For Humanity, first in the Painting Studio, then helped launch AFH’s Video Studio. After leaving AFH as a teen, he moved to New York for film school before starting a fulltime career in filmmaking, allowing him to work on a variety of projects from music videos to documentary films and promotional videos, both in the US and overseas. In May 2019, Mushen returned to AFH to head the Video & Event Production Studio, working in collaboration with a team of teen videographers on commissioned jobs for clients while simultaneously teaching a new generation of teens invaluable skills in the arts and entrepreneurship. He founded the production company Wunderus, directing and producing film works in Boston.
“Art has the ability to convey ideas and messages to viewers without preaching. Good art does this subtly which can plant a seed for change in an audience, a change that can grow with more impactful with time. With two family members who both served time for petty drug crimes, I witnessed firsthand the impact that having a criminal record can have on someone’s life after being incarcerated. The work that MCAN affiliate Prophetic Resistance Boston does immediately spoke to me as I understood the difference it could’ve made on my family members lives.”
See Mushen’s work at: www.wunderus.com
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Click here to learn more about Prophetic Resistance Boston.