LYNN — Beyond Walls, a nonprofit placemaking agency, will host a virtual panel on Wednesday, Feb 24 at 4:30 p.m. in honor of Black History Month.
The panel will discuss the current state of life working as a Black artist in America, highlighting the Black experience within different artistic careers. It will feature renowned artists, including Sheila Pree Bright and Cedric “Vise1” Douglas, as well as two Lynn youth artists, Jah’Nyah Spencer and Chiara Tazoa.
The event, hosted by Beyond Walls interns and Lynn English seniors Carlos Prudencio and Damianny Garrido — who are spearheading the push for a Black Lives Matter mural in the city — is open to all Lynn students, including St. Mary’s, KIPP Academy and North Shore Community College, for ages 13-26.
Pree Bright is an acclaimed Black American photographer whose goal is to capture the life of individuals and communities that are often unseen in the world. She said her “objective is to capture images that allow us to experience those who are unheard as they contemplate or voice their reaction to ideas and issues that are shaping their world.”
Douglas, professionally known as “Vise1,” is an artist and designer from Boston. He is the founder and creative director of The Up Truck, a mobile art lab designed to engage underserved Boston communities through art and creativity. He says his work is inspired by everyday life idioms and the subculture of street art.
Spencer, who is currently a senior at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, is a Lynn-based youth visual artist who hopes to use her art to inspire others. She has been accepted to the Montserrat College of Art to further her education.
The other featured youth artist, Tazoa, is an aspiring makeup artist and current senior at Lynn English High School.
The free event will be streamed on a virtual platform, which you can register for on the Eventbrite website, “Life as a Black working Artist.” Beyond Walls asks that only students sign up and that they do so with their school email addresses.
Allysha Dunnigan can be reached at [email protected]
