LYNN — Beyond Walls — the creative place-making nonprofit dedicated to activating public spaces to strengthen communities — teamed up with public art collective Harbor Voices to create an immersive installation featuring the voices of 100 youths from Lynn.
This interactive exhibit and audio documentary installation, dubbed Truth Be Told, was funded by Mass Humanities and will be presented at 451 Broad St. from July 22-24.
The opening event on July 22 — which will run from 6 to 9 p.m. — is free and open to the public, and will feature a performance by hip-hop artist and Berklee College of Music professor Cliff Notez, along with food and cocktails. Notez leads Harbor Voice’s spoken-word workshops and is an award-winning artist, musician, and filmmaker.
The inspiration behind this installation stems from a response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the economic crisis and racial injustice occurring throughout the country.
Beyond Walls put out a call for entries for Truth Be Told, inviting students from the district to submit their stories onto an online platform.
The new installation is an extension of an earlier Truth Be Told multimedia production that incorporated more than 300 photographs, drawings, paintings, poems and stories submitted by aspiring Lynn artists and writers — ages 5 to 21 — into large-scale murals, posters and performances.
Harbor Voices Director Stephanie Benenson said the installation reflects the need for significant community involvement during these unprecedented times.
“The kids who participated in Truth Be Told expressed their gratitude for the teachers, parents, caregivers and community for their tireless support. But, they are still processing the trauma resulting from the pandemic,” Benenson said. “This installation is meant to help heal the young people in Lynn as we emerge from a challenging period.”
Beyond Walls Founder and Chief Executive Officer Al Wilson said Harbor Voices and Beyond Walls designed Truth Be Told to provide a platform for Lynn youth to express themselves through art and storytelling.
“This new installation gives voice to the challenges experienced by youth during this unprecedented time,” Wilson said. “But more importantly, Truth Be Told showcases the ideas, ideals and aspirations expressed by our young people.”
For more information on Truth Be Told and the schedule of presentations, visit https://www.harborvoices.com/.
