Turning Fences into Forums: Chain Link Galleries Bring Art to the Streets
sparc! team member Rocelyn Metayer, sparc! Director Ekua Holmes, sparc! Programs Manager Isabelle Higgins, sparc! Graduate Assistant Camryn Connoly
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At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, as the world faced isolation and uncertainty, ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨βs sparc! the ArtMobile found a bold way to answer an urgent question: Who are we in a socially distanced world?Β
The answer didnβt come through silence but through vibrant colors, poetic voices, and collective creativity β just down the street from the ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨ campus.Β
Enter the Chain Link Galleries, a public art initiative that transformed utilitarian fences into dynamic canvases. These once-overlooked structures now pulse with life, storytelling, and resilience, thanks to a stunning array of vinyl panels adorned with bold imagery and poetic verses. Installed in Roxbury, most notably along Columbus Avenue near Roxbury Community College, these open-air galleries bring the talents of local and ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨-affiliated artists directly into the heart of the neighborhood.
βWe believe art is essential for a healthy community,β the sparc! team explains. And with this belief in mind, theyβve turned streets into artful spaces that invite connection and healing.
Silvia LΓ³pez Chavez’s work at the Chain Link Galleries
Community members, Silvia, and the sparc! team.
Art doesnβt just belong in galleries. It belongs in our streets, our neighborhoods, and our daily lives, transforming ordinary spaces into extraordinary experiences.sparc! team
The Chain Link Galleries do more than showcase art; they foster accessibility, amplify the voices of diverse artists, and transform fences into bridges. In every painted line and printed poem, they remind us that creativity never stops. The gallery adapts, responds, and thrives β even in the most challenging times.
This year, the two featured artists, , MFA β24, and , BFA β00 and 2023 Common Good Award recipient, had the opportunity to bring their work to life through a series of artist talks at the Grove Hall Public Library. These gatherings provided neighbors with a chance to meet the creators behind the art, fostering conversations, collaboration, and a shared sense of belonging.
βIt was truly an honor to work with sparc! and be featured in the Chain Link Gallery,β said Magda LΓ©on. βSharing work that is so close to my heart in such an accessible, community rooted space was incredibly meaningful. The workshop and artist talk were moments Iβm still reflecting on, not only was I received with openness, but I felt deeply seen, welcomed, and connected. From the artist talk event, I was able to build meaningful connections and even new friendships. It was a beautiful gift, and Iβm so grateful to have been invited.β
As the Chain Link Galleries continue to grow, they reaffirm a simple yet powerful truth: art doesnβt just belong in galleries. It belongs in our streets, our neighborhoods, and our daily lives, transforming ordinary spaces into extraordinary experiences.
Learn more about sparc! the Artmobile and ΊμΑμ½νΉΟ±¨βs community-based work.
Silvia’s Grove Hall Library Talk
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