LAST CALL
Jennessa Burks art curator Has the presidential election impacted your vision for the show? We didn’t plan on coordinating our show with the election, but it certainly didn’t hurt our enthusiasm. We’re a pretty passionate group when it comes to the fact that people need to go out and vote. If our show is a reminder to the community to go out and vote for your voice to be heard, that’s wonderful. We want to center some of the issues that are going on in the current state of our nation right now, especially with the Black Lives Matter movement. We’re having these conversations that used to be kind of taboo not so long ago. We really feel like it is important to continue to shine light on equality as we move into this election. It may not have been the motivating factor for the show, but it definitely was something that continued to come up during our planning discussions.
From left, Stacy Lord, Laura Marotta, Jennessa Burks and Chris Kazarian at Creative Hub Worcester’s Aurora Gallery. So, you grew up here? For the most part. I was born here and grew up here from the age of 9. I lived in the city until about four years ago, for a total of almost 20 years.
now. I taught at Elm Park Community School before that.
Can we expect mostly Worcester artists? I would say threequarters of the artists are from Worcester, and the rest are Massachusetts based. There are a few Boston artists for whom social justice is the basis of their work and we knew they had to be included. I’m captivated by this piece you attached in your email. It’s a painting by Sharif Muhammad called “We are Kings.” Yes, Sharif has four pieces going into the show. He’s a great example of an artist that’s from outside of the city, but you cannot look at his work without seeing how perfectly it fits into the show. – Sarah Connell Sanders
23
My seventh-grade students have had a lot of questions about racial justice — I’ve been very impressed by the resulting discussions. How do you tackle anti-racism with fourth-graders? Cambridge is very progressive. These conversations are had openly. District-wide, we are encouraged to talk about systemic racism, white supremacy culture, the way it shows up in our schools, and the impact it has on our Black and brown students. We still have lots of work to do, but this is not the first time the parents, students and staff have heard it. In fourth grade, we tackle “hard histories.” To start the year, we’re engaging in a poetry unit to correspond with the book “Brown Girl Dreaming.” I’m in the process of writing a letter to families that explains how we will be teaching “hard histories” and we’ll be teaching them truthfully.
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
I think teaching is its own art form. So, what’s the theme of the upcoming show? The best part is how community involved the show has become. We would That makes you a lifer. I know put out a call asking for members. how prideful Worcester is. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say I’m from We asked, “Who wants to create this? What are your visions?” And, Worcester anymore since I left. as a result, everything was done How did you become the lead I think you’re safe. Where’d you very collaboratively. All voices were heard in meetings. Folks curator of this exhibition? I got go to high school? Doherty. were able to join late, even though involved with Laura Marotta and we had already gotten the ball Stacy Lord, from Creative Hub Me too. We must have been rolling. We decided we wanted Worcester, through an exhibit there at the same time. Were to engage artists and their work they had at the Aurora Gallery you an artist back then? I around equity. We knew “equity” titled, “Otherness.” That was in definitely was an art nerd. I spent 2020, pre-pandemic. my extra study in the art room for would be a big and broad theme. We made sure to specify that we at least a couple of years. During were talking about amplifying Were you a participating artist my senior year, I was working the traditions, the cultures and or the curator? I was a parwith someone from RISD and I the resilience of the Black comticipating artist and I loved what really contemplated going to art munity. From there, we built a they were talking about as far school. The way my cards played curation team. I took the lead with as themes moving forward. As out, I ended up putting down my art and we have since brought in an artist and as someone from brushes for the better part of 10 Chris Kazarian for the lead with Worcester who sees the value of years and started doing art again music and performances. Live the opportunities that they’re just a couple of years ago. performers will be outside during creating, I asked them to let me know if there was anything I could And you became a teacher? Yes, the show in a space across from do to support. I teach fourth grade in Cambridge the gallery. This will allow us to
distance outside and take even more precautions. Inside, there’s ample space to be more than six feet apart. There’s a strict cap of 25 people in total at a time.
Do you have a piece featured? All of my art really focuses on uplifting BIPOC folks. I do a lot of portraits, so I have several pieces in my collections that speak to the theme of the show and I will put in a couple, but for me personally, it was more important to highlight other talents. I’ve been working really hard, less on the creation of art, but more on the curation of other artists.
O CT O B E R 15 - 21, 2020
J
ennessa Burks is the lead curator for Creative Hub’s upcoming show, “Nonetheless, We Amplify Resilience Together Here.” The opening will serve as a celebration of Black culture through music, food, dance, spoken word and visual arts, and will take place at the Aurora Gallery on Main Street from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct 17.
DYLAN AZARI
