SOUTHIE THEN AND NOW - A NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMED (Traveling Exhibition: 2021-2023)
Single Channel Video Exhibition - Running Time 06:22 - Color - Silent – Ratio 16:9 – United States - Original Formats: 35mm, 16mm, HD Video
Since the 19th century South Boston remained a predominantly Irish Catholic working-class neighborhood, where for 30 years my grandmother lived and my father worked in the Gillette factory. I lived in “Southie” in the 1980-90s, documenting the community via photography and film. This exhibition reveals the neighborhood transformation, from a mostly low-to–moderate income community with industrial areas, to today’s gentrification with luxury condos and a radically shifted neighborhood identity, all while used as a Hollywood setting.
This split screen video features clips from eight Hollywood films shot in South Boston from 1968-2015. The 2021 clips replicate each shot from the Hollywood films, highlighting the contrast between the past and present Southie landscape. The video also includes clips from Solace, a film I shot in South Boston in 1998, paired with 2021 clips, replicating each shot. The final 2-minute sequence shows 2021 Broadway (Southie’s main street) in one continuous shot, with luxury condos and shops lining the street.
The exhibition includes a paper map of South Boston, with locations depicted in the films, and listings of housing organizations and other community resources. Viewers can use color markers to write and draw their stories of community change on the exhibition’s fabric wall. At each exhibition location, community forums with guest speakers provide opportunities to discuss the challenges of community growth, including maintaining affordable housing.
This project is supported in part by grants from the Lawrence Cultural Council, Fall River Cultural Council, Haverhill Cultural Council, Somerville Arts Council, and Boston Cultural Council, local agencies supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Exhibition Preparation & Graphic Design: Roseli Gonzalez (dustyfruit.com/)
2023 EXHIBITIONS
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
Ongoing from November 2022 throughout 2023 - Southie Then And Now video shown throughout Center on digital displays
415 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210
Boston City Hall
July 18-September 14, 2023
Community Forum: July 26, 1:30-3:30 PM
City Hall Lobby - Mezzanine/Third Floor
1 City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Boston City Hall exhibition
Boston City Hall exhibition detail
Boston City Hall exhibition detail
Boston City Hall exhibition - community forum
2022 EXHIBITIONS
Massachusetts State House
November 14-18, 2022
Ashburton Park entrance, Bowdoin St.
4th Floor Exhibit Area (across from House Chamber viewing gallery)
Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Massachusetts State House exhibition
Massachusetts State House exhibition detail
Massachusetts State House exhibition detail
South Boston Branch, Boston Public Library
From October 1-31, 2022
Community Forum: October 13, 6:00-7:45 PM
646 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127
Monday-Wednesday: 10:00 AM-6:00 PM; Thursday: 12:00-8:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM-2:00 PM
Tel. 617-268-0180
South Boston exhibition
South Boston exhibition - visitor comments on canvas
South Boston exhibition - close up visitor comments on canvas
Mattapan Branch, Boston Public Library
From September 1-30, 2022
Community Forum (Conference Room): September 13, 6:00-7:45 PM
1350 Blue Hill Ave, Mattapan, MA 02126
Monday: 10:00 AM-6:00 PM; Tuesday: 12:00-8:00 PM; Wednesday-Thursday: 10:00 AM-6:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM-2:00 PM
Tel. 617-298-9218
Mattapan exhibition
Mattapan exhibition - visitor comments on canvas
Mattapan exhibition - close up visitor comments on canvas
East Boston Branch, Boston Public Library
From August 1-31, 2022
Community Forum (Community Room): August 11, 6:00-7:45 PM
365 Bremen St, East Boston, MA 02128
Monday-Wednesday: 10:00 AM-6:00 PM: Thursday: 12:00-8:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM-2:00 PM
Tel. 617-569-0271
Media Coverage (EastBoston.com): https://tinyurl.com/yc7ca5nw
East Boston exhibition - first day
East Boston exhibition - visitor comments on canvas
Grove Hall Branch, Boston Public Library
From July 1-30, 2022
Community Forum (Mezzanine - Jazz Room): July 21, 6:00-7:45 PM
41 Geneva Ave, Dorchester, MA 02121
Monday-Wednesday: 10:00 AM-6:00 PM; Thursday: 12:00-8:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM-2:00 PM
Tel. 617-427-3337
Grove Hall exhibition - first day
Hyde Park Branch, Boston Public Library
From June 1-30, 2022
Community Forum (1st Floor Reading Room): June 18, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM
35 Harvard Ave, Hyde Park, MA 02136
Monday-Wednesday: 10:00 AM-6:00 PM; Thursday: 12:00-8:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM-2:00 PM
Tel. 617-361-2524
Media coverage (Dig Boston): https://rb.gy/px70ax
Hyde Park exhibition - first day
Somerville Public Library
From May 3-31, 2022
Community Forum (Library Auditorium): May 5, 6:00-8:00 PM
79 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143
Monday-Thursday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sunday: 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Tel. 617-623-5000
Somerville community forum
Somerville exhibition - visitor comments on canvas
Haverhill Public Library
From April 1-28, 2022
Community Forum (Johnson Auditorium): April 21, 6:00-7:30 PM
99 Main Street, Haverhill, MA 01830
Monday-Thursday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Friday-Saturday: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM; Sunday: 1:00-5:00 PM
Tel. 978-373-1586
Media coverage (The Eagle-Tribune): https://rb.gy/w4c8et
Haverhill community forum
Haverhill exhibition - visitor comments
2021 EXHIBITIONS
Lawrence Public Library
From September 1 to October 14, 2021
Reception & Community Forum: October 7, 6:00 PM
51 Lawrence Street, Lawrence, MA 01841
Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Tel. 978-620-3600
Media coverage (Eagle-Tribune): https://bit.ly/3Cazgmu
Lawrence exhibition - first day
Exhibition description
Lawrence exhibition - visitor comments
Fall River Public Library
From October 15 to November 12, 2021
Reception & Community Forum: October 28, 6:00 PM
104 North Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720
Monday-Thursday: 9:00 AM-9:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM-3:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Tel. 508-324-2700
Media coverage (Herald News): https://bit.ly/3H6ylHz
Fall River exhibition - first day
Fall River exhibition - visitor comments
Fall River exhibition - visitor comments
(L-R) A scene from Good Will Hunting (1997) and in 2021
(L-R) A scene from Solace (1998) and in 2021
Broadway, Southie’s main street in 2021