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 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