Art collections that connect places to their communities
Through HarborArts, we partnered with NeighborHealth to bring the people it serves into the story of its spaces. We helped curate eighteen works by local artists for its Revere offices, with many pieces drawing on patients’ stories. The collection brought perspectives on health, identity and community into the workplace, with artists including David Riley, Jackie Reeves, Felipe Ortiz and Silvia López Chavez.
One especially meaningful connection was with David Riley, an East Boston artist and longtime NeighborHealth patient whose life has been shaped by lead poisoning. His painting, which blends dreams and reality, brought his creative voice into the health center that has cared for him over the years. Including David’s work and story reflects how we approach our collaborations: looking for the personal connections that make an art collection part of the community it represents.
Later in 2024, we brought Colombian artist LEDANIA to East Boston for a three-story mural on NeighborHealth’s Taylor Building. Her work carries those ideas outside, using color and the organization’s knot symbol to celebrate the ties between people. NeighborHealth’s coverage of the unveiling brings both parts of the project together: opportunities for artists, and spaces where patients, staff and neighbors can see their community reflected.
