Congratulations to Blanca Bonilla, invited again by the Boston Public Library to present Latino Pioneers in Boston, December 15, 2022. Here are some photos from the event with wonderful live piano music, pianist shown warming up before the event. Group of friends poses with Blanca after the event, featured Pioneer, Frieda Garcia speaks and Blanca answers questions after the screening. Learn more about Blanca and her work at: Que Lindo Boston.
Author: lisalink
Latino Pioneers in Boston Premiere
Congratulations to Blanca Bonilla on her film, Latino Pioneers in Boston. Event is free at the Boston Public Library, Copley Square, Thursday, May 27, Registration required.
I was grateful to be a part of Blanca’s creative team as a photographer and art poster designer. I photographed many of the interviews and created art posters using transcripts of the interviews and the photographs. I also included some archival historic photos – shown in the “resilience” poster print image. Inspiring stories of people who changed Boston for the better. I love projects where I get to combine art, community, design, history, photography and work with longtime friends here in Boston. Learn more about Blanca and her work at: Que Lindo Boston.
The Lighter Side
Super excited to have print in the group show “The Lighter Side” at the Woody Gaddis Gallery in Edmond, OK and awesome that it is near my former classmates from the photo program at University of Colorado, Boulder. Shout out to Margie & Mo!!!
Art Installation for HLTH2021
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC)
Grateful for recent opportunity to create new art for an installation featuring 6 Boston-area artists: Gonzalo Bacigalupe, Stephanie Li, Jasmine Milton, Megan Walsh, Sam Weinberger and me, Lisa Link : )
Each artist’s piece was printed on 40×14.4′ vinyl sails for the exterior installation and on 20×12′ freestanding displays for the interior installation. This was an especially meaningful process for me because an immediate family member is a Boston EMT.
According to the exhibit organizers, the mission of this art installation was to:
- Create a temporary art exhibit on the front of the BCEC, using the unique triangular display areas.
- Help visitors reflect on their personal experiences during the pandemic, as well as the community’s experience given the prominent role of healthcare and the life sciences in the local economy as well as on the national stage.
- Provide a tribute to frontline healthcare workers and others in healthcare who displayed courage, commitment and ingenuity during the pandemic.
- Serve as a memorial for ALL lives lost as a result of COVID-19 by offering a safe space for contemplation and personal tribute
- Engage the intended audience which included area residents, those attending HLTH and the healthcare and life sciences community in the region.
Outside the BCEC
Happy got to meet one of the other artists, Jasmine Milton, her piece visible with mine when viewed through the triangular beams. We were both photographing our art at the same time. My piece is the giant heart montage.
Inside the BCEC
Managed to wander inside with some family members just before everything packed up on the last night and get some photos and jump for joy in front of the heart.
About my piece: Signs of the Times
When COVID-19 began and regular commuting ended, I would go running through the city before heading back to work at home. I was struck by all the handmade signs appearing all over Boston. Despite the empty streets and lack of normal human contact, they seemed to create a visual chorus of individuals trying to do something, to keep everyone safe, and to survive economically. This piece emerged out of those early morning cellphone photos of signs as well as from conversations with frontline workers.
The heart collage represents a big thank-you to all the essential workers and healthcare providers who had to deal directly with COVID-19. They faced shortages of PPE, politics, lack of accessible tests, and contradictory media messaging—especially during the early months of the pandemic. It’s also a thank-you to everyone who publicly acknowledged frontline workers with signs outside their homes and businesses.
I made the backdrop out of signs about social distancing, masks, and vaccines that now form the new normal of our visual landscape in Boston. Despite all our advances in electronic communications, we still tape clipart prints of masks and hand-written notes on doors to communicate evolving public health messaging. I wanted to create a snapshot of this moment in time and the signs seemed to channel the spirit of the day.
Now that most of the thank-you signs are gone, I hope that people viewing this piece will take a moment and reflect on those who shouldered so much of the burden fighting COVID-19—the workers who couldn’t telecommute to their jobs. What can we do to elevate all the essential workers and frontline healthcare providers in our communities, to understand their experiences, and to go beyond the cardboard signs?
With gratitude to Blanca Bonilla, Rose Coveney, Trevor Link, Nancy Marks, Kate, Raina, and Isabella who contributed photos of signs and/or design feedback, and to Michael Hoefler and HLTH for supporting this art installation.
Lisa Link,
Boston, MA
Instagram: lisalinkfoto
Latino Pioneers Exhibit at Boston City Hall
Grateful and honored to be part of the creative team for Latino Pioneers in Boston, produced and directed by Blanca Bonilla. This project includes a documentary, a magazine, and a portrait exhibition featuring the stories of eight pioneers and their migration journeys. My role was portrait photography and poster design. I truly loved creating these posters and working with Blanca who provided all the text for each poster from the interviews she conducted with the pioneers.
The exhibit was on display in the Mayor’s Neighborhood Gallery, Boston City Hall, September 1-30, 2021. Most photos here are from the celebration on September 23rd. Thank you to colleagues Colleen Locke for copy editing work and Sarah Weatherbee for reviewing margins & font choices.
Slideshow of people including some of the pioneers in the gallery.
Slideshow of the celebration, Boston City Hall Plaza.
Slideshow of framing & filming.
Suffrage Exhibit – WVU Libraries
Excited to have a design accepted for the exhibition: Undefeated: Canvas(s)ing the Politics of Voter Suppression Since Women’s Suffrage exhibition with West Virginia University Libraries. Every vote counts! Getting ready for November. Check out their website with many artists and lots of educational resources about voting/history/democracy.
Lead Curator: Sally Brown Deskins; Lead Designer: Eve Faulkes; Online Designer: Travis Williamson.
Calamity Exhibition
Super excited to see gallery photos & listen to the mp4 of the juror’s talk at the Moon Gallery. Photos courtesy of gallery director and art professor Brad Adams, Berry College. Dr. Catherine Lewis, juror. Press Release
January Shows
For January excited to have work in two shows. One at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles, CA called Keeping the Faith. Thank you to curator Ellen November for organizing and if you are reading this and in that area stop by!.
Second show is Calamity at Berry College in Georgia. Juror’s talk on January 27.
Finally gratitude to the organizers of the No Hate/No Fear march in NYC last week. So inspiring to march and see positive messages.
Art Ramble 2019
Excited to participate in the Concord Art Ramble 2019. Thank you to Curator Jess Muise, Umbrella Arts Center and everyone who worked on the Art Ramble. Big thanks to people for participating in the photo walk.
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