Violence Transformed at the Massachusetts State House and at NCAAA

Violence Transformed features works drawn, with three exceptions, from the museum’s collections that demonstrate the role of art in transforming tragedies and inspiring hope. Our exhibition is part of the larger Violence Transformed project, which is collaboration among artists, activists, museum professionals, academics and community service providers from diverse segments of the greater Boston community.

Since 2007, the project has presented exhibitions, performances and related programs that coincide with the April Annual Victim Rights Conference of the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance. The unifying idea is a belief in the power of art, artists and art making to confront, mediate and challenge the prevalence of violence in contemporary society. This year, our Museum presented exhibitions at the State House and in our own space.

View selections from Violence Transformed exhibition

Richard McCall

And You Don’t Like Something . . .
2009
Mixed media

How senseless violence often is, spinning out of control from minor confrontations! How great is the regret that follows hasty and thoughtless actions! Such are the lamentations that underscore the need for anger control, and for ridding society of easy access to guns, and other weapons for killing.

Stop the Killing
1986
Mixed media

This sad refrain is too often heard in both our local and national communities. Violence is not a solution to conflict. Instead, it merely leads to more violence, more killing. To change the future, we must rethink how we presently manage our differences as neighbors, and as nations.

Renee Neblett

The Weight of the World, l993
Block print on paper

We are sometimes overwhelmed by problems for which no solutions are evident. We feel like we are bearing the weight of the world. Yet a little reflection would show us that our problems are neither new nor impossible to solve. We have all of history from which to learn. No ordeal has ever crushed hope for long. We can surmount the tragedies of our time by promoting justice, compassion, tolerance and forgiveness.

 

 

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