Artists with local ties bring vision of diversity, equity to Attleboro | Local News

Harding said Martin Luther King Jr. Day promotes the principles of social change similar to artists’ daily missions.

“In a way, that’s what artists do every day,” she said. “Art can challenge norms, send an important message, and create social change the same as Dr. King did. I’m proud to celebrate this important figure during Black History Month, and every day.”

Here’s more about the artists and where you can view their works.

Thousands of people a day view a fabric banner celebrating many elements of living in Attleboro hanging along South Main Street created by former city resident Quincy Harding.

Harding, 24, created the 150-foot-long Attleboro banner named “Stamped in Pride,” on display at an apartment construction site at 29 South Main St., next to the Larson Senior Center and across the street from The Sun Chronicle.

“My inspiration for the banner was postage stamps,” Harding said. “They are little pieces of artwork that people see every day and yet they forget the beauty in them. They often show major landmarks or beautiful flower scenes that people are not fortunate enough to see every day.”

With the banner, Harding said she wanted to capture all the amazing elements of Attleboro that might get overlooked, like the unique history of the city’s jewelry manufacturing past, the education system, its wonderful nature and wildlife, and the city’s community, vibrancy and diversity.

“For citizens, it’s a reminder of how Attleboro has so many elements that our daily lives sometimes make us forget, and for people just passing through a showcase of the pride the people of Attleboro have for their beautiful city,” she said.

Harding, who is starting a small business and selling her art, created the banner digitally and sent the artwork to Mim Brooks Fawcett, executive director of the Attleboro Arts Museum, in May. It was put on display the following month and remains there today.

Even though Harding moved to San Diego in 2021, after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2020, she still considers Attleboro home.

As a minority artist — she is Black and Native American (Wampanoag) — she said she hopes to carry the tradition of Native Black women reclaiming and celebrating their cultural roots while also representing a new generation of artists, women and people of color who feel proud to showcase their unique identities and express themselves.

Harding said the challenges she faces as a minority artist are often times overlooked, longing to be heard, or unable to have a place where they can be respected as much as non-minority artists.

“It’s really unfortunate to say that limited representation in mainstream media and art spaces can make it difficult for minority artists to even gain visibility and recognition,” she said. “Systemic barriers that sometimes get overlooked can hinder access to resources, funding, education, and opportunities for minority artists, limiting their ability to develop and showcase their talents. Offering a helping hand, a listening ear, or just an open mind to seeing a new artist’s perspective may just change how you view the world.”

Her message to minority artists is that navigating the paths of one’s cultural identity and artistic expression can be challenging, as it may be a new experience dealing with the pressure to conform to certain expectations or challenge stereotypes.

“My message is to stay true to yourself and do what you love,” she said. “There’s a community/audience for everyone and even if you don’t see it now your work could be the start of a movement or community that changes the world.”

Artists Genaro “GoFive” Ortega, 42, of Attleboro, and Luis “TakeOne” Taforo, 43, of Taunton, give local residents the chance to view life from the perspectives of young children in their murals on the side of the Attleboro Arts Museum.

Ortega and Taforo together painted the tribute to the late Max Volterra — an Attleboro resident who was a lawyer and philanthropist, served as a city councilor and state representative, and committed his life to serving and contributing to his community for decades along with championing for the equitable treatment of those in need. He died in October 2022 at 86. Volterra was always impeccably dressed and known for wearing a particular style of heavy, black round eyeglasses. He was a great supporter of the local cultural and arts scene, including the museum.

The artwork installed in July shows hands holding the glasses and looking at joyful young children in bright colors.

The completion of the installation, which was created with spray paint, took two weeks, excluding the time required for conceptualizing the design and finalizing the artwork for installation.

The artists said the inspiration behind the design of the mural stems from a profound desire to celebrate the diversity and unique perspectives of young children from various backgrounds imagining them looking through eyeglasses symbolizes the lens through which they perceive the world.

“The intention is to capture the essence of their innocence, curiosity, and vibrant imaginations,” both said in an emailed statement. “By depicting these children of diverse backgrounds, the mural seeks to convey a powerful message of unity, inclusivity, and shared humanity.”

The eyeglasses serve as a metaphorical tool, allowing the viewer to glimpse into the kaleidoscope of perspectives that these young minds offer, they said, with each pair of glasses becoming a portal into a world brimming with color, life, and the boundless potential that exists within every child.

Ortega and Taforo said the mural aspires to create a visual narrative that encourages viewers to embrace the richness of diversity and appreciate the unique contributions each individual brings to the collective tapestry of our community, as Volterra did throughout his life.

“Through this art piece, we hope to foster a sense of connection and appreciation for the vibrant mosaic of perspectives that make up the tapestry of our community in Attleboro and the entire mural installation was created with spray paint,” they wrote.

Both of Puerto Rican heritage, the friends and business partners who own Inspire Thru Art have collaborated on other artwork over the years, said they don’t categorize themselves as just “minority artists,” but they do acknowledge the world’s perceptions and identifications.

“Simply put, we are artists,” they wrote. “Being our own kind of artist is an enriching and transformative experience that transcends the confines of conventional artistic narratives.”

They said growing up within their Black and Brown communities in Boston provided a unique vantage point from which they have the option to channel a myriad of diverse influences, perspectives, and cultural nuances into the creative process.

They said they aspire to contribute to a broader dialogue that celebrates the kaleidoscope of voices, fostering a more inclusive and vibrant artistic landscape for all to appreciate and resonate with.

Being a minority artist comes with its unique set of challenges, they said, adding that they are often faced with systemic biases, limited representation opportunities, and the need to overcome stereotypes.

“As men of color, regardless of our talent, skill and prestige, we are well aware that our color is the first thing people see when they see us,” they wrote in the email. “Yes, discrimination has been encountered but overcoming these challenges requires our continued resilience and a commitment to advocating for diverse voices in the art world.”

Their message, they wrote, is to embrace your identity unapologetically, for it is the source of the artist’s strength and creativity.

Ortega and Taforo said MLK day is a moment to honor a visionary leader whose tireless pursuit of justice and equality has left an indelible mark on history.

“King represents the embodiment of courage, resilience, and the unwavering belief in the transformative power of love and equality. His legacy serves as a timeless inspiration for the ongoing fight against injustice and a reminder of the profound impact one individual can have in shaping a more just and inclusive world,” they wrote.