School of Visual Arts students, Luca de Gaetano and Taylor Mortell, organize
Greater Boston community art project in response to the heroes of the Boston Marathon.
Boston, MA – In response to the tragic violence of the Boston Marathon and the succeeding events the devastating week brought forth, Boston University College of Fine Arts (CFA) School of Visual Arts students, Luca de Gaetano (MFA ’13) and Taylor Mortell (BFA ’16), launched Still Running: An Art Marathon for Boston, a Greater Boston community art project aimed at producing works of art in remembrance of the events that took place on April 15, 2013.
A four-part project, Still Running: An Art Marathon for Boston launches on Saturday, May 25, with an open invitation for the community to come together at 808 Gallery to create art in memory of the tragedy.
Still Running: An Art Marathon for Boston
Saturday, May 25, 9am – 5pm
808 Gallery (808 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215)
Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Boston University Arts Initiative.
Art materials generously provided by the Strathmore Paper Company.
“As an Italian student living in Boston since 2008, I have never felt as close this city as after the tragic bombing of the Boston Marathon,” said Luca de Gaetano (MFA ’13), who co-organized Still Running. “Being passionate about my work — which is to make art — and finding myself surrounded by my peer when learning about what happened, awoke an urgent need to respond visually and positively to the tragedy.”
Still Running consists of four parts: (1) Art Marathon events in which participating institutions and artists will come together over different weekends to produce art for the small works exchange and for the traveling exhibition; (2) a Small Works Exchange to encourage donations to charitable organizations supporting those affected by the tragedy; (3) a Final Exhibition of artwork produced by the Greater Boston community to coincide with the 2014 Boston Marathon; and (4) the creation of Mile Markers for next year’s event from artist submissions.
“For me personally, art came to me as an intervention during a traumatic accident I had a few years ago,” said Taylor Mortell (BFA ’16). “Ever since, I’ve been trying to find ways to use art to build community, and to let everyone know that on an individual level, contribution matters — because collectively, we can do something great.”
“Like many others, I was extremely moved by the incredible acts of kindness put forth by members of our community in the wake of the tragedy,” continued Mortell. “I wanted to do something to help the healing of our community by creating Still Running, this art show for Boston, by Boston.”
For more information, to make a submission, or to contribute to Still Running: An Art Marathon for Boston, please visit bostonartsmarathon.com.