what is acts of mercy?
Public art for meditation, stimulation, and liberation.
We engaged the outer world with AOM this spring by posting stickers of our 3 guiding questions. Our designer-in-residence, Samantha Rivera, also created signs with “take what you need” pull tabs offering: process is the project; now is no time to be small; and we will grow. Acts of Mercy was originally envisioned in 2019 by JME as an opportunity to touch folks as they journeyed to holy places, the corner store, or perhaps their lovers homes-- that journeying to and from home became even more sacred in the uncertainty of 2020.
After our play with an old school guerrilla art approach to sharing our mantras--prompts in their own right, we began communicating specifically about the Manifestation to come, our Act I, which required participants to RSVP and be prepared to be reflective and present in their engagement. An offering of time, guidance, space, provocation, and memory, the Manifestation was a fitting Act I.
manifestation materials
Language as a vehicle for freedom dreams and an entity from which we draw strength is central to Mother Mercy’s work and art; this collection is a community-generated offering reflecting that.
Here, you will find reflections, whispers, promises in response to a series of questions asked to our community throughout summer 2021. The Manifestation, consisting of a seat, a table, and writing prompts and tools, offered a moment to be in ritual with oneself. Engage in a moment of process: ground, cleanse hands with florida water, light incense, breathe deep and write.
Scenes 1, 2, and 3 offered the prompt: what wills you to wake? additionally a unique question was added to every location, contributing to the distinct energy each scene offered us as a team of space makers.
With this Material we mark time and reflect back the collective dreamspace captured with the Manifestation. In honor of meditation and stimulation we invite you to read through and find your exact words or some that are just familiar or foreign for that matter.
Manifestation is the first public art experience project in the series Acts of Mercy.
manifestation makers
ketchup stain
For the manifestation, I made “The Veil,” a physical representation of the space between what is physical and spiritual. The intention was to find a way to create deep intimacy and keep the wide openness of being outside, in community space. After spending sometime on logistics, I gave myself time to prep and pray over the piece. Following that, I was able to share space and allow the energy of a communal creative moment to inform the work.
Process is the project was something that allowed me to step into co-creation, it became a mantra that held up in the making of The Veil as well as my day to day life. As the Veil had experiences out in the world, I continued to interact with it, making sure it was ready for its next venture. Process is the project shifted my focus away from a destination, reminding me to be present and honor the moment I am in.
I have had a previous experience with public art, but this time the work really felt like an offering to the community, a tool for the journey to another realm. In the material sense, the need for the work to be portable, outdoor proof, and sacred was a new matrix and opportunity to think about the way my work can exist and interact with the world.
ketchup stain | Kristen is a multidisciplinary artist and designer from Fresno, California. Their work explores a wide range of mediums and styles. Their ideas centers beauty, nature and spirituality.
Samantha rivera | Samantha is a multidisciplinary creative, digital media strategist and designer from Boston, MA. Her work embraces play and the possibilities of color.
samantha rivera
prologue: the
blessing
Haley House, ROXBURY MA
“Ritual is not a rigid thing. ”
We imagined this blessing as an invitation, to ourselves and our community of collaborators and supporters, to witness the work completed and honor the intention and power of public art expereinces. A Blessing was our way to expand our awareness of how our ideas in this project would take shape in community. We welcomed our collaborators and supporters to the table, we invited each to take a seat and engage the work of the Manifestation.
This was also a moment to raise our vibration for the present and future with the rituals of dance--Groovement by dana fitchett-- and the act of breaking bread as a community. Haley House felt like the perfect place for a sacred and celebratory moment like this.
Quote Haley House Philosphy: We seek to honor the intrinsic goodness and dignity of every person and challenge systems of privilege and injustice in our society. We believe in the possibility of transformation through personal relationships and engaged community. We encourage spiritual exploration and affirm its ability to transform people’s lives and, in the end, our world.
we ask: What wills you to wake? How will you fight your flattening?
“Growth wills me to wake. Everyday is another chance to heal my mind, body and spirit. As I wake, I speak life into myself and see the beauty in everything around me. The beauty in the world is a reflection of the beauty within me. My circumstances no longer define me. I am standing, walking and living in my power.”
What wills me to wake? Curiosity. Dreams. Goals. Family. Love. Ancestors.Life is the gift and I’m grateful for the Awesome over the bad! Fight my flattenings? Self love, I’m worthy, I’m deserving and I am worthy are the reminders I need to keep going. What’s next is doing the unbelievable! All the things I doubted will be tried and achieved.One day at a time but seeing and looking for the light. Going to live in my full potential xoxo
Creativity wake me up today and it prompted a meaningful conversation with my dad and my friends. I’m trying to redefine what love - life means to me. Sometimes it’s scary because you have to be vulnerable, but I’m going to continue to hold space for vulnerability. Love and creativity.
6. Spirit 7. What wills me to wake? My connection to others. I know I am here for a purpose beyond myself. I feel it in every breath. I hope to experience all that I can while I am here, while I can. That ______ runs deep. 9. Every time I choose me, I’m fighting my flattening. My resistance is now loving on me, loving on my people. Giving myself grace. Forgiving yourself and allowing yourself to make mistakes and still know that I am love, and I deserve love. We all do! I will always stay soft while stand firm. 10. What’s next for me? Stop sleeping on myself! I give so much to others. This is my season to give it all to myself. Building the foundation for myself. Then I can better be there for others.
What wills me to wake? The idea that every step forward brings me closer to manifesting my dreams. How will I fight my flattening? Work daily to prioritize my health, my mind and my spirit. Saying no to things that don’t feed my spirit. Staying aligned with my goals and sticking to a routine that glorifies me. What’s next for me…I’m honestly unsure.
Knowing that I need to fulfill my destiny. I’m still here. What is flattening? New term for me - Let me think a moment. I’ll come back to this! What’s next - travel to a new site! Maybe a new job after retirement Making something - new - trying new. Still thinking Thanks for the opportunity to be a part & manifest. Hugs + Love!
Art is what keeps me going! Sharing creating love w/ community Everyday I wake up knowing I am blessed, loved, and needed. I walk with care. I lead with research. I fight with wisdom. Next 4 me is ME.
What binds me? Time this alignment of my imagination; and yet, it holds, it carries, it’s the source of most of my anxiety. What wills you to wake? Creative and collaborative community → There is nothing that I have or value more than being with and for others. Love is my first language and love most and best in community. What’s next? More life. More love. More writing. More creating.
By Khabeer Sultan
SCENE I June 12
Blackstone Square Park
“The street was once defined by the Washington Street Elevated, an elevated train that was moved to below Southwest Corridor Park in the 1980s. Today Washington is the route of the Silver Line, Boston's first bus rapid transit line...”
We wanted to remember it as it was, an intersection of different communities blooming under the Elevated. You know this wasn’t always a dog park? There used to be shows for us here. Hints of old Boston breezed by us, offering grounding moments while we assembled the Manifestation.
We cleansed the air, poured the water, and navigated what it meant to make space on an island--a literal intentional triangle of green grass separated from the whole of the park, as well as a moment in time as an island, broken off and distant from the past of a Black Boston formerly in this space. A Saturday morning at Blackstone Square Park in 2021 is not the same morning offered in the 1980’s. Dominated by dog culture and its privileages in the park, our collective dreamspace on the island felt like a righteous and refreshing ode to the memories that have gone missing with less people to recall them. Through the Manifestation we remembered.
How will you fight your flattening?
Writing + photo collages
SCENE II June 26
Marcella Playground
“The playground design was inspired by Sunflowers to honor deceased Samantha Sadd, a well-loved community member who devoted herself to Roxbury Youth...”
Folded into years of play and practice, the ecosystem of roller skatting, morning yoga, surprise brunch on a blanket, the Manifestation was surrounded by much of the life we imagine in abundance for our people. The wind was strong and made it impossible to raise The Veil that day. Instead, a tree became a grounding element symbolizing the spiritual and physical space created around the Manifestation. Not any kind of apparition in the park, or serving as a distant memory, we were current and connected to our surroundings and all those sharing space.
Who are you protecting and teaching? What are you growing?
Writing + photo collages
SCENE III
Jamaica Pond July 10
“A pure, glacial kettle hole, Jamaica Pond captivated Olmsted with its “great beauty in reflections and flickering half-lights.” The largest standing body of water in the Emerald Necklace. It needed few alterations to highlight its natural beauty.”
A moment of alchemy on our final day with the Manifestation. Beginning with a brass band playing in the background of our meditation and celebration of ourselves and this work, we found harmony still, a natural choir grew among us. Set beautifully above in the boathouse we tended to space amid the periodic peering. Black people at the Boathouse? Elders appeared like sceredepity offering affirmation and excitment about us and the Manifestation. We blew bubbles and scribed sidewalk notes to passerbys. We ended by the water with many collective beginnings.
What do you want to remember?
Writing + photo collages
THANK YOU TO PARTICIANTS
Thank you for taking a chance and showing up at the Manifestation that morning, thank you for being thoughtful and taking your time with your words, for supporting us, for being honest with yourself--your contribution is a seed. Thank you for starting something with Mother Mercy. May you continue to manifest courageously...
TEAMWORK
Our full team breathed life into this work and art. Deep gratitude. And much respect to our collaborators who made these ideas material.
Samantha Rivera, designer-in-residence, graphic art maker and lead co-conspirator
Tara Hollins, operations coordinator, keeper of contact and first face of the Manifestation
JME, founder, facilitator of prompts and portal prep
Zoë Gadegbeku, writer-in-residence, editor and keeper of Manifestation filmed reflections
Jemuel Stephenson, designer, maker of desk & stool
Kristen Stain, multidisciplinary artist and designer, maker of The Veil.
The City of Boston Parks & Recreation