A public art proposal by City of Boston Artist-in-Residence Golden, a gender-nonconforming trans-femme photographer and poet, has been awarded a grant from the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture. Golden’s proposal will fund a yet-to-be-named artist to create a mural in Allston commemorating Rita Hester and Transgender Day of Remembrance.
The project is one of 10 mural sites across nine Boston neighborhoods sharing $750,000 in awards, with several more recipients to be announced, according to boston.gov.
“Paying artists to integrate bold, new artwork throughout our neighborhoods is a step in the right direction as we focus on reopening our city and coming back together around the notion of joy and renewal,” said Kara Elliott-Ortega, Chief of Arts and Culture for the City of Boston.
Describing Golden’s project, the statement says:
As conversations around monuments and public art continued across the nation and in Boston, Golden was moving into another phase of their residency. In the fall of 2020, they proposed a mural to honor the life and legacy of Rita Hester, a Black trans woman and beloved Allston community member who lost their life as a result of transphobia and anti-trans violence. The Transgender Day of Remembrance was started by activist Gwendolyn Ann Smith to memorialize Rita Hester and is observed annually across the world on November 20th. This mural proposal to honor Rita Hester will be the first public art piece honoring Rita Hester and others who have lost their lives due to anti-trans violence in the city of Boston.
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