Artist Fellows: Heard

2021 Artist Fellow James Ellis Coleman

“Heard” is a video installation that explores questions of colonial government, community, and prejudice through the lens of the colonial to the contemporary deaf community. Drawing from New England’s diverse history, the piece re-imagines a group of peoples kept at the periphery of government and life, providing cultural recognition and literal communication access for a people that have been excluded from the Old State House through its history.

“Heard” was created by inaugural 2021 Artist Fellow James Ellis Coleman, a Massachusetts-based artist who works with a variety of mediums and historic themes. The piece was on display at the Old State House from August 2021 through March 2022 and featured the video below projected in a darkened room adjacent to the Council Chamber.

See more of James Ellis Coleman’s work →

Watch “Heard” here:

The Artist Fellows program at Revolutionary Spaces opens the doors for new voices to find meaning and connection in the narratives and ideas housed in these two sites. We have partnered with the public art curators at Now + There to identify artists whose unique perspectives will penetrate the veil of the mythology surrounding our history and advise them on their projects. Both buildings and their shared legacy of protest and debate serve as platforms for Massachusetts-based artists to share their visions of history, community, and the struggle for all people to be heard.

Learn more →

Artist Fellow Projects

  • Heard
    Heard
    “Heard” explores questions of colonial government, community, and prejudice through the lens of the colonial to the contemporary deaf community.
    Read more →

Upcoming Events