Free Day: Juneteenth 2025

Free Admission Generously Supported by Linda Cabot and Ed Anderson

Thursday, June 19, 2025
11 am - 9 pm

The Gardner will honor Juneteenth, the oldest nationally recognized commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, with a free day of performances, conversations, and activities that celebrate community and freedom with Boston-based Black artists and leaders.

Bring your loved ones and show up for your community by engaging in activities led by educators, organizers, and cultural leaders all dedicated to building a better future for everyone. And, as the Boston Public Art Triennial activates the city this summer, we welcome you to learn more about the rich legacy of Boston’s Black muralists who have told neighborhood stories on the walls of the city, beautifying their communities and our world with their contributions.

Photo credit: Steve Osemwenkhae

Program

Blackness Is Monumental!: Making Juneteenth Monuments in Community
Bertucci Education Studio
1 – 4 pm
Get ready for a blast of collage creativity and monumental Black joy as Wee The People brings its kid-powered racial justice programming to the Gardner.

A Minute-To-Win-It Game for Justice!
Jordan Garden
1 – 4 pm
Think you know how changes for justice happen in our world? Test your knowledge—and win a prize—in this competitive game that challenges players to match clues from famous social justice movements to the six basic stages of social change.

Public Art Collections
Living Room
1 – 4 pm
Learn about the public art collections and community engagement efforts of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).

Celebratory Beats
Courtyard
1:30 – 3 pm & 3:30 – 5 pm
Listen to celebratory beats by Gardner Luminary DJ KNSZWRTH.

Black Muralists in Boston Conversation
Living Room
6 – 7 pm
Join us for a powerful dialogue and communal reflection honoring the legacy of Boston’s Black muralists. The panel will explore the role of public art in representing communities of color. Artists will share their experiences about collaborating with local communities and the bonds murals can create.

About the Artists

A hispanic woman in a bright yellow jacket and sun glasses, arms outstretched with sun glasses standing in front of building mural with a similar image behind her.

African American man with a beard and mustache wearing a black coat with the collar popped, looking directly at the camera.

African American man with shoulder length braids and facial hair wearing a green and white shirt, smiling at the camera

African American woman with large hoop earrings with a blue t-shirt with the words Boston Haitti on the front, reading a children's book in front of a microphone.

Photo courtesy of the artist

Silvia López Chavez is a Dominican-American visual artist whose community-centered murals form connections across disciplines and cultural boundaries. She uses joy as an act of resistance and celebration through her vibrant work worldwide.

silvialopezchavez.com/
nstagram: @silvialopezchavez
LinkedIn: @SilviaLopezChavez

Photo courtesy of the artist

Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs is a visual artist and organizer who has transformed the cultural landscape of Boston through graffiti art since 1991.

Growing up in Roxbury during the Hip-Hop Golden Age, ProBlak saw the power of graffiti as a form of self expression. Graffiti became a tool for him, acting as a contemporary form of hieroglyphs, that documents and pay homage to neighborhoods in the city. His vision- to beautify the predominantly black and brown communities of Boston- is a driving force behind his artistic practice.

www.problak.com
www.instagram.com/problak/

Kenny Mascary (aka KNSZWRTH) is a Haitian-American Boston-based DJ, film photographer, cultural producer, and curator. Driven by a deep passion for connecting with communities and individuals who share his enthusiasm for arts, design, and justice, Kenny uses these mediums to co-create spaces that honor and celebrate the creative diversity of Boston’s vibrant, ever-evolving cultural landscape.

As a DJ, Kenny’s sets blend the familiar with the unexpected, seamlessly spanning musical genres and eras. His style is as captivating as it is versatile, making each performance a dynamic experience that pushes boundaries while engaging audiences on a deeply personal level.

Photo courtesy of Francie Latour

Wee The People
Wee The People (WTP) is a racial justice education project that designs high-impact, celebratory experiences for kids K-12, families, and intergenerational audiences. Partnering with schools, museums, libraries, and other organizations across New England, WTP seeks to engage kids and adults in questioning dominant narratives, confronting hard history, and centering Black joy. Launched by two Black mothers in 2016, WTP is led by co-founder Francie Latour, a writer, educator, and daughter of Haitian immigrants who lives in Boston. To learn more about WTP’s programming, scan this QR code:

Tickets

Questions about accessibility? Please call the box office at 617 278 5156.

Advance registration is encouraged for free timed entry tickets for Museum general admission.

Registration opens two weeks before the event for the general public and four weeks in advance for members. Reserve your tickets online by clicking the button above.

Limited tickets may be available in-person at the Museum’s main entrance the day of the event. Please note that day-of tickets are not guaranteed.

Free admission is generously supported by Linda Cabot and Ed Anderson.

Free days are supported in part by the Wallace Minot Leonard Foundation, the Board of Advisors 2022 Fund for Access, and Thomas G. Stemberg Charitable Foundation.

Education and community programs receive support from the Vertex Foundation, Rowland Foundation, the Yawkey Foundation, The Beker Foundation, Liberty Mutual Foundation, The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation, Thomas Anthony Pappas Charitable Foundation, and Janet Burke Mann Foundation.

Studio activities are generously sponsored by the Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust.

The Neighborhood Salon is supported in part by the Anne Hawley Fund for Programs and the Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust.

The Museum receives operating support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which is supported by the state of Massachusetts and the National Endowment for the Arts.