Salem Public Artist in Residence Showcase Set For Old Town Hall

SALEM, MA — Salem Public Artist in Residence Julia Csekö's eight-month tenure in the city will culminate next month with a three-week showcase and solo exhibition at Old Town Hall.

The exhibition will be open from Jan. 13 through Jan. 31 with a reception set for Jan. 25 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The solo presentation features newly-created monumental textile work that responds to and engages with dozens of migration stories collected from local residents through the participatory public art installation Transcending Borders Immigrant Experiences and Dreams.

"There is significant hesitation in sharing immigration stories, triggered by the fear of stigmatization fueled by misinformation and sensationalist narratives," Csekö said. "This exhibition invites us to destigmatize immigration experiences and immigrant cultures by providing a positive perspective on these stories, thus creating a welcoming and safe environment."

The exhibition also showcases two video pieces created in collaboration with Salem Access TV that will be premiered to the Salem Old Town Hall audiences. The first time-based project consists of a series of interviews with members of local immigrant communities, and the second features three professional dancers invited by the artist to activate the Welcome Dresses, wearable pieces made of thousands of colorful satin ribbons printed with the phrase "YOU ARE WELCOME HERE" in 15 languages commonly spoken by immigrants in Greater Boston.

The Jan. 25 reception is free and open to the public with performances featuring local creatives and family-friendly activities.

Csekö is a Brazilian American artist based in Boston. Her work incorporates elements of Brazilian culture and aesthetics.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)