Saturday, July 22, 2-3 p.m.

Community Conversations through Art

Community Conversations through Art is a new three-part series where diverse artists are invited into the Museum to share selected pieces of their work with the audience as they talk about their art and process, and their involvement in their community. With time for questions at the end, guests will have the opportunity to have real conversations with the artists in an informal setting.

Part 3 — Ileana Doble Hernandez

Ileana Doble Hernandez’s socially conscious practice includes photography, video and experimental installations. Her work explores issues of gun culture, immigration and systems of inequality. Ileana uses her practice as a form of activism, from her perspective as a mother and as a Mexican immigrant living in the U.S. for more than a decade.

Ileana is interested in the use of art as a way to provoke and challenge viewer’s preconceived representations. By combining non-traditional methods and materials, Ileana explores ways in which artist and audience collaborate. Through her postcards installation more than 500 postcards have been mailed to U.S. elected officials advocating for gun control. Since 2020, she’s been collaborating with Imaginary Lines Project, an ongoing socially engaged artistic endeavor that allows people to share their immigration journey through the U.S./Mexico border.

Ileana is a Studio Resident at the Boston Center for the Arts, a 2023 Boston Arts and Business Council Fellow, a 2021 NALAC Leadership Institute Fellow, and the 2019 CAD Outstanding Graduate Student from RIT.

To see more of Ileana’s work click here.

Images above: Los Gringos series includes 70 street photographs taken at different times and places during Ileana’s life as an immigrant in the United States.

The story behind
Community Conversations through Art

In its galleries and classrooms, the Danforth inspires and engages through art. Beyond Our Walls—our virtual gallery which highlights artists from Framingham and its surrounding towns — increases these opportunities to inspire and engage. Meeting local artists in person takes this a step further; we feel art is a meaningful way to connect with people we may not otherwise know from our community.

All talks are Saturdays from 2-3 p.m. Talks are free with paid admission to museum. Museum members, as always, are free!

Part 1, May 20 — Katie Lee Mansfield

Part 2, June 17 — Svetlana Burinskaya

Part 3, July 22 — Ileana Doble Hernandez

Community Conversations through Art is sponsored by a grant from the Mass Cultural Council.