Image: Tuareg, Audrey Diallo, Somerville, MA
Uprooted / Transplanted presents images and stories of displacement, the forced movement of people from their homes due to conflict, violence, economics, discrimination or natural disaster. Somerville and the Greater Boston area are home to many such displaced persons, forced to relocate far from home into a totally different environment. We share these stories.
The Uprooted/Transplanted exhibition will join art exhibited elsewhere in the building tied to the theme of displacement including selections of Art in Exile, a collection of paintings from 10 artists in refugee camps in Jordan, currently displayed in the CHPC Sanctuary as well as Faces of Syrian Refugees, a collection of triptych, life-sized portraits and with transcribed interviews with relocated Syrian refugees around the world by Boston, MA photographer Michael S Cohen, in collaboration with radio journalist Amy Bracken and translator Dana Janbek. Both collections are evocative of displacement, survival and hope.
EXHIBITION DATES:
May 1 – June 14, 2026
Gallery Hours: Saturday and Sundays; 1 pm- 5 pm
LEARN TO TALK SOCIAL JUSTICE SERIES:
Since 2014, The Nave Gallery and the Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church have presented a social justice art show with supporting events to focus on a societal concern. In the past we have presented programs that highlighted issues such as environmental stewardship (Watermarks), addiction (Every Picture Tells a Story – The Opioid Project), Immigration (Crossing the Border) and community building (Embracing Differences). This year we are presenting images and stories of displacement. We will have several events -a poetry reading, fund raising concert and panel discussion / community conversation to illuminate and engage in thoughtful discourse. This year, we will be raising funds for STEM CURES, a mission project in Jordan that provides educational opportunities for children in refugee camps.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Opening Reception:
Friday May 1, 2026, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Refreshments Served
Somerville Open Studios
Saturday, May 2 and Sunday May 3, 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Special Pop-up Events throughout the weekend
Poetry Reading
Vijaya Sundaram, Medford Poet Laureate – 2023 -2025
Sunday May 17, 2026, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Refreshments Served
Learn more
Curator’s Walk
Sunday, June 7; 3:00 pm
Curators Qais Asal and Sara ElBashir will lead a tour and engage with several of the artists and the audience members about the exhibition. Potential performances by participating artists Ghazaleh Seidabadi and Katya Popova, relative to their pieces. Please join us; refreshments will be served.
Closing Reception
Sunday, June 14; 3:00 pm-5:00 pm
Artists: Art Pick-up
– June 14, 5:30
-June 15, 6:30-8:00
-June 16, 6:30-8:00
ARTISTS:
Juliana T. Borgiani Geiger, Ronald D. Butler, Sarah Cecil, Gordon D. Chase, Audrey Diallo, Shoshanna Ehrlich, Luc Grenier, Sirarpi Heghinian-Walzer, Saeed Hosein, Lou Jones, Nilou Moochhala, Devon Murphy, Katya Popova, Rajiv Raman, Ruth Rosner, Ghazaleh Seidabadi, Mona Sartoveh, Luna Smith, Elizabeth Wilson
JURISTS:
Mohammad Jokhadar and Tamer Jokhador
Syrian artists in exile, former refugees in Jordanian camps, currently living in Canada
Qais Assali
Palestinian artist, designer, and curator Professor of the Practice at SMFA, Tufts University, Boston area based
Sara Elbashir
Sudanese-Alexandrian artist and calligrapher
SMFA Post-Baccalaureate 2024, Boston area based
