Still Here: A Mural Journey is a digital zine comprising of photographic and digital art work created by the by teens in the Photography Collective program at the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston during the 2024–2025 school year. In collaboration with the Boston Research Center, these young people explored public art throughout Boston.
Photography Collective is a group of 12 high-school aged teens from the Boston area who uplift their communities and develop themselves personally, professionally, and creatively through photography. Members enter the program at varying photography levels and learn to collaborate and create independently and together. While honing their skills on industry-standard software and equipment, members learn to create unique projects while connecting with their larger communities.
Photography Collective’s partnership with the Boston Research Center’s Neighborhood Art Project focused on public art throughout Roxbury & the South End. Through this project, these young people explored what it means to be a documentarian of others’ art and a moment in time. As Photography Collective turned their attention to different public art works, often created to send a community-focused message or “beautify” a neighborhood, they were also asked what message about themselves would they want to leave behind.
In the ever-changing landscape of Boston, Photography Collective members captured public art in hopes of preserving the works and their stories in a digital archive created with and housed by the Neighborhood Art Project. This project empowered members of Photography Collective to develop their photographic skills while learning about the history of different works of public art in Boston, connecting with local artists, and deepening their understanding of the important role photography can play in preserving history. This zine, comprising of photography of public art pieces throughout Boston, prompts the viewer to look deeper and connect with public art in new ways.
All of the content is representative of the individual Photo Collective members and not a representation of the ICA.