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Chronicles from Castle Square is an exhibition of artwork by teens from the Change Creators program at Castle Square Tenants Organization (CSTO). These artists focus in on stories that are of significance to them.

The photography is arranged into three categories: “Beauty in the Small Things,” “Hidden Stories/Layers,” and “Past, Present, Future.” “Beauty in the Small Things” encompasses images the artists found particularly captivating or extraordinary in everyday settings. In “Hidden Stories/Layers,” we see photos taken by teenagers around Boston. What do they mean? That’s up for you to decide. In “Past, Present, Future,” the photographers return to places of their pasts and capture them using their eyes now, reflecting on both what has happened since then and how they will later see their present selves. The final section of the exhibition, called “The Ballad of the Backgrounds,” is a collection of nine short films by the same teens.

CSTO’s mission is to promote the economic, educational, and social empowerment of low- and moderate-income individuals by providing access to safe, quality affordable housing and supportive direct service programs. Through its Media Production Internships for Teens, young people learn photography and video production, storytelling, and event planning in order to bring communities together through visual media.

This exhibition was organized by the ICA’s Teen Exhibitions Program, a group of teens who work together to plan, organize, and install artwork in the ICA Teen Galleries. In this space, we imagine new ways of presenting work, and grow in our own creative practice by collaborating with one another and ICA staff. Teen arts education is central to the ICA, and the Teen Exhibitions Programs is just one of many programs offered. Special thanks to all the collaborators who made this happen, including the staff and teens at CSTO.

Text written by Aaron C., Luna L., and Ramona B.

Thank you to our collaborators

Aaron C., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Alejandro V., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Angela T., Principal Designer
Angelica M., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Anthony T., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Aric C., Teen Programs Manager
Autumn M., CSTO Teen Artist
Ayanajanay R., CSTO Teen Artist
Ayden A., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Betsy G., Director of Teen Programs
Carol L., Decorative Painter
Charlie C., Preparator
Ciiphus C., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Coco R., Teen Exhibitions Program Teaching Artist
Dani A., Production Manager
Edwin A., Facilities Assistant
Eleanor W., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Emily W., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Essence T., CSTO Teen Artist
Hieu V., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Jasmani T., CSTO Teen Artist
Jennifer M., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Joseph B., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Julie S., Production Manager
Juliney S. & Opportunity Painting, Painters
Kayla V., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Kemani A., CSTO Teen Artist
Kris W., Director of Creative Content and Digital Engagement
Layla P., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Leandra B., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Leycaira M., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Liv B., Exhibitions Coordinator
Luna L., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Marianne M., CSTO Teen Artist
Nate C., Teen Creative Leadership Alumni Assistant
Nathan A., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Patrick E., CSTO Teen Artist
Ramona B., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Ravyn H., CSTO Teen Artist
Ruth E., Barbara Lee Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs
Samantha C., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Tayde P., CSTO Teen Artist
Tessa H., Curatorial Assistant
Tim O., Chief Preparator
Tyra S., CSTO Teen Artist
Ty’Asiah S., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Xixin C., CSTO Teen Artist
Vivianne S., Teen Exhibitions Program Member

As You Are explores the unique and evolving expressions of beauty in the human form through art made by ICA teen artists. While the concept of the ideal human form is often warped by societal expectations, the artists presenting here seek to create their own definitions through their personal experiences.

The artists used photography and sculpture to capture different instances of beauty in their lives. While each artist had a specific intention for their piece, the works are unified in finding beauty in the human form. Whether exploring beauty in human interactions or in the artistic forms we create, each piece demonstrates the multifaceted concept that is beauty and how it is anchored in humanity. While taking in the exhibition pieces, consider how and where beauty appears in your life and the ways you define it.

This exhibition was organized by the ICA’s Teen Exhibitions Program, a group of creative teens who work together to plan, organize, and install exhibitions in the ICA Teen Galleries. In this space, we imagine new ways of presenting work, and grow in our own creative practice by collaborating with one another and ICA staff.

The artists included in this exhibition are members of other ICA Teen Programs, including Fast Forward, Photography Collective, and Teen Arts Council. Text written by Angelica M. and Leandra B.

Thank you to our collaborators

Special thanks to all the collaborators who made this happen, including many staff at the ICA:

Alana C., ICA Teen Artist
Alejandro V., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Ana R., ICA Teen Artist
Andrew Y., ICA Teen Artist
Angela T., Principal Designer
Angelica M., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Anja R., ICA Teen Artist
Anthony T., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Aric C., Teen Programs Manager
Ayden A., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Betsy G., Director of Teen Programs
Coco R., Teen Exhibitions Program Teaching Artist
Dani A., Production Manager
Edwin A., Facilities Assistant
Hieu V., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Isabel L., ICA Teen Artist
Joseph B., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Julie S., Production Manager
Kai Vlahos, Art Installer
Kayla V., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Kris W., Director of Creative Content and Digital Engagement
Layla P., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Leandra B., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Leycaira M., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Liv B., Exhibitions Coordinator
Luca P., ICA Teen Artist
Luna L., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Nate C., Teen Creative Leadership Alumni Assistant
Nathan A., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Nicky T., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Olivia N., ICA Teen Artist
Ruth E., Barbara Lee Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs
Sol Y., ICA Teen Artist
Tessa H., Curatorial Assistant
Tim O., Chief Preparator


From the Ground Up explores relationships between people and their environments, as well as interactions between the natural and the man-made. ICA teen artists express ideas about the ways in which they experience nature, the most unusual places they’ve found nature, and where they’ve seen an absence of nature.

This exhibition was organized by the ICA’s Teen Exhibitions Program, a group of creative teens who work together to plan, organize, and install exhibitions in the ICA Teen Gallery. This gallery is a space for us to imagine new ways of presenting work, and to grow in our own creative practice by collaborating with one another and ICA staff.

The artists included in the gallery are members of other ICA Teen Programs, including AMP: Music Production, Fast Forward, Photo Collective, Special Focus, and Teen Arts Council. Special thanks to all the collaborators who made this happen, including many staff at the ICA. See the bottom of this page for a full list.

From the Ground Up: Nature and the Man-Made will be on view in the Teen Gallery at the ICA’s Seaport Studio through May 30, 2024.

Thank you to our collaborators

Adonis T., ICA Teen Artist
Amari B., ICA Teen Artist
Ana R., ICA Teen Artist
Andrew Y., ICA Teen Artist
Angela T., Principal Designer
Angelica M., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Anja R., ICA Teen Artist
Anthony S., ICA Teen Artist
Ayden A., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Betsy G., Director of Teen Programs
Coco Rosenberg, Teen Exhibitions Program Teaching Artist
Edwin A., Facilities Assistant
Emmett S., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Fiona L., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Isabel L., ICA Teen Artist
Joseph B., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Juliana G., ICA Teen Artist
Kai Vlahos, Art Installer
Kris W., Director of Creative Content and Digital Engagement
Laura C., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Layla P., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Leandra B., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Lee R., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Leena A., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Liv Biel, Exhibitions Coordinator
Luna L., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Mariana A., ICA Teen Artist
Miguel E., ICA Teen Artist
Nate C., Teen Creative Leadership Alumni Assistant
Nathan A., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Nohemi R., Teen Programs Manager
Olivia N., ICA Teen Artist
Precious O., ICA Teen Artist
Rune M., ICA Teen Artist
Ruth E., Barbara Lee Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs
Sachelle S., ICA Teen Artist
Sam R., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Samantha P., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Shiloh H., ICA Teen Artist
Sienna A., ICA Teen Artist
Sol Y., ICA Teen Artist
Sydney L., Teen Exhibitions Program Member
Tim O., Chief Preparator

The Stories that Make Us is an exhibition of artwork by high school students that explores personal stories about migration, belonging, and overcoming adversity. This exhibit embodies how different stories intersect and finds the commonalities we all have with one another.  We invite you to explore the works that make up The Stories that Make Us and see what you relate to.

I Learn America (ILA) is a youth-led education program with a mission to use the power of storytelling to foster empathy, urgency, and action around issues affecting migrant youth, as they forge their own path in a new land. In 2021, youth facilitators from ILA worked with artists from the Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to create panels that focused on their own journeys. In the fall of 2022, ILA facilitators worked with student leaders at Everett High School, Boston International Newcomers Academy, and ENLACE Academy to lead workshops around the panels—taking inspiration from the panels, students used black vinyl and permanent marker on mirrors and windows to create pieces that reflected their own personal experiences and points of connection.

This exhibition was organized by the ICA’s Teen Exhibitions Program, a group of creative teens who work together to plan, organize, and install artwork in the ICA Teen Gallery, while learning about the process of making exhibitions from dedicated museum professionals. Teen arts education is central to the ICA, and the Teen Exhibitions Programs is just one of many programs offered. Special thanks to all the collaborators who made this happen, including I Learn America, Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Everett High School, Boston International Newcomers Academy, and ENLACE Academy at Lawrence High School.

The Stories that Make Us is on view in the Teen Gallery in the ICA Seaport Studio at 100 Pier 4 Blvd. Seaport Studio is open to the public Tuesday through Thursday, 2–5 PM.

Credits

Lead support for Teen Programs provided by Wagner Foundation.

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Teen Programs are made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Award Number MA-252104-OMS-22.

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Additional support is provided by the Rowland Foundation, Inc.; Vertex; The Willow Tree Fund; the Cabot Family Charitable Trust; Mathieu O. Gaulin; the William E. Schrafft and Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust; the Nathaniel Saltonstall Arts Fund; the Mass Cultural Council; the Rosalie Thorne McKenna Foundation; the Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee; MFS Investment Management; BPS Arts Expansion Fund at EdVestors; the Bessie Pappas Charitable Foundation, Inc.; and the Charlotte Foundation.

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Converse is committed to supporting movements for positive social change and amplifying youth voices as they build the future they believe in.

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