To Be Here | Lynda Grace Black & Magda Martinez
SHOWTIMES • JUN 11 @ 7PM | JUN 12 @ 7PM | JUN 13 @ 7PM
Christ Church Neighborhood House • 20 N American St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
about the project
TO BE HERE honors the layered identities of Philadelphians and reimagines what it means to belong. Rooted in communal storytelling, artists Lynda Grace Black and Magda Martinez invite lifelong residents to come together with newer arrivals. Through shared stories of resilience, loss, and transformation, participants explore the experience of being here now, in a city shaped by both historic legacy and present-day complexity.
TO BE HERE unfolds over many months of gathering, listening, and making through story circles. From these encounters, Black and Martinez create an art installation woven from the voices and artifacts of participants — a textured portrait of collective memory and cultural inheritance. Culminating in spring 2026, TO BE HERE will take shape as a multi-day exhibition and performance, offering visitors the chance to follow stories down several paths. At its heart, TO BE HERE reflects a broader, more inclusive vision of being Philadelphian: one that embraces contradiction, honors sacrifice, and makes space for everyone’s story.
about the artists
•
about the artists •
Lynda Grace Black's roots are firmly embedded in a community-focused upbringing in northwest Philadelphia, where her family participated in civic and church endeavors. Inspired by her parents and her grandmother, Lynda found creative expression in needlecrafts.
Today, her work primarily manifests as twine, yarn and fabric soft sculptures and collages. Exploring the profound interconnectedness inherent in us, Lynda’s creations delve into narratives of both tragedy and triumph. A significant component of her portfolio is a series of over 70 crocheted vessels paying tribute to victims of state-sanctioned lynchings and other injustices. Several vessels from this collection were placed in public spaces across Philadelphia, St. Helena, Savannah, Berlin, and London.
Venues that have exhibited Lynda’s work include the Colored Girls Museum, Seed on Diamond Gallery, Twelve Gates Arts, Da Vinci Art Alliance, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rush Arts Philly, Trunc, Muse, Pendle Hill, African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey, and Pollinator. Beyond needlecraft, Lynda has ventured into printing making, performance, photography, and film. With academic degrees in journalism and education, her education has been enriched by programs at Fleisher Art Memorial, Asian Arts Initiative, The Alternative Art School, Pollinator and through independent study. She is a member of the Sankofa Artisans Guild, Joined Hands Artists Collective, and Fleisher Art Memorial.
You can learn more about Lynda’s art and practice on her Instagram.
Magda Martinez is a poet, vocalist, educator, and arts executive whose work bridges creativity, community, and leadership. She is from a family active in community and politics. A believer in the power of the arts, she draws inspiration from the “cotidiano”—the everyday moments that shape our lives using multiple mediums. She writes and works with others so we can tell our own stories in our own voices. Her original works have been performed and produced nationally and internationally.
Magda’s work artistically and professionally has centered on weaving art and community life, directing nationally recognized diversity and community initiatives at Fleisher Art Memorial to serving as Chief Operating Officer at Mural Arts Philadelphia and The Welcoming Center. Artistically she has been recognized with fellowships and awards from the Independence Foundation, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, and Leeway Foundation for her commitment to using art as a tool for transformation. Currently she serves on the boards of Puentes de Salud and The Barra Foundation.
Stay up to date with Magda’s art and practice on her Instagram.