Martha Chason-Sokol

"Listening Works" is an innovative art installation that tackles significant issues in the city of Everett by creating a safe space for art and conversation. This project will be the first project of our newly formed collective “Listening Works.” We intend to cultivate consciousness, compassion, and discourse within community, thereby nurturing a more profound comprehension of the meaning of community, in particular the value of listening. We are grateful for Art + Everywhere’s endorsement and collaboration in materializing "Listening Works," as together, we possess the ability to engender a significant and enduring influence in Everett and in other communities moving forward.

Everett is a gateway city with a majority immigrant and low income population. Despite our resilient communities and huge potential for growth, Everett continues to be plagued and paralyzed by issues such as racism, political corruption, voter suppression, redlining, and discrimination against BIPOC communities.

The key stakeholders of “Listening Works” are Everett residents working in concert with Lesley MFA alumni and students and the City of Everett Planning Department. Our objective is to establish relationships between making art and the daily lives of individuals by engaging these groups in a dialogue that enhances our collective comprehension. This installation will function as a creative partnership, highlighting underutilized public park spaces to reach out to a broader audience and contribute to the betterment of our community.

Creating sculpture from recycled materials and choreographing performances in relation to the sculptures offers a powerful experience for young artists. Inviting neighbors to a celebration honoring the work becomes an opportunity to share stories and strengthen our community.

The seed money and support from Art+Everywhere will allow us to begin this important work.

Artist Bio

Martha Chason-Sokol is an artist living and working in Everett, MA. Her work has been exhibited in Massachusetts and nationally. She holds a BA from Brandeis University and an MFA from Lesley University College of Art and Design. She is an Associate Member of the Boston Sculptors Gallery, serves as Chair of the Everett Cultural Council and is the Founder/Director of Arts for Everett, Inc.

Chason-Sokol’s work is rooted in notions of repair. She is a community based artist who simultaneously maintains an object based practice. She founded Arts for Everett, Inc. in 2021, a nomadic arts organization, to create open space for community, conversation, workshops, and healing. Fittingly, the organization transformed what was originally a pharmacy into a locus for a community art space.