Join us as we honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the intersection of creativity and community. Celebrate this monumental day by centering Dr. King’s values of equality, freedom, and civic inclusion. Through performances, workshops, and art-making, PEM invites visitors to reflect on the progress we have made in our communities – and the work that remains as we strive for a more just society.
Storytelling and Art Making
10:30 am–11:30 pm| PEM Pals
Garden Atrium, Gallery 115
"I wonder, then, what freedom is. Is it a place? Is it a thought? Can it be stolen? Can it be bought?" Join us for a special PEM Pals reading of the book Freedom, We Sing by Amyra León, followed by a hands-on activity inspired by the book.
Designed for children (5 and under) and their caregivers, PEM Pals aims to engage and excite all of the senses through books, movement, music, art, and hands-on activities. This program is held on the First Friday of the month at 10:30 am. The next session is on Friday, February 3. We will also host a special PEM Pals session for Lunar New Year (Saturday, January 28).
Performance
12:00–12:45 pm | Jazzmyn RED
Main Atrium
Gather with us in the Main Atrium for a special performance of hip-hop and soul music from MC, singer, poet and hip-hop activist Jazzmyn RED.
Art Making
1:00, 1:30, 2:00 and 2:30 pm | Pour Art with Rahim Gray
Create Space Studios
Explore fluid acrylics and create your own work of art with local artist and instructor Rahim Gray!
To allow for instructor demonstrations, this activity is offered once every half hour for groups of no more than 20 people. Please reserve your ticket the same day at the admissions or information desk.
Workshop
2:00–3:00 pm | Music of the Movement: Exploring Music’s Connection to Social Justice
Garden Atrium, Gallery 115
Recommended for ages 12 and up
Join Jazzmyn RED to explore the relationship between social justice movements and music. Through this workshop, learn how to find your voice, promote awareness and encourage activism in your own community. Please reserve your ticket the same day at the admissions or information desk.
About the Artists
Jazzmyn RED blends her lyricism, tack-sharp bars, soulful singing and songwriting talents to create a unique and powerful sound. She has an affinity for bold storytelling about our communities, families, relationships and society based on her own experiences. In 2021, Jazzmyn RED was chosen to participate in the U.S. State Department’s Next Level Program, teaching at Berklee School of Music in Abu Dhabi. Since then she has mentored MCs from Mongolia, Ghana, Barbados, Poland, Portugal and Ecuador. She currently serves as an Ambassador of Hip-Hop and Cultural Exchange to the U.S. State Department and continues to educate through her classes and her music.
Self-taught fluid acrylics artist Rahim Gray was born and raised in Dorchester. He says, “I like that I must relinquish control when making a piece because of the power of gravity and the formlessness of liquid. Fluid art challenges me – it has no fixed shape, and when sheer force is applied, it cannot resist.” His art is influenced by both music and current events. He also leads fluid acrylics and pour-art classes and pop-ups, teaching people how to make their own masterpieces.
