Hey everyone! 🌟 We are thrilled to share highlights from the Bighead Cleanup Festival held at the National Center for Afro-American Artists in Roxbury, MA! 🏛️ This incredible event was a massive success, thanks to the amazing collaboration between the Boston Bighead Group Team, Visit Roxbury MA, and our wonderful community volunteers. 🤝 What Went Down: Community Cleanup: Dozens of volunteers joined forces to clean up our beloved neighborhood, making the streets sparkle and shine. 🧹✨ Art and Culture Exhibits: The National Center for Afro-American Artists opened its doors for free tours, showcasing rich African-American art and history. 🎨🖼️ Live Performances: Local musicians and performers lit up the stage with music, dance, and spoken word poetry. 🎶💃 Food and Vendors: Delicious food from local vendors and a marketplace featuring handmade crafts and goods. 🍲🛍️ Kids' Corner: Fun activities for the little ones, including face painting, games, and storytelling sessions. 🎈👧🧒 A Huge Thank You To: Boston Bighead Group Team for organizing and mobilizing volunteers. 👏 Visit Roxbury MA for promoting the event and supporting local tourism. 🗺️ National Center for Afro-American Artists for hosting and enriching us with culture. 🖤 Why It Matters: This festival wasn't just about cleaning up—it's about coming together to celebrate our community's strength, diversity, and artistic heritage. It's a testament to what we can achieve when we unite for a common cause. 🌍❤️ Join Us Next Time! If you missed out, don't worry! This is just the beginning. Stay tuned for more events that make a difference in our community. 📢 Don't Forget to: LIKE this video if you enjoyed it! 👍 SUBSCRIBE to our channel for updates on future events! 🔔 SHARE this video to spread the word! 📣 Follow Our Partners for More Information: Boston Bighead Group Team Website Instagram Facebook Visit Roxbury MA Website Instagram Facebook National Center for Afro-American Artists Website Instagram Facebook #BigheadCleanupFestival #NationalCenterForAfroAmericanArtists #BostonBigheadGroup #VisitRoxburyMA #visitnubiansquare #CommunityLove

Local Feature: Monuments Wilson began developing Eternal Presence in the 1970s and received a commission in 1982 to create it for the National Center for Afro-American Art in Roxbury, installing it in 1987. The sculpture was inspired by the large stone Buddha sculptures at the MFA and the Olmec heads he saw in Mexico. There are two casts of the clay maquette for this project, one in the DeCordova Museum and the other cast at the Paul King Foundry in Rhode Island. John Wilson, a distinguished Boston artist, dedicated his life to exploring African American experiences. Initially known for his drawings, paintings, and prints, Wilson turned to sculpture in the late 1960s, feeling that two-dimensional images were insufficient. He began working with clay and created his first major sculpture, Eternal Presence, a monumental bronze head with African-American features. Based loosely on sketches of his daughter’s friend, Roz, the piece is not a portrait but an “existential black head,” capturing the essence of the African American community. #EternalPresence #BostonBigHead #JohnWilsonArt #AfricanAmericanArt #MonumentalSculpture #BostonArt #BronzeSculpture #ArtInBoston #AfroAmericanArt #PublicArt #sculptureart

Discover the Legacy of the Boston Bighead: A Monument to Roxbury’s Eternal Presence When you walk through the heart of Roxbury, you may notice a striking piece of art that quietly commands attention—The Boston Bighead, an iconic monument created by renowned sculptor John Wilson. For those who pass it daily, it may just seem like part of the city’s backdrop, but this sculpture holds layers of meaning and history, waiting to be uncovered. That’s where the Boston Bighead Community: Eternal Presence comes in. Spearheaded by the Notable Roxburian Society, our mission is to ensure that the rich cultural and historical significance of this monument isn’t forgotten. This isn’t just a statue; it’s a reflection of the vibrant, resilient spirit of Roxbury itself. What’s Behind the Bighead? Created by Roxbury native John Wilson, The Boston Bighead is much more than a symbol of local pride—it represents generations of history, identity, and struggle. Wilson, an internationally respected artist, infused this sculpture with themes that resonate deeply with the community—freedom, empowerment, and the importance of African American contributions to the city of Boston. But here’s where things get interesting. Many people walk by, not knowing the layers of history embedded in the piece. How many stories are silently waiting to be told? That’s the question the Notable Roxburian Society seeks to answer by keeping the monument’s significance alive and visible for all. The Plaques of Memory You might have seen the elegant aluminum plaques that have been recently installed around the monument. These plaques, designed and placed by the Notable Roxburian Society, don’t just mark a location—they tell a story. Each one shares a unique piece of Roxbury’s history and its connection to the Boston Bighead. These plaques are more than just words on metal; they are gateways to understanding the cultural richness that shaped this community. Why Should You Care? The Boston Bighead isn’t just a monument for art enthusiasts or historians—it’s a symbol of Roxbury’s resilience, heritage, and the deep-rooted connection its people have to their past. By highlighting the stories behind the sculpture, the Notable Roxburian Society aims to spark curiosity and inspire dialogue. Whether you’re a longtime resident or new to the neighborhood, understanding the history of the Boston Bighead is a way of connecting to the soul of Roxbury. How You Can Be a Part of It We invite you to explore these plaques and dig into the history of this incredible monument. The Notable Roxburian Society is committed to preserving and sharing the story of the Boston Bighead, but we need your curiosity to keep it alive. Stop by, take a photo, share your thoughts, and become a part of the living history that is unfolding around this monumental work of art. By engaging with the Boston Bighead, you’re not just learning about the past—you’re helping to shape the future of Roxbury’s cultural narrative. Stay tuned for upcoming events, guided tours, and community discussions, all designed to bring the history of this monument to life! So, next time you walk by the Boston Bighead, pause. Take a moment. There’s more to discover than meets the eye. And through the work of the Notable Roxburian Society, these stories will continue to be told, keeping the spirit of Roxbury’s Eternal Presence alive for generations to come. Dr. Ali ABY Muhammed Curator/ Executive Director Boston Bighead Community Roxbury, MA #visitnubiansquare #visitroxburyma #BostonBighead #EternalPresence #JohnWilsonArt #RoxburyHistory #NotableRoxburianSociety #RoxburyPride #CommunityLegacy #PublicArtBoston #CulturalHeritage #MonumentStories #ArtInRoxbury #DiscoverRoxbury #RoxburyCulture #BostonLandmarks #HistoricRoxbury

Born in Bronx, NY, Laurence (Larry) Pierce studied at New York’s High School of Art and Design, after which he served in the United States Navy as a photographer and videographer for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. Returning to civilian life, he continued art studies at Cooper Union, and School of the Visual Arts (BFA, 1977). In 1991, he moved to Boston and joined the Boston African-American Artists Association. Pierce then established the African Winter Gallery, now African Winter Studio. Teaching art to youngsters and thereby positively impacting their education and development became his passionate interest. At Dimock Center, he taught preschool and headed the Art Department for the “Smart Kids” after school program. Simultaneously, he wrote the curriculum for art, reading and mathematics for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Other places where he has taught and conducted workshops include Dorchester Arts Collaborative, sparc! The Artmobile (Massachusetts College of Art and Design), Sister Katherine Drexel Community Center and the Grove Hall Branch of the Boston Public Library. In 2017, he won a contract from the Quincy Corridor/Grove Hall Public Art Commission to produce a series of paintings depicting notable figures in a project titled “On the Shoulders of Giants.” Source https://ncaaa.org/the-museum/collections-exhibitions/think-about-it/

The Nubian Geographic www.nubiangeographic.com The Imperial Kingdom Of Nubia (IPO) Indigenous Peoples Organization Ancient Nubians reached the pinnacle of glory during the 25th dynasty when Nubian kings occupied the Egyptian throne and ruled from the Mediterranean Sea to the mountains of Ethiopia. In the waning years of the dynasty, King Aspelta ascended to the throne governing from 600 to 580 BC. After his death, he was buried at Nuri near the Nile River in present day Sudan. Early in the 20th century, the Anglo-Sudanese government resolved to raise the Aswan dam higher thereby increasing the probability that the area would be permanently under water. Archaeologists from the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston, and Harvard University were hired to remove the significant historical material. For this reason, a wealth of Nubian objects and records came to rest at the MFA. Drawing upon that collection and excavation records, we created Aspelta: A Nubian King’s Burial Chamber. Our exhibition features more than fifty 2600 year old objects from Aspelta’s tomb and times, including a brick still speckled with gold, as well as the world’s only fully accurate recreation of a Nubian tomb interior. At the center of the burial chamber is a cast from Aspelta’s original sarcophagus containing a replica of his gilded coffin. The walls of the tomb are carved with text from four chapters of the Egyptian Book of the Living along with illuminations of the myth of Osiris and from cycle of kingly death and resurrection. Walking into the burial chamber will impress upon the viewer the majesty of ancient Nubia and the ambition of its rulers.