TO BE HERE

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 June 2026, TO BE HERE takes 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.

The exhibition will be open at 7 PM on performance evenings, with the performance beginning at 8 PM.

TO BE HERE has been supported by the William Penn Foundation, the William M. King Foundation, and Central Philadelphia Friends Meeting.