RAW arts festival paints downtown Lynn

LYNN — Raw Art Works celebrated RAW seniors’ artwork and marked the end of this year’s Art Week with an exhibit opening, block party, and arts festival.

With the theme for this year’s Art Week, “Unfiltered,” RAW aimed to encourage and inspire artists and visitors to reflect on their own authenticity, self-acceptance, and true identity.

“This year there was a lot about ‘cringe’ culture and how the youth feels about that, and how hard it is for them to come as their authentic self,” RAW Executive Director Rosario Ubiera-Minaya said.

During the party that closed down Central Square from 5 to 9 p.m., visitors got to enjoy not only the artwork in the exhibit, but also entertainment provided by DJ E and RewalWave of HomeTown Hero DJs.

Khianna Jolibois, a RAW student, explained some of the struggles young artists face and the connection of those struggles to this year’s theme.

“Sometimes, I feel that because of judgement from other people and critics, it can be a little hard to be unfiltered for artists,” Jolibois said.

RAW Program Director Guelmi Espinal said that a lot of the seniors have been working on the projects showcased in the exhibit since January.

Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker and Mayor Jared Nicholson also attended the festival as special guests.

“On behalf of the City of Lynn, thank you to Raw Arts and to all the student artists for all that you do. Art is a critical part of our community, of our lives together,” Nicholson said. “Art matters because of what it can mean for economic development, learning, and education.”

Tucker also saluted Raw Art Works.

“This is what community is all about,” he said

Daivian Lopez, one of the teen leaders at RAW, summarized the entire Art Week in just a few words.

“It’s just straight love!” Lopez said.

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