It’s been 160 years since the last enslaved people in the United States, then living in Texas, were officially informed that they were free — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

What was once celebrated on a city or state level is now celebrated nationwide as a federal holiday on June 19, also known as Juneteenth. And in the spirit of the holiday, Cambridge’s LabCentral is hosting a special exhibit and panel discussion, centering local Black artists and community activists in an event called “Juneteenth: Freedom & Form.”

Shazia Mir, community and social impact strategist for LabCentral, said although the organization is a launchpad for local start-ups with a focus on science, the mission of the nonprofit includes building community through live events that bring together people of all backgrounds and experiences.

“It’s more important than ever for communities to understand each other, to understand each other’s histories — the challenges, the struggles, the joys — and it really makes for a cohesive community and society,” Mir said.

“Juneteenth: Freedom & Form” will feature the work of six Black artists working in different mediums, including photography, painting and sculpture. The commemoration also features a discussion on art as resistance and restoration, moderated by poet and “artivist” Amanda Shea.

DaNice Marshall, one of the artists whose work will be on display, said she feels honored to be part of the exhibit and panel discussion. Marshall, who became a painter after a life-changing medical diagnosis, said she’s known about Juneteenth since she was a child and has been sharing the message and history of the holiday with her friends and family for decades.

She says the work that’s part of the LabCentral exhibit offers a contemporary lens on historical events. But mostly, her art centers Black joy and the connections people can create if they’re vulnerable and willing to reach out to one another.

“I just want people to just realize that we’re so much more alike,” Marshall said. “Life is so short, [and] just real difficult these days for all of us. And I think that art itself can bring us together.”

“Juneteenth: Freedom & Form” takes place on Friday, June 25, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at LabCentral’s Gallery 1832 in Cambridge. Click here for more information. The event is free, open to the public and will offer catering by local Black-owned business ZaZ.

Guests

  • Shazia Mir, community and social impact strategist at LabCentral and the organizer of “Juneteenth: Freedom & Form.”
  • DaNice Marshall, one of the six artists featured in the event and exhibit.