Local artist 2ruTh7 explores the nexus of violence, healing and art in immersive program series

Celina Colby

Celina Colby is an arts and travel reporter with a fondness for Russian novels.... VIEW BIO

Artist Sean “2ruTh7” Evelyn has experienced violence firsthand, both as an enactor and a survivor, and he knows it doesn’t happen in a vacuum. As part of his research work into violent crime and collective trauma in communities of color, 2ruTh7 will stage “Ars Moriendi,” an immersive, multi-media art experience exploring the way violence can at once destroy and rebuild.

The project began behind bars. 2ruTh7 was incarcerated for 16 years and became heavily involved in restorative practices, often using communication, storytelling and art to work through the traumas of the justice system and the road that led him and others there. Though the restorative piece was gratifying, 2ruTh7 wanted to take things a step further to make meaningful policy changes around the justice system. And so he launched Explanations from Exile, the arts justice company that will put on “Ars Moriendi.”

Since launching the company, 2ruTh7 has expanded from storytelling into research, partnering with the Racism-based Violence Injury & Prevention Lab at Boston College to explore the ways Black and brown communities are already at a disadvantage before even encountering the justice system.

“Ars Moriendi” will take that research into the community with a series of programs where 2ruTh7 hopes to connect with folks who have a connection to or an experience with a violent event. The project will culminate with a film screening at Peabody Circle in Dorchester on July 19.

These programs are created in partnership with Beat the Odds, SparkFM, Heal the Hood, Greater Grove Hall Main Streets and Franklin Park with support from The Boston Foundation and the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture.

“I want to be able to engage the community on these issues and be able to elevate this conversation and have the folks most directly impacted involved in the conversation,” says 2ruTh7.

To offset the emotional and mental weight of those conversations, 2ruTh7 is popping up four healing stations throughout Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan in June and July. At these stations, folks will be able to share their stories while also receiving healing treatments to ease the exploration into traumatic memories. The location of the stations won’t be disclosed before the event, but 2ruTh7 will post about them on social media (@2ruth7) the day of.

Activist, Reiki master, licensed massage therapist and energetic mentor Ebony LePenn (@atc_healing) is one of the healing practitioners that will participate in the pop-ups. She’s also the founder of The Anthony P. Clay Healing Project. During the “Ars Moriendi” healing station pop-ups she’ll provide Reiki, sound healing, massage and a combination of all three to participants. Her counterpart will be Meaka Brown, owner of Babes Handmade, who will be making herbal tinctures and teas for healing during the sessions.

“I think the main issue of violence, whether it’s internal violence or external violence, is this unresolved trauma,” says LePenn. “There are not a lot of spaces where they’re offering this conversation, as well as having access to other modalities of healing.”

Art has been a healing tool for LePenn and 2ruTh7, who both sought solace in poetry while dealing with the aftermath of violence. 2ruTh7 says addressing these systemic issues through the lens of an artistic practice creates a safe space.

“Hopefully we can awaken by acknowledging,” says 2ruTh7. “Your voice matters in this. You have agency to really facilitate change on a systemic level and on an individual level. I hope it sparks a much larger conversation and that we can normalize that conversation.”