~ Boston has always been known for its outspokenness and now, a new initiative from Silence Dogood is keeping that tradition alive. The Silence Dogood Project is using large-scale light projections on historic buildings to illuminate powerful quotes and ideas, turning the city into a canvas for discussing today's most pressing social and political issues.

The latest project from Silence Dogood, called "Precedented Times," takes this work a step further. With support from a Promises of the Revolution grant from Mass Humanities, the initiative will not only project quotes but also host in-person public conversations in some of Boston's most meaningful public places.

For over a year, Silence Dogood has projected more than 20 light installations across Boston, displaying historic words and ideas on landmark buildings such as Faneuil Hall, Old South Meetinghouse, and the Bunker Hill Monument. These projections serve as a reminder that many of today's struggles for liberty, equity, and democracy have deep roots in Boston's history.

The new phase of the project adds a civic dialogue component by hosting town hall-style gatherings at historic sites that have played significant roles in Boston's civic life. Each event will feature historians and civil liberties voices who can provide historical context to contemporary issues. At the end of each gathering, audience ideas and reflections will be projected onto nearby historic buildings, turning collective conversation into public art.

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But who is Silence Dogood? The name dates back to 1722 when Benjamin Franklin used it as a pseudonym to publish essays in a Boston newspaper. Writing under this name allowed Franklin to critique social circumstances and question authority with humor and insight. Today's Silence Dogood continues this spirit through artist and historian Diane Dwyer who has been leading these projection installations across Boston over the past year. Dwyer also serves as a consultant to the City of Boston Office of Historic Preservation and the Boston Commemorations Commission where she advocates for elevating history in public life.

As Boston and the nation approach the 250th anniversary of American independence, Precedented Times serves as a reminder that democracy is an ongoing process. By projecting historic words onto the city's walls and inviting residents to add their own, Silence Dogood encourages people to not only admire the past but also see it as a continuing story.

To learn more about upcoming public conversations and projection events, visit Silence Dogood's website or follow them on social media. This initiative, led by artist and historian Diane Dwyer, aims to bring history out of textbooks and into public life in a city built on argument, assembly, and ideas.

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