>> Chris Caicedo Carbonell
Every day, we pass familiar faces—people we recognize but seldom know. We rarely ask their stories, yet their presence becomes part of our shared landscape. This quiet recognition inspired Portraits of Fernwood, our local contribution to the Inside Out Project, one of the world’s largest participatory art movements.
Founded by French artist JR and active in over 150 countries, Inside Out invites communities to turn identity into public art through large-scale black-and-white portraits. These installations bring visibility to everyday people and causes often overlooked in public discourse.
Now, for the first time in Victoria, our neighbourhood joins this global movement. Portraits of Fernwood features 60 portraits of neighbours, volunteers, and community members—those who shape and support the heartbeat of our community. Through this project, we celebrate values such as belonging, inclusion, creativity, and resilience.
On June 8, 2025, we invite everyone to join us for a public celebration and installation day at 1240 Gladstone Ave. Together, we will paste these portraits onto plywood panels, which will later be mounted with the help of local professionals. This collective act goes beyond art—it’s a moment to connect, honour our shared humanity, and reflect on who we are together.
More than a visual display, Portraits of Fernwood is an act of community empowerment. Public art creates space for people to see themselves reflected, to claim visibility, and to affirm that their lives and stories matter. It invites dialogue, challenges assumptions, and sparks collective action. In this sense, art becomes a tool for social change—a way to imagine and build more connected, just, and inclusive communities.
To the question posed by JR’s book Can Art Change the World? we say: yes. From the inside out.
