Mays Boyz Makin’ NOIZE: A Father and Sons Exhibition

Timed to coincide with the five-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, Mays Boyz Makin’ NOIZE is a bold and reflective exhibition by Don Mays, presented in collaboration with his sons, Zachary (Zac) and Nicolas (Nic) Mays. Through video, photography, and mixed media, the exhibition confronts systemic racism, displacement, and the ongoing struggle for justice with unflinching urgency and creative force.

The exhibition features three bodies of work by Don Mays. “Unbroken Chains” investigates the generational impact of structural racism. “These Truths” is a photographic series capturing the spirit and intensity of the 2020 racial justice protests in Providence—a local echo of a global reckoning. “Lady Justice” is a mixed media piece that poses the question, “Is she truly blind?”. Together, these works reflect Mays’ commitment to using art as a vehicle for resistance, reflection, and change.

In this powerful moment of remembrance and action, Don Mays has invited his sons into the gallery space, amplifying the exhibition’s message with intergenerational voices. The result is a dynamic and urgent call to “make NOIZE”—to resist injustice through art, to speak truth to power, and to pass on a legacy of creative defiance.

The exhibition is on view in the WaterFire Arts Center gallery from Thursday, May 1 through Sunday, June 1, 2025, with an opening

Opening Reception: Thursday, May 1, 6:00–8:00 p.m.