Barcode Journeys

September 18th - December 6th, 2025 

Community Curator: Barbara Jo 

Everyday six billion black and white barcodes are scanned as they parade, barely noticed through our lives, stamped on practically everything. Today, a mind-boggling mass of invisible electronic data records our existence. Barcode Journeys explores the pervasiveness of barcodes in our daily lives—discovering the humor, awe, meaning, and aesthetics in our coexistence with barcodes, algorithms, and now, AI, ultimately asking what it means to stay human. 

Participating Artists: Lesley Bannatyne, Lynn Cannici, Greg Duerhr, Nathan Fash, Janine Fay, Kyle Huffman, Barbara Jo, Olga Mesa, Elizabeth Pacini, Cindy Ramírez, Laidy Saenz, Charlie Warren, Sandra Wascher,  and Woolsey Cole Chesterman.

Programming:

Curator Talk, Barbara Jo, TBD

Boston and Barcodes: History of Engineering and Tracking Devices, Peter Collins, October 8th, 6 pm - 7 pm

A Dream From the Water’s Eye /Dance performance, Cindy Ramirez, October 29th, 6:30pm - 8pm

Barcodes to AI: Limitations or Spectrum of Fear, Jordi Albo Canals, November 13th

Closing Reception, December 6th

Admission

General Admission: $8*; free to Museum members and visitors 12 years of age and under; Free to everyone on the first Friday of every month**

Event Admission: varies; Museum members receive discounts where applicable.

Check out our event schedule for the museum’s open hours and events.

*Admission fees help the museum cover programming, staffing, and overhead expenses. These fees help us keep the doors open to the public.

**Special thanks to the Somerville Community Preservation Act (CPA) for supporting this program.

About the Curator

Barbara Jo’s kindergarten teacher told her parents she would be an artist. She seeks and makes art of many types, exploring how details reveal the bigger picture. An archaeological illustrator since 1977, she’s curated museum exhibitions related to her fieldwork and Maya research in Central America and Mexico, for which she received the Laurel de Oro from Honduras, and the Orden del Pop (mat) in Guatemala. Since moving to Somerville seven years ago, she’s been experimenting with her own contemporary pieces at the Milk Row Studios next to Market Basket. Her work includes mixed media conceptual art (barcodes!), abstract oil paintings on paper, and original mosaics from countertop scraps, some of which has been displayed in the Harvard Staff Art shows. Barcode Journeys is Barbara’s first curated contemporary art exhibition with other artists exploring humanizing the barcode. A mother of three, grandmother of six, she travels, gardens, walks, bikes, swims, and is grateful to no longer own a car. Barbara volunteered at the Somerville Museum for the Penny Chronicles exhibition and participated in collection management during renovations. She finds Somerville the friendliest and most creative place she’s lived.