Monday, April 14, 2025
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Cathleen Campbell is a curator, filmmaker, and photographer. She’s photographed street portraits in Harlem for decades, rarely exhibiting her work until recently. Her photographs were featured in more than 20 group shows and 2 solo exhibits before she co-curated her first exhibit for the Kota Alliance, THE MEANING OF PLACE. A news story about her recent solo exhibit at the Hamilton Grange Library, VISIBLE/INVISIBLE, SEEN/UNSEEN: HARLEM PORTRAITS BY CATHLEEN CAMPBELL was broadcast on Spectrum NY-1 News: (https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/human-interest/2024/01/16/harlem-photographer-cathleen-campbell-focuses-her-lens-on-her-neighbors). Recent group shows include WILDSTYLE 40 at the prestigious Deitch NY gallery.
Campbell was selected for Columbia University’s Bundles Scholars Program 2024-2027. She worked primarily as an independent filmmaker, assisting on numerous productions, before writing and directing her own short films, including “Langston Hughes’ NO CRYSTAL STAIR.” Televised nationwide, her films also played in several festivals. She’s currently completing a documentary about four generations in a Harlem family.
She’s a Yale graduate and longtime West Harlem resident. You can see her work on her website: (https://cccpix.com/portraits), and (even though she doesn’t post often enough) on Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/cathleencampbellpix/).
Website: https://www.cccpix.com/portraits
Instagram @cathleencampbellpix
GIRL WITH THE BLACK LIBERATION FLAGS (2018, Digital Photography). This girl looks both fearful and defiant. The Black Liberation flags shield her like a veil. Seeing only her eyes adds a bit of mystery, but her multicultural identity is quite clear. This photo shows a girl who’s metaphorically blossoming in Harlem’s cultural cocoon.
Jaana Rehnström is a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology, who in 2015 retired from over 30 years of clinical work in the field in New York City. A graduate of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Helsinki, Finland, she completed her specialization at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. Her initial work centered on laboratory-based research in reproductive endocrinology. She later obtained a Masters degree from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. An initiation into human rights through the Finnish section of Amnesty International during her student days laid the foundation for life-long human rights activism. During her career she has, among other things, volunteered for the Asylum Network of Physicians for Human Rights, examining and providing affidavits for survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM) and other human rights violations. In 2015, she founded the New York City-based nonprofit, The Kota Alliance, a nonprofit for gender equality and women’s empowerment. In 2022, the organization acquired a building in West Harlem and began to focus mostly on the needs of local women and teen girls, after identifying needs in the areas of health and wellness and the arts; especially arts as a conduit to health and wellness. During its 3 years in this location, Kota has hosted three monthlong art exhibitions and multiple smaller events supporting local female artists.
Website: https://www.instagram.com/kota_alliance/
KOTA organization URL: https://www.kota-alliance.org
PAZ (Maria Paz Contreras Buzeta)
Artist, Filmmaker, and Curator
PAZ is a multifaceted artist, filmmaker, and curator known for her vibrant abstract paintings and symbols that have been exhibited worldwide. Her artistic journey took a profound turn while studying painting under the tutelage of renowned American master Knox Martin at the Art Students League in New York (2007-2012).
Artistic Achievements:
- Exhibited in prestigious galleries and museums globally, including China, New York, Colombia, Europe, Philippines, Guatemala, and Mexico
- Created a distinctive style blending symbols and abstraction to promote peace and unity
- Explored the concept of "PAZ" (peace in Spanish) through her art, bridging cultural divides
*Film Career:*
- Director of "Radical Perception: The Life and Legacy of Knox Martin," a documentary exploring Martin's artistic vision and philosophy
*Curatorial Experience:*
- Director of Programming, Artists Talk on Art (ATOA)
*Education:*
- Art Students League, New York (2007-2012)
-School of Law Diego Portales Chile 2000-2006
-International Bachelor of Art, Switzerland 1998-1999
Instagram @pazpainting
Website: www.pazrezet.com
Too many symbols around the world", Ink on paper, 10x10 2024
I am Ruthy Valdez, a surrealist visionary who immerses herself in the symphony of color, orchestrating a mesmerizing dance of vibrant hues and intricate patterns. With a deep connection to symbolism, I unravel life’s complexities through a dynamic palette that speaks to the soul. Growing up in the cultural fusion of Harlem and Washington Heights, my Dominican and Turkish heritage has shaped my perspective, infusing my work with layers of meaning and depth.
Since 2005, I have exhibited my work across the United States, sharing my vision with a diverse audience. My art has been published in poetry books, featured on album covers, and showcased on VH1, the Food Network Channel, Telemundo, NY1, and ABC. It now adorns the walls of hundreds of collectors, including some well-known figures.
For me, art is a timeless language—one that transcends generations and nourishes the spirit. In my world, the flutter of a butterfly mirrors the complexities of societal dynamics, and each brushstroke is a lyrical ode to the boundless diversity of existence.
Website: Www.RuthyValdez.com
IG: the_curly_surrealist TT: the_Curly_surrealist333
Invigorating Violets Into Five, 2019, Acrylic on Canvas
Yael Ben-Zion