ForImmediateReleasePressContact: SamanthaKessler,samkessler@jccmanhattan.org,646.505.4493

LeanneStella,Leanne@artinfluxharlem.com,917.273.4405

“SongsofFreedom”JCCHarlempresentsasecondArtinFluxexhibitioninitscommunityspace

HARLEM,NY(August30,2017)–SongsofFreedom,ashowoftwoandthree-dimensionalmixedmediaartworks,video,photographyandperformanceby10artists(ninewomenandoneman–aself-proclaimedfeminist)opensattheJCCHarlemonWednesday,September13.ArtInFLUXcurators,LeanneStellaandHenoneGirma,broughttogetheragroupofartiststhateachusetheirownexperiencesandobservationstoaddressnotionsoffemininityandfemaleempowerment.

"WeareecstatictobecontinuingourpartnershipwithArtinFluxtolaunchasecondexhibitionatJCCHarlem,”saidMegSullivanDirectorofProgramsandCommunityEngagementatJCCHarlem.“Andinparticularonethatelevateswomen/feministartistsandissuretoencourageconversationaboutissuesthataredeeplyimportanttousall."

Theuseofrepurposedmaterials,fabricinTomoMori’sOurLittlePeopleandwirehangersinAutumnKioti’sRedHen(impossiblestandard)andthepainstakinghandiworkineachspeakstotheresilienceandresourcefulnesswomenrequiretonavigatethe“modern”world.OurLittlePeoplerepresentstheinterconnectedfemalebondsthatprotectvoicelessandvulnerablechildrenwhiletheRedHenperformanceandinstallationpiecemakesagrimyethumorousreferencetotheexpectationssurrounding21stCenturywomanhood.LitalDotan’sTransformationonRockhill(video)andQinzaNajm’sStretched(mixedmedia)bothdepictintheirownwayhowwomenstretchthemselvesbeyondexternallimitationsandpreconceivedstandardstosurviveandultimatelyflourish.RejinLeysandLeslieJimenezpaintinaperformativepiecethatcanonlybecompletedwhentheyuniteinthecenter.Thephotographicdiptych,FemaleEmpowermentandBlueBuildingbyRubenNatal-SanMiguelshoutsshatteringtheglassceiling.HirutYosef,TaraSabharwalandSaraJimenezpresentacombinationoffigurativeandarchitecturaltwo-dimensionalworksthatalsospeaktosocietalstructuressurroundingwomen.

Theartistscollectivelyweaveastoryaboutthechallengeswomenandgirlsfaceandtheindividualandcommunalstrengthittakestostretchbeyondclearandabstractrestraints.AlloftheworksinSongsOfFreedomarebywomeninaworldwheretheconstantneedtoprotect,nurture,succeed,excelandfight(forgenderparity)allco-exist.Exhibition:SongsofFreedomArtists:AutumnKioti,HirutYosef,LeslieJiménez,LitalDotan,QinzaNajm,RejinLeys,RubenNatal-SanMiguel,SaraJimenez,TaraSabharwalandTomoMoriCo-Curators:LeanneStellaandHenoneGirma

OpeningReception:Wednesday,September13,2017,6:30-9:00PMExhibitionDates:September13throughApril2018Hours:MON,TUES&FRI9:00am-6:00pm,WED&THURS9:00am-9:00pm,SUN9:00am-5:00pmLocation:JCCHarlem,318West118thSt,betweenFrederickDouglassBlvd&ManhattanAvenue,NY10026Transportation:C,2and3trainsto116thStreet/M7orCrosstownM116toFrederickDouglassBlvd&116MoreInformation:www.artinfluxharlem.com,info@artinfluxharlem.comImages:

1. OurLittlePeople#1,TomoMori,2017,24wx40hx24d,recycledfabricandshoes.Ifyouareinterestedininterviewsorphotography,pleasecontactSamanthaKessler,samkessler@jccmanhattan.org,office:646.505.4493.

###AboutArtinFLUX:ArtInFLUXcreatesopportunitiesforartistsbyreclaimingunderutilizedanduniquespacesforart.Sinceitslaunchin2012asanuptownartsinitiative,ArtinFLUXhaspoppedupinvacantretailspaces,parks,lobbies,andstreetcorners.In2015FLUXexpandedtoincludetheFLUXArtFairandPublicArtProjects.Bymergingartistic,commercial,andcommunityinterests,FLUXsupportsgreateraccessibilitytothearts,connectsartpatronswithuptownartists,andpromotesdiversityandinclusivityinthearts.AboutJCCHarlemLocatedat318West118thStreet,JCCHarlemisabrand-newcommunityspaceinitiativebroughttoyoubyJCCManhattan,incollaborationwithUJA-FederationofNewYork.Inour6,000-square-footspace,weseektocreateahubofJewishlifeforHarlem'sgrowingandvibrantJewishcommunity,hostingholidaycelebrationsaswellasweekly,monthly,andone-timeprogrammingforpeopleofallagesandfromallwalksoflife.Therewillbeanexcitingarrayofprogrammingincludingmorningmeditation,yogaandMELTMethod,familyShabbatandFridaynightdinners,Shabbatafternoonprograms,Ulpanandadulteducation,afterschoolprograms,communityengagementthroughservicelearning,20s+30sevents,co-presentedritualevents,andbirthdayparties.AbouttheArtistsAutumnKiotiisaninterdisciplinaryartistandscavengerwhocombinesimprovisationalmovement,aerialarts,choreography,narrative,installation,soundandvisualarts,activismandsocialjustice.Findingvalueinsociety'sdiscards,shebuildsmasks,puppets,installationsandenvironments.Shemarriesasubconsciousnarrativewithmythicandfolkimpulses,scavengingbitsofeverythingfromhistoryandliterature,scienceandmathematics,toDavidAttenboroughanimaldocumentaries,inthecreationofritual-inspiredparticipatoryperformancescenteredonintuitivemovementandpureemotion.Selectperformance/installationsinclude:whispertome…,ITINERANTPerformanceArtFestival,QueensMuseum,NYC;WHISPERINGVOICES,LastFrontierNYC;segmentI[inrespectforfood],SpazioMATTA,Italy;AESCULAPIANHARVEST[inrespectforfood],site-specific,Chimayo,NewMexico;BECOMINGTHEM:afantasynarrativeonourrelationshiptoourtechdevices,GalleryAferro,NewJersey;RUN:rabbit,DixonPlace,NYC;IDEASINTHEAIR,aconversationwithFritjovCapra,LastFrontierNYC.Artistresidenciesinclude:NYCAudubonSocietyonGovernorsIsland,NYC,NOoSphereArts,NYC,SantaFeArtInstitute(FOODJUSTICEresidency),ArtMonasteryItalia,Abruzzoregion,Italy.

HirutYosefisanIllustrator,FashionDesignerandGraphicArtistfromIsrael.ShewasborninthecityofGonderinEthiopiain1979.HerfamilyimmigratedtoIsraelin1984hopingforabetterfuture.In2005shegraduatedfromShenkarCollegeofEngineeringandDesignwithaB.AinFashionDesign.DeterminedtofollowherdreamsandpassionshemovedtoIstanbul.Whilethere,shestartedworkingonaseriesofcolorfulillustrations,whichshenamedMuluandTheBetaClan.Hirutdrawsherinspirationfromvarioussourcesandlifeexperiences.SomeofherbiggestinspirationswouldbeherEthiopianmotherandgrandmother,herAfricanrootsandherlifetimeloveforstreetartandoldschoolAmericanhip-hopandsoulculture.HerworkhasbeenshownInIstanbul-Turkey,ATL-usaandNewYork.LeslieJiménezLeslieJiménezisaDominicanmulti-disciplinaryartist,illustrator,andmuseumeducator.BasedinNYwheresheworksandliveswithherhusband,daughterandtwobloodparrotfish.Ms.Jiménezbelievesinthepowerofrepresentationfromasocialjusticestandpoint.Inherwork,sheexploresawiderangeofsubjects,suchasinternalizedracismandthecomplexityofformulatedidentities,thepowerofchoiceanditsrelationtomentalandpersonalhealth.Sheaimsatquestioningnarrativesofestablishedideasaboutbeauty,personalrelationships,girlhood,womanhood,andmotherhoodandtheconstraintsofsocialstandardsoffemalebehavior.LeslieJiménezgraduatedfromtheprestigiousAltosdeChavónSchoolofDesign,intheDominicanRepublic.ShewasawardedafullscholarshipandgraduatedwithhonorsfromParsonsTheNewSchoolforDesigninNewYorkCity.Leslie'sworkhasbeenexhibitedingalleriesinNYC,WashingtonDC,Barbados,SantoDomingo,SCOPEContemporaryArtFairNY,andNewYorkPresbyterian-TheAllenHospital.OthervenuesincludePBS,andonlinemagazineMashable.JiménezhasbeeninvitedtotalkaboutherworkatElMuseodelBarrio,CNNenEspañol,RutgersUniversity,CityCollege,ArtInFLUXandParsonsTheNewSchool.

LitalDotanisanimmersiveartistandplaywrightworkingwithperformance,videoandinstallationart;herworksarededicatedtocreatingindependentenvironmentsforsustainableperformancepractice,presentationandpreservation.Sheistheco-founderandartisticdirectorofGlasshouseArtLifeLab,anart-housecurrentlybasedinBrooklyn.Co-foundedwithEyalPerryin2007,Glasshouseisaplatformdedicatedtoperformanceinthedomesticsphere,wheresheorganizesandproducesfestivals,exhibitions,thematicperformances,collaborationsandresidencies,whichnourishartistsandaudiencesacrossgenerationsanddisciplines.In2015DotanfoundedQuesalmah,abespokedressmakingstudiothatmergesperformanceart,choreographyandfashiondesign,whereclientsbookaone-to-oneperformancesessionculminatinginadress.ThefollowingyearshepremieredanimmersivedinnerperformanceseriescalledAFoldedStorm.Herimmersiveartworksandperformanceshavebeenexhibitedinmuseumandgalleriesworld-widesuchastheIsraelMuseum,NationalMuseumCracow,QueensMuseum,HaifaMuseum,JewishContemporarySFtonameafewandwasfeaturedinmagazinessuchasDNAInfo,NYMag,PaperMag,ArtSlant,Haaretz,HuffingtonPost,VISIONChina,TARMagazineandmanymore.Sinceearlyinherartisticcareer,shehascollaboratedwithphotographerEyalPerrywhoisresponsibleforthephotographyinthemajorityofherwork.

QinzaNajmisaPakistani-Americanartistwhoseworkhasbeenselectedformanynationalandinternationaljuriedexhibitions.CurrentlyNajm'slarge-scaleworkisheldinseveralprestigiouspublicandprivateartcollections.ShehasexhibitedatDubai'sChristie’sArt,MiamiArtBasel,SikkaArtDubai,DumboArtFair,GovernorsIslandArtFair,andTimesSquare.Najm’slargescalehanginginstallationwillbeopentopublicinFebruary2016forthreeyearsatChildren’sMuseumofManhattan.NajmcompletedherpsychologyPh.D.intheUnitedStates,whichenableshertoexplorehersubconsciousandbringitontothecanvas.ShepursuedherfineartsstudiesatBathUniversity,theSavannahSchoolofArt&Design,andTheArtStudentsLeagueofNewYork,whereshestudiedwithwell-knownartistslike,RonnieLandfield,BruceDorfman,LeonidLerman,andLarryPoons.Herartembodiesthestateofinhabitingtwoworlds,stayingtruetohertraditionalPakistanirootswhilenavigatinglifebasedinNewYorkCity.

RejinLeysisamixedmediaartistandpapermakerbasedinNewYork,whoseworkhasbeenexhibitedatsuchvenuesasCentroCulturaldeEspaña,SantoDomingo,DR;KentlerInternationalDrawingSpace,NY;QueensMuseum,NY;andLesAteliersJ.R.Jerome,PaP,Haiti.HerworkisinthecollectionsoftheSchomburgCenterforResearchinBlackCulture,YaleUniversity,andRutgersUniversityCaribbeanStudiesDepartment,andsheisarecipientofafellowshipfromtheNewYorkFoundationfortheArts.RubenNatal-SanMiguelisanarchitect,self-taughtphotographer,curator,writer,artcollectorandconsultantspecializingintheartoffineemergingphotography.Hisstatureinthephotoworldhasearnedhimawards,featuresinmajormedia,countlessexhibitionsandcollaborationswithphotoiconssuchasMagnumPhotographerSusanMeiselas.Galleryshowsinclude:AsyaGeisberg,SoHoPhoto,RushArts,Finch&Ada,KrisGravesProjects,FuchsProjects,WhiteBoxGallery,StationIndependentProjectsGalleryandothers.Hisworkhasbeenfeaturedinnumerousinstitutions:TheNewYorkPublicLibrary,SchomburgCenterforResearchinBlackCulture,GriffinMuseumofPhotography,MuseumofFineArtsBoston,AfricanAmericanMuseumofPhiladelphia,TheMakeshiftMuseuminLosAngeles,UniversityofWashingtonandPhillipsAuctionHouse.Internationalartfairrepresentationincludes:OutsiderArtFair,SCOPE,PULSE,ArtChicago,ZonaMaco,andPhotoLA.Hisphotographyhasbeenpublishedinalonglistofpublications,highlights:NewYorkMagazine,TheNewYorkTimes,TheHuffingtonPost,TimeOUT,Aperture,DailyNews,OUT,AmericanPhoto,ARTFORUM,Musee,ARTnetandTheNewYorker.In2016Ruben’sMarcy'sPlaygroundwasselectedforboththeBillboardCollectivecuratedbyMonaKuhnandanewapandwebsiteforApple.SaraJimenezisaninterdisciplinaryFilipina-Canadianartist,currentlylivingandworkinginNewYork.Throughperformance,installation,sculpture,anddrawing,sheinvestigatesrelationshipsbetweenmaterialimpermanenceandtransculturalmemory.Throughoutherprojects,sheisinterestedincomplicatingandreimaginingexistingnarrativesaroundconceptsofhome,absence,andorigins.JimenezreceivedherBAfromtheUniversityofToronto(2008)andherMFAfromParsonstheNewSchoolforDesign(2013).ResidenciesincludeBrooklynArtSpace(2014),WaveHill’sWinterWorkspace(2015),afullartistfellowshiptoTheVermontStudioCenter(2016),andtheBronxMuseum’sAIMprogram(2016).JimenezhasexhibitedatthePintoArtMuseum(Philippines),RushArtsGallery,BRICGallery,FiveMylesGallery,theBrooklynMuseum,ElMuseodelBarrio,theBronxMuseum,andWayfarersGallery,amongothers.ShehasperformednumerousvenuesincludingTheNoguchiMuseum,DixonPlace,andSmackmellon.Upcoming,JimenezwillbeanartistinresidencyatBRICworkspace.

TaraSabharwalwasborninIndia,TarastudiedpaintingatMSUniversity,BarodaandcompletedherMastersfromtheRoyalCollegeofArtinLondon.In1990TaravisitedNewYorkandsincethenhassplithertimebetweenIndia,theUK,andNY,makingpaintingsandprintsandcontinuingtoshowinternationally.Shehashad40soloshowstodate–shehasshownatChristopherHull,LaingArtGallery,DLIMuseum,DarlingtonArtCenter,HarewoodHouse,Mercury,LaMonte,EastWest,RebeccaHossack,andIdlergalleriesinLondon(UK);atGalerieScherer,Oess,Schwerpunkt,Janzen,andArtsKarlsruhe(Germany);atHenryStreetsettlement,JohnJay,StephenHarris,Gallery678,andManhattanGraphicsCenter(NYC);inIndiaatArtHeritage,Cymroza,Nazar,Sakshi,ArtAliv,MSUniversity,SumukhagalleriesandTheDelhiArtFair(India);aswellasatKatsuyama(Japan),VMGallery(Pakistan),andOrvietofair(Italy).SabharwalreceivedtheBritishCouncil,MylesMeehanandDurhamCathedralfellowshipsintheUK,theJoanMitchell(CALL),GottliebandInternationalcollaborationsgrants.ShehasdoneresidenciesatHenryStreetSettlement,CooperUnion,Women’sStudioWorkshopandUniversityofNebraska,atHishio(Japan),Conversazioni(Italy),BeisinghoffAtelier(Germany)andUSEmbassy(Delhi).HerworkisinthecollectionoftheBritishMuseum,VictoriaandAlbertMuseumandDLIMuseum(UK):thePeabodyEssexMuseum,NewYorkPublicLibraryandtheLibraryofCongress(USA).

TomoMoriwasborninthecountrysideofOsaka,Japan.Shestudiedtraditionalpaintinganddrawing(westernandJapanese)atTokyoMetropolitanHighSchoolforArt,andgraduatedfromAtlantaCollegeofArtwithaBFA.TomoexperiencedlifeintheCaribbean,LatinAmerica,andWestAfrica;shecurrentlyresidesinNewYorkCity.Tomo'spainting/collageworkhasbeenexhibitedinNewYork,Georgia,Colorado,Connecticut,Michigan,andNewJersey.Liestal(Switzerland),andTokyo.Hercollagework"MemoryRing"wasselectedastheNewYorkmetroarearegionalfinalistforBombaySapphireArtisanSeriescontestwithRushPhilanthropicArtsFoundation,anditwasexhibitedatSCOPEMiamiBeach2014.PublicarthasbeenoneofTomo'sstronginterestsaswellashergallerywork.ShestarteditaslocalcommunityprojectswithLaundromatProject,EastHarlemCafe,WixLoungeandWestHarlemArtFund,thenitevolvedtoworklargermurals.In2016,shewascommissionedtopaintmuralatColumbiaUniversity'sMillerTheatre.And,shereceivedapermanentpublicartcommissionfromMTAArt&Designandtheprojectwillbeinstalledinlate2017.