The Lens

Continuing his fierce and open questioning of racial and cultural constructs, Zora J Murff presents a new exhibition of artworks titled The Devil Hiding in Plain Sight. In this collection of collages, Murff uses methodologies of enlightened witnessing and appropriation to demonstrate how a global conspiracy of anti-Black genocide has existed and continues to persist through systemic oppression.

Artist Diamond Stingily said, “I think violence is a part of every day for a lot of people. To not live in violence is a privilege.” This is a real political stance, not a radical one. Murff asks all attendees of... Continue reading The Devil Hiding in Plain Sight

A flower that grows in a sidewalk proudly exists despite the world’s best efforts to delineate separate spaces. It represents a failure to contain and control “nature.” The obstinate flower symbolizes the resilience, survival, and agency of those who resist conformity.

Flowers in the Sidewalk is a group exhibition celebrating individuals who have persevered through unique circumstances, and recognizes those who have lost their agency within the confines of larger societal systems. Each exhibiting artist tells their story, balancing aspects of shared humanity with forces like institutionalization, immigration, and globalization.

As comedian George Carlin... Continue reading Flowers in the Sidewalk

Judi Bommarito’s Reclaiming Your Outside Voice is a photographic journey that intimately explores the relationship between a daughter and her mother shaped by the challenges of mental illness. This evocative collection captures the transformative power of photography as a catalyst for healing and understanding. Intricately woven into this visual narrative are the notes her mother leaves behind, like breadcrumbs of emotion, for Bommarito to discover. These handwritten messages form an intimate dialogue, offering insights into her mother’s inner world, her desires, and her struggles. The notes become a poignant manifestation of their emotional connection, transcending the confines of mental illness and... Continue reading Judi Bommarito: Reclaiming Your Outside Voice

The Caribbean is the site of an emerging and dynamic film culture. In the last decade, films by a new generation of Caribbean filmmakers have won recognition at international film festivals, found more distribution than ever before, and surprised viewers around the world with new stories. Three screenings invite Cincinnati audiences to watch films by some of the best Puerto Rican and Dominican directors working today and participate in deep conversations with the filmmakers.

After the success of his first film The Sparring Partner, Puerto Rican director Gustavo Ramos Perales presents his new film, Feet in the Sand, which... Continue reading Caribbean Eye: Auteur Cinema from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic

A Chilean family, comprising three generations of circus performers, is the centerpiece of Casey LeClair's Moving Parts. Originally inspired by the dismantling of their circus in Sweden, a flyer found in northern California reminded LeClair that he had never actually seen their performance, only the aftermath. Over the course of three weeks in three towns, LeClair documented the construction of the circus tent, nightly performances, and disassembly process.

Without formal interviews, the exhibition relies on photographs and keen observations, offering insights into the daily routines of the family, their roles as artists, and the... Continue reading Casey LeClair: Moving Parts