Collaborative Artists

Minh Nguyen is a writer and organizer of exhibitions and programs currently living in Chicago, IL, by way of Saigon, Vietnam. She graduated from University of Washington with a Bachelor’s degree in Literature and is attending School of the Art Institute for a Master’s degree in Modern and Contemporary Art History. Her Master’s degree focus is framed by interests in the philosophy of art, systems of aesthetic education, and the dispersal of concerns in postsocialist contemporary Asian art. Her writing has appeared and is forthcoming in Artforum, ArtAsiaPacific, Art in America, AQNB, and Art Practical, among others. She has organized exhibitions at Wing Luke Museum, King Street Station, SOIL Gallery, and Seattle Asian Art Museum.

Jacobo Zambrano was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He holds a BFA in Visual Arts and Curatorial Studies (Emily Carr University of Art and Design 15′), SOMA academic program 18′ (México), and is currently an MFA Candidate at School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His practice exists at the intersection of many contexts. At a conceptual level he’s interested in the possibility for a new language that presents itself as disobedient and conditioning when confronted with hegemonic perspectives of history. Through a close examination of historical narratives specifically in the context of the discovery of the so-called “New World” and the subsequent episodes around the construction of the notion of power (power dynamics between Global North and Global South), scientific practices such as biology and anthropology are indispensable in formulating a critical discourse capable of questioning their meaning and purpose in relation to colonization and modernity. He has exhibited in Canada, México and USA. 

Najee Searcy

Najee is a local artist and musician concentrating on how we heal those who heal others. He organizes around the arts and youth engagement. Najee is presently involved with YolloCalli Arts Reach as an artist in residence at Barrett Park where he teaches the youth ages 13-24 apothecary arts. He is a current student at the School of Audio Engineering (S.A.E.) in river north pursuing a degree of applied science in audio engineering, and represents one half of the Afro-Surrealism duo Zo//Ra.

Jenna Anast 

Jenna is a storyteller, an activist, an educator, comedian, singer, actor, healer, lover, and front line warrior for social justice. In all her various work, she aims to inspire and empower. After earning her B.F.A in performing arts at The University of Illinois at Chicago, she made her life’s purpose to imagine… to work to create a world that she wants to see, and live in. As a co- founding member of the Let Us Breathe Collective, she hosts events and facilitates workshops at The Breathing Room Space located in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, there she aims to liberate people affected by mass-incarceration and state violence using storytelling, wellness-minded action, comedy, and song. Jenna hopes to provide a brave space in which folks can learn, liberate, and love each other freely.

Jenna has worked in youth development for the past 13 years. As an educator her latest project is through an organization she created called “Journeys with Jenna” where she takes her students from Chicago and Oakland on journeys to various concerts, workshops,events, and everything in between. On” Journeys with Jenna”, the world is our classroom and every moment is an adventure using resiliency and change as the guiding force. Journeys with Jenna is traveling to Puerto Rico in partnership with the Chicago Boricua Resistance at the end of the month to rebuild grassroots organizations and to learn hands on how to best serve our family on the island. Her latest youth development collaboration journey is with the Young Cultural Stewards in partnership with the Chicago Park District.

Jenna is a SAG actor that has been featured in various shows in the Bay Area and Chicago. She will be featured in two major motion pictures this Summer and Fall. “Sorry to Bother You” and “A Beautiful Boy.”

Her latest theater performance happening is a sketch comedy show called “Nice Tan.” Jenna aims to be a part of performing arts projects and pieces that tell a story and creates diverse representation.
Jenna loves to ride her bike, get free, dance, read all the sci-fiction books, and absorb the sun. Whatever magic Jenna is involved in she works for the greater good of her people, her self, and the universe.

Zo//Ra (Ester Alegria and Najee Searcy)

Zo//Ra is an afro-surrealist alchemic performance duo. They revere ancestrally relevant works. With a regenerative and holistic identity, Zo//Ra’s work reflects their embrace of inherent sexual identities and presentations. They induce an afrocentric and surreal fusion of indigenous black existence and creative fervor. Zo//Ra therefore must render queer, femme centered, community focused art. Their dreamy sound marries Chi-town deep house, earthy vocalizations and cool hints of blue, with love and respect.”
In other words, Zo//ra was to come an afro-surrealism calling. A calling of ancestors. A pulling of akashic strains. The noodle soup to the broth of your rhythm. The serum floating between your thighs on cheap chicken tuesday. Zo//Ra walks the hood and the boulevard, walking the ancient path of wisdom and light. Darkness and plight. Welcome to a world unannounced but with outstretched and open arms. We are yet to be as we were in the future.

Melissa Almandina

Melissa Castro Almandina is a Xicana poet and artist from the Southwest Side of Chicago. She is a member of Brown and Proud Press, a zine collective that serves as a platform for healing in POC communities and is a resident artist at AMFM Gallery. She facilitates poetry workshops on the Southwest Side of Chicago and debuted her hand bound zine of poetry entitled, Rose Quartz and Serpentine. She was a featured author at Pilsen Fest and is published in the Garland Court Review, Cuentos de Gringolandia, and Hooligan Magazine.

Pascale Ife Williams, PhD is a Black queer spirit-led cultural organizer, educator, scholar, and healing justice practitioner. Ife is a Chicago native with 15 years of experience in justice-driven arts and community-engaged work that explores racial, gender, and wellness equity. Her family and community are a constant source of humility, inspiration, and laughter.

Peregrine Bermas is a creative and curious earthling living in their birthplace, so-called chicago. Their practices include illustration, ritual, somatics and herbology. As a community herbalist, Peregrine is passionate about holding space for remembrance of ancestral, kitchen-accessible, and bioregional medicine.
Image description: Peregrine, a tan-skinned femme with short dark hair, cat eye glasses and a light green turtleneck, rests their eyes under a spot of sun. Behind them, a green couch and books perched on a windowsill.