Making Place Matter Exhibition Council

WE ARE THANKFUL FOR ALL THE ESSENTIAL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION TO JOIN THE MAKING PLACE MATTER EXHIBITION COUNCIL.

As we prepare to move into our new building and into South Kensington in 2022, we are taking this opportunity to reconfigure how we plan and execute our exhibitions. We consider it essential that Making Place Matter - the inaugural exhibition planned for our new building - is designed in collaboration with members of our community. 

Among participants who live in the Kensington neighborhood, staff members from each of 6 local organizations (Taller Puertorriqueño, Olde Kensington Neighborhood Association, Norris Square Community Alliance, Norris Square Neighborhood Project & South Kensington Community Partnership) and Clay Studio Exhibition staff; we have been honoured to share different experiences. We value all of The Council members experience, expertise, and their opinions as artists, educators and former residents of the Kensington neighborhood. We feel that their artistic input, strong connection to the neighborhood, and dedication to serving the community through ceramic art make them an essential voice in this first exhibition in The Clay Studio's new home. 

Among our wonderful members who all comment and participate in the different discussion presented, we count with:  

• Zyaira or Z. Africa, member of the community and neighbor. 
• Iris Brown, retired, community gardener for Norris Square Neighborhood Project. She is also one of the founders of Las Parcelas Community Garden and Villa Africána Colobó.
• Rafael Marley Carrillo, young artist, neighbor and clay camp student for The Clay Studio.
• Kris Casana, member of the community and neighbor.
• Carmen Fernández, retired, active member of the community and neighbor. She served on several advisory boards and worked in Community Services at the Department of Public Wealthfare of Philadelphia.
• Shireen Hammoudeh, Principal of Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy. She is an enthusiastic member of the Claymobile program.
• Ah-Young Kim, Museum Educator and Manager of School Visit for the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
• Giulia Longhi, Italian architect, eclectic artist, and one of the Associate Artists of the Clay Studio.
• Roberto Lugo, born and raised in Kensington. He is a ceramic artist, social activist, spoken word poet, and educator for Tyler School of Art. He was Guest Resident Artist for The Clay Studio and is a current board member.
• Lisa Maiello, member of the community and neighbor. 
• Ms. Annie Moss, community member and neighbor. She is the Executive Director of Olde Kensington Neighborhood Association (Making Place Matter partner).
• Pedro Ospina, member of the community and neighbor. He is a visual artist, founder and Director of The Open Kitchen Sculpture Garden. 
• Meliza Reynoso, member of the community and neighbor. She has been an educator for eighteen years and Co-chair of the Board of Directors of Norris Square Neighborhood Project. 
• Marilyn Rodriguez, Education Director of Taller Puertoriqueño and member of the community (Making Plave Matter partner).She is a committed social justice activist and artist. 
• Nitza Rosario, member of the community and neighbor. She is a ceramic artist and Community Engagement Teaching Artist for The Clay Studio.
• Stephanie Santiago, neighbors and community advocate. Community Engagement Manager at Norris Square Community Alliance (Making Plave Matter partner).
• Kevin Snipes, current Clay Studio Resident Artist. He is a ceramic artist whose handbuilt porcelain works focus on narrative and drawing.
• Leslie Sudock, specialist in Japanese textile arts, and Teaching Artist at Ready to Hand Studio: SAORI Philadelphia. She is also an enthusiastic member of The Clay Studio. 
• Sophie Taylor-Havens, Technology, Arts, and Garden Manager at Norris Square Neighborhood Project. 
• Archangel Torres, member of the community and neighbor.
• Yuan Valcarcel, proud mom of a young artist, member of the community, and neighbor. 
• César Viveros, member of the community and neighbor. He is a mixed media artist whose community engagement work empowers the immigrant community and people of color. 

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• Taller Puertorriqueño uses art to promote development within its community and the Latino Diaspora and build bridges to the Greater Philadelphia region. Founded in 1974, Taller has been elevating and preserving Puerto Rican and Latin American cultures through arts and diverse programming.
• The Olde Kensington Neighborhood Association is formed by concerned citizens, who live in the Olde Kensington and Ludlow Neighborhood of Philadelphia. The association is a diverse amalgamation of individuals sharing a concern for their community and the people that live in it.
• South Kensington Community Partners connects the community to resources and opportunities, the land, and each other. They promote community engagement in the neighborhood, while advocating for responsible development that builds upon the physical, social and economic fabric of the neighborhood.
• Norris Square Community Alliance empowers residents to become self-reliant and to unite and build the community by developing and improving the physical, economic, social, cultural and educational aspects of the neighborhood. It was founded in 1983 in response to the community’s need for programs that reinforce their development.