ZOOM link: https://fordham.zoom.us/j/85423148722
Arleene Correa Valencia is an interdisciplinary artist originally from Mexico whose artwork is inspired by the complexities of her undocumented migration to the United States. She utilizes various mediums such as textiles, social practice, and painting to delve into the subtleties of migration, visibility, invisibility, borders, and family separation. Having resided in the US for over 25 years as a self-described registered illegal alien, she draws from her own experiences of feeling invisible to deconstruct the language and ideas that are often associated with all migrants. In 2020, she earned her MFA from California College of the Arts, San Francisco, Ca. She was also the inaugural recipient of the Bay Area Fellowship at Headlands Center for the Arts and was featured in the Emmy award-winning Portraits of Napa Workers: Arleene Correa Valencia, which is part of KQED Arts’ Represent series of artist profiles. Her first solo exhibition at Catharine Clark Gallery in San Francisco took place in 2022.
Abdi Osman is a Somali-Canadian artist who explores black masculinity and its intersection with Muslim and queer identities through his multidisciplinary video and photography work. Osman holds an MFA in Documentary Media from Ryerson University and a BA in African Studies from the University of Toronto. Osman’s work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in Canada and internationally and is held in various public and private collections. Osman has held residencies at the Bayreuth Academy of Advanced African Studies, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, and the University of Saskatchewan. Osman won many prestigious fellowships and grants, including the Ontario Arts Council Grant (2019) and The Mark Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity fellowship (2019-2023). The artist currently lives and works in Buffalo, NY.
Tehran Von Ghasri, also known as Tehran “SoParvaz”, is a rising comedian and entertainer. Born and raised in Washington D.C. to an Iranian father and a Black-American mother, Tehran speaks, reads, and writes Farsi, and encourages young Iranians to learn Farsi and appreciate Iranian culture. He has hosted highly rated TV and radio programs, and has been compared to a mix of Dave Chappelle and Stephen Colbert meet Maz Jobrani. Despite his mischievous tendencies, Tehran’s humor encourages audiences of all backgrounds to understand, respect, and learn from each other. Keep an eye out for him on Comedy Central, Def Comedy Jam, NBC Sitcom, and other sold-out shows.
