CURRENTLY SHOWING
AS TOLD BY HUMANS
An Exhibition of Palestinian Art & Resilience
The P.A.P.A Art Foundation presents “As Told by Humans”, a landmark exhibition foregrounding the creative voices and lived experiences of Palestinian artists living in Gaza, Jenin, Jerusalem, Santa Fe and Cincinnati. The exhibition is co-curated from Gaza by artist Dr. Khalil Khalidy.
“Art does not ask permission to exist; it’s a language that speaks beyond the confines of words, so that history cannot look away. Art always outlives the ever-changing climate of politics,” said Sky Evans, Executive Director of The P.A.P.A. Art Foundation. “This exhibition is a testament to the resilience of that expressionism and a call for collective empathy and solidarity. We invite Cincinnati—and the world—to take a moment to witness, to feel, and to remember our shared humanity. ”
The exhibition will showcase fierce visual storytelling with works infused with charcoal from ruins, pigment that bleeds like memory, and forms that echo both ancestral motifs and contemporary resistance. Multi-sensory pieces invite audiences to walk through pain, love, and hope—bridging geographic distance with human proximity.
Several exhibiting artists will attend opening night via live video, sharing firsthand reflections on art-making under occupation.
Art lives on.
Art doesn’t wait for history to decide whose story matters—it tells the story, now.
EXHIBITING ARTISTS:
Zaid Ayasa
Ahmed Hamada
Assaf Mousa
Mohammed Al-Haj
Mariam Salah
Nada Al-Khatib
Dr. Khalil Khalidy
About P.A.P.A. Foundation: The P.A.P.A. (Palestinian Art Preservation Alliance) Art Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to safeguarding, archiving, and exhibiting Palestinian Art from Palestine directly. By fostering cross-cultural dialogue and educational initiatives, the Foundation champions the power of art to advance virtue for a greater justice, preserve cultural memory, and galvanize global solidarity.
EVENTS:
PRIVATE OPENING & RECEPTION (BY INVITATION ONLY)
THURSDAY, JUNE 5TH FROM 6-9PM
OPEN HOURS
THURSDAY, JUNE 12TH: 6-8PM
THURSDAY, JUNE 19TH: 6-8PM
PUBLIC CLOSING CELEBRATION:
THURSDAY, JUNE 26TH: 6-8PM
For more information or private viewing requests, contact Sky Evans at sky@papaart.org.
JUNE 5 - JUNE 30, 2025
The P.A.P.A. Art Foundation Presents
Person, Place, Thing
Prince Lang presents Person, Place, Thing, a three part exhibition and poignant exploration of the Walnut Hills community captured through the intimate and powerful medium of documentary photography. Through photography, Lang goes beyond the surface to capture the present moment as part of the backstories of Black Americans. Lang’s work highlights everyday life—the joys and the struggles that define a community’s spirit. This exhibition is a labor of love and represents over 100 hours of dark room time. This exhibition seeks to engage viewers in the current reality, encouraging them to see today’s events as the true narrative worth documenting.
Prince Lang
Prince captures the rhythms of daily life, focusing on portrait and documentary photography. His style, shaped by vernacular photography, explores landscapes, architecture, still life, and abstraction to convey the ineffable.
EVENTS - 7PM
PERSON
TUESDAY,
OCTOBER 1
PLACE
SATURDAY,
OCTOBER 12
THING
SUNDAY,
OCTOBER 15
OCTOBER 1 - OCTOBER 15, 2024
OUR’MERIKA
‘Our’Merika’ is a reminder that our country and our world is in its current state because of our choices. We can not afford to be deceived by nostalgic slogans. The rights we so often take for granted were not freely given, but fought for with blood, sweat and tears. Each flag was been interpreted to reflect the difficult history of Our’Merika and of the world, and weaves together our overlapping experiences, expressions and aspirations. The Red bleeds into the Blue and swirls in the White. For some, this presentation of the nation's symbol will be unsettling. This is intentional. The artist is not seeking an audience that desires a sterilized revision of history, but wants to enliven those who are unaware that their rights may be a thing of the past. Ultimately, the question is, “How will we decide today to shape tomorrow?”
Napoleon Maddox
Napoleon Maddox is a hip-hop ambassador writer, producer and visual artist. He uses his artistic practice to question iconography and the assumptions that accompany them. Learn more and follow him @napoleonsoloshots The Joseph Clark Gallery, located at 4038 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223, showcases the traditional arts and artifacts of Sub-Saharan Africa and the works of local artists.
EVENTS
OPENING RECEPTION
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9TH
AUGUST 9 - AUGUST 29, 2024
The Thrill of the Hills
Through paint, film and archival installations, artist Javarri Lewis brings you on a journey through familial stories, childhood recollections and personal explorations of his generational roots and ties to the historic neighborhood of Walnut Hills. “The Thrill of the Hills” reflects upon how these moments in time tie to a larger story and deeper understanding about the black experience, city migration, and an appreciation for the multifaceted community and culture of the residents who shaped it.
Javarri Lewis
Javarri Lewis (Cincinnati, OH) is a self-taught artist. His work shares authentic human emotion and provokes introspection around real people, the heritage and trajectories of communities, black society and together, the impact it has on the collective stories we tell.
This is Javarri’s first solo exhibition. Past accomplishments include: “Black and Brown faces: Paying Homage to” featured artist at the Cincinnati Art Museum; 2022 Blink Cincinnati “Euthania” Mural paint assistant to Insane51, and more. Javarri Lewis is available for commissioned work.
EXHIBITION EVENTS
OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION - RSVP
9/29 - 6-9PM
ARTIST TALK &
COMMUNITY CONVO
10/27 - 6-9PM
STOP IN - OPEN HOURS
WED & SAT, NOON - 3PM
BY APPT: JAVARRILEWIS2@GMAIL.COM
SEPTEMBER 29 - NOVEMBER 3, 2023