STILL HERE: Harlem Eternal
Artist Talk & Exhibition Closing Celebration

Join us for a special afternoon of art, conversation, and community as we celebrate the closing of STILL HERE: Harlem Eternal—a multimedia exhibition created through collaboration among the Defend Harlem media team, local artists, organizers, and community contributors committed to using art as a tool for social awareness and collective action.

The artist talk and panel will reflect on the exhibition and explore the broader role of the arts in preserving Harlem’s history through its people, artists, cultural institutions, and community stories.

Featuring:
• Kathryn Destin — Writer & Artist Organizer
• Monica Freeman — Filmmaker & Arts Administrator
• Sade Boywea El — Photographer & Community Activist
• Dionis Ortiz — Artist, Curator & Educator, Moderator

Saturday, September 19, 2026
4–6 PM
The Children’s Art Carnival
RSVP

Come share in the conversation, celebrate the artists and contributors, and honor the stories that keep Harlem eternal.

All are welcome.

Still Here: Harlem Eternal is a multimedia exhibition honoring the people, histories, and cultural legacy of Harlem through photography, poetry, visual art, and film.

Organized by Defend Harlem, the exhibition responds to the ongoing effects of displacement, rising housing costs, and gentrification impacting longtime Harlem communities. Through storytelling and visual art, the exhibition highlights the voices of residents, organizers, and artists who continue to fight for the preservation of Harlem’s cultural identity and community life.

Defend Harlem is a community-based media and advocacy collective founded by The Interfaith Housing Commission for Housing Equality in partnership with Young Atlas. The collective uses visual storytelling, public programming, and grassroots organizing to advocate for housing justice in Uptown Manhattan.

Featured photographs were hand-printed by the Defend Harlem Media Team through a handmade image-transfer process using photocopies.

On View: Friday, July 10 – Sunday, September 20, 2026

Location
The Children’s Art Carnival, 62 Hamilton Terrace, New York, NY 10031

Co-Curated by Dionis Ortiz & The Defend Harlem Media Team (Corrie Aune, Kai Cogsville, Jamila Desir, Kathryn Destin, Jordan Macy, Nefertite Nguvu, Brandon Tizol, and Nafissatou Yattassaye)

Featured Artists: Corrie Aune, Samiya Bashir, Kamel Brown, Marcus Cardoza, Yvonne Destin, Kathryn Destin; Jamila Desir, Sade Boyewa El, Jordan Macy, Sola Olosunde, Liza Jessie Peterson, Dondre Stuetley, Vincent Tsai, and more