Wide Rainbow

Melissa Joseph ( ) is a New York based artist. Her work considers themes of memory, family history, and the politics of how we occupy spaces. She intentionally alludes to the labors of women as well as experiences as a first generation American and the unique juxtapositions of diasporic life.

Emma Otheguy ( .otheguy ) is the author of several books for children, including the picture books A Sled for Gabo and Martina Has Too Many Tías, the bilingual picture book Martí’s Song for Freedom, and the middle-grade novels Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene and Silver Meadows Summer.

Otheguy’s books emphasize the deep connections between Latin America and the United States and aim to share these stories of bridges and convergences with everyday kids. Before becoming a writer and historian, Otheguy graduated from Swarthmore College, sold books at an independent bookstore, and taught elementary-school Spanish.

Tschabalala Self ( b.1990 Harlem, New York) lives and works in the Hudson Valley, New York. Self is an artist who builds a singular style from the syncretic use of painting, printmaking and sculpture to explore ideas surrounding figuration. She constructs depictions of predominantly women using a combination of sewn, printed, and painted materials, traversing different artistic and craft traditions. The formal and conceptual aspects of Self’s work seek to expand her critical inquiry into selfhood and human flourishing.

Exploring Haitian culture with Susie Jaramillo ( ), who visited us at Urban Scholars ( ) for a Wide Rainbow Storytime to share her book from the Canticos ( ) Tiny Travelers series. ♥︎

Cheyenne Julien ( ) (b. 1994, Bronx, NY) lives and works in the Brooklyn, NY. She received her BFA in Painting at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2016. Her practice explores cultural and collective histories reflected through her own lived experiences. Often derived from memory, Julien’s paintings and drawings portray intimate subjects inspired by her closest relationships and life in New York City.