Opening reception October 4, 2025, 4-6pm
On display thru the month of October
Flemington DIY proudly presents What Is American?, a juried exhibition marking 250 years since the American Revolution, centered on revolutionary ethos and BIPOC voices, dedicated to countering erasure and expanding the American narrative. Curated by Christianne Ebel.
Made possible with funds from The National Endowment for the Arts, the Hunterdon County Board of County Commissioners, and the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission.
Support the vision of What Is American?, and help sustain the creative work and labor behind the exhibition
About the Exhibition
What is American?, is a collaborative exhibition curated by Christianne Ebel in partnership with selected BIPOC artists from New Jersey and hosted at Flemington DIY as part of its ongoing initiative to foster critical arts programming rooted in local history, cultural identity, and social consciousness. Made possible with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Hunterdon County Board of County Commissioners, and the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission.
Centering the ethos of the Revolutionary War era through to our present moment, the exhibition seeks to reflect the multiplicity of American experiences often silenced or omitted from dominant historical narratives. This exhibition is an invitation to explore what it means to be American—through the lens of those whose stories have historically been erased, ignored, or marginalized. By highlighting the voices of BIPOC artists from New Jersey, What is American? aims to cultivate an expansive visual dialogue that considers the intersections of land, lineage, displacement, sovereignty, identity, resistance, and re-imagination.
Through personal and collective storytelling, What is American? asks:
- How do we understand and carry our heritage within a society built on selective memory?
- What are the stories, experiences, and feelings of identity and integration among diasporic peoples?
- How have we—and how can we continue—passing on our knowledge, culture, and history within the broader “American” narrative?
This show will not only feature compelling visual artworks but also invite community engagement through workshops, events, and reflective dialogue. Together, we aim to disrupt the static image of America and co-create a more inclusive, living portrait of our collective humanity.
The exhibition and its outreach programs will explore themes of identity, indigeneity, revolutionary ideals, origin myths, displacement, migration, and connection to land and its resources through the lens of both the American Revolution and contemporary experiences. Through this exhibition, we seek to foster a deeper, more inclusive understanding of America’s past and present—one that acknowledges the unfinished revolution, centers marginalized voices, and actively resists the forces of erasure.
Christianne Ebel
Christianne Ebel is a Queer, BIPOC, community-based photographer raised in a multilingual, multicultural, and multi-generational household in New Jersey. Inspired by family lore, they seek to capture narratives that connect people, cultures, identities, and moments.
With nearly two decades of experience as a photojournalist, her work has evolved to include fine art and portrait photography. Christianne’s practice explores themes of mental illness, trauma, culture, identity, and the influence of visual language on reality.
They hold a BA in Visual Communications from the Savannah College of Art and Design and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts (2022), where she received the Alumni Scholarship Award.
Current projects include The Glimmer Portrait Project, a mobile portrait studio created and led by Christianne, which offers families facing serious childhood illness the opportunity to be seen with care, joy, and agency, witnessed through intimate and compassionate centered portraiture.
Currently portrait sessions are hosted with the support of The Ronald McDonald House of Philadelphia. She is also curating What Is American? a group exhibition opening in October 2025 at Flemington DIY.
You can learn more about their art practice at ChristianneEbelPhotography.com or on Instagram at @Christianne.Ebel.Photo.
Isa Girona
My name is IsaFlora. I am a Boricua creatrix, ceremonialist, poet, and multimedia visual artist. I blend visual art, poetry, movement, song, installation, and more—sometimes separately, often together. Raised in a Puerto Rican household, my passion for life and art is deeply rooted in my culture.
My grounding force is the land —Mother Earth, ritual, and communion with my ancestors are all major influences with my work. This connection fuels my creativity and helps me envision a future rooted in love, justice, and healing.
In the past five years, I’ve begun sharing my work publicly—showing in local galleries and competitions. Last year, I won a mural arts competition through Flemington DIY, and this year, I sold my first painting. I’m also deeply involved in my community. I help organize local art events and cultivate creative spaces in Frenchtown, NJ. I host creativity nights, poetry circles, and free-flow movement journeys. These gatherings nourish my soul and help connect me to others.
I’m grateful to use my voice and platform to tell stories of the diaspora and bring people together. My intention is to keep planting seeds of love and liberation—for my people, for all those oppressed, and for humanity. There is always enough. ¡WEPA!
@isabelcaroline on Instagram
Solanyi Pena
Solanyi Peña (Soly) is a Dominican artist and full-time muralist based in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where she was born and raised. Soly is a self-taught artist whose foundational training began in high school. With over seven years of professional experience—including mural work—she has built a diverse and dynamic art practice. Her artistic style blends figurative realism with expressive abstraction, using bold color, dynamic forms, and symbolic details to convey emotion and narrative. Her current body of work is inspired by themes of race, identity, and resilience. Through storytelling and symbolism, she honors the strength, creativity, and humanity reflected across generations.
soly.godaddysites.com
@Solangex0 on Instagram
Photo Credit:
Nichole Figuerora, Instagram: @nicki_rockk
Terrance Cummings
Terrance Cummings is an artist from Birmingham, Alabama, whose humble beginnings have profoundly shaped his journey in the art world. Growing up in a working-class household led by a single mother, Cummings witnessed the power of perseverance and the importance of community. A vivid memory from his youth—his aunt collecting coal from railroad tracks to heat their home—reflects the resilience and ingenuity that continue to inform his artistic vision.
Cummings’s family eventually relocated to New York City, where he earned his diploma from the High School of Music and Art. He later received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Parsons School of Design, an experience that allowed him to explore and refine his creative voice.
Over the years, Cummings has achieved significant milestones and received recognition for his work. His art has been featured in solo exhibitions and is held in the collections of discerning collectors. These exhibitions have provided a platform to share narratives rooted in personal experience, cultural identity, and social commentary. In addition to his work in fine art, Cummings has collaborated within the publishing industry, broadening the reach of
his artistic perspective through published illustrations and visual storytelling.
A central theme in his practice is the positive representation of marginalized communities. Through bold imagery and thoughtful composition, Cummings challenges stereotypes and provokes dialogue around pressing social issues. His style is characterized by layered color palettes that form unexpected hues, along with the strategic use of patterns and textures that activate the surface and add depth to each piece.
Terrance Cummings continues to use his art as a vehicle for reflection, empowerment, and change. www.terrancecummings.com
Photo Credit: Photo by Jon Filo
