the cell

Lila Bloom (Music) merges “psychedelic folk jazz” with raw emotional storytelling. A born-and-raised New York force, her fluid guitar work — echoing the intricacy of ‘60s greats — anchors songs that shift from haunting stillness to volcanic vocal improvisations. With a diamond cut voice that soars and dances like a jazz oracle, she transforms stages into sanctuaries of poetic, sonic watercolor.”

Ethan Kogen (Poetry) is an experimentalist working in both musical and literary dimensions. As a writer, his early work included anthropological research at Columbia University, where he received Departmental Honors for his thesis on a New York street performance of bucket drumming, acrobatics, breakdancing, and comedy, in which he played drum set. Subsequent work included a short submission included in Ghanaian cultural legend and guitar pioneer Koo Nimo’s autobiography, Six Strings and a Note: Legendary Agya Koo Nimo in His Own Words, as well as liner notes for saxophonist Chase Baird’s recording A Life Between, featuring jazz icons Brad Mehldau and Antonio Sanchez. More recently, he has delivered poetry and prose with Nu Music, his project combining acoustic and digital improvisers to create unlikely text-pieces, as well as songs with Slumpwick Grummo, his rock band. He is honored to present his poems. For updates on his latest work, visit Ethan’s Instagram: @groove_md

AnA Collaborations (Film) Audrey Rachelle and Alex Oliva co-founded AnA Collaborations in 2015 upon discovering their shared passion for visceral, risk-taking, collaborative approaches to interdisciplinary dance-making. They have since choreographed, directed, and produced over 25 multidisciplinary movement-based works both on and off screen, collaborating with dancers, filmmakers, musicians, composers, visual artists, writers, actors, photographers, and set designers. The duo maintains a commitment to honest storytelling and the merging of diverse people and practices.

Jacuzzi Jefferson (Music) is a Brooklyn-based music producer, DJ, and digital music professor known for his genre-blending artistry that fuses alternative hip-hop, electronic house, lo-fi boom-bap, and experimental R&B. In 2025, Jefferson released his most ambitious project to date, dumbmachine, a genre-defying album featuring collaborations with Wu-Tang Clan legends Ghostface Killah and Inspectah Deck, UK songwriter Soren Bryce, and New York producer/guitarist Chris Mazuera. The album showcases Jefferson's fearless approach to production, blending traditional hip-hop with alternative R&B and experimental soundscapes. Beyond his production work, Jefferson has an impressive background as an audio engineer, with credits including 50 Cent, Juelz Santana, Melanie Fiona, and Trey Songz. His music has been featured in campaigns for brands like Nike and Audi, and he has contributed to projects such as Harman Kardon & BMW’s Driving the Sound of the Future. Currently, he teaches Digital Music at Hostos Community College in New York City, sharing his expertise with the next generation of artists.

Michelle Ortiz (Poetry) is an Afro-Boricua and Dominican Poet who uses poetry and visual narratives to explore themes of grief, immigration, intergenerational trauma, and violence against women. Michelle has performed in poetry venues and multidisciplinary spaces all around NYC, cultivating a community of storytellers who reflect the tenacity of poetry when used as a catalyst for testimony, ritual, and community-building.

Giorgio Miraflor (Film) is a multi-award-winning Filipino-American filmmaker and actor based in Brooklyn, NY. Starting as solely an actor in the independent film scene in Tampa, to getting a Master's in Filmmaking at the University of East London, he now continues to do both, looking to share diverse stories and underrepresented voices and faces through his short films.

MCP (also known as Wanda Civic) (Music) is a Colombian-American entertainer, educator, artist, writer, whistler, classically trained singer, self-taught instrumentalist, and genre-bending improviser. Her timeless timbre and relentless optimism have brought her opportunities to showcase her voice around the world. A student of music therapy, MCP believes in the power of art-making to alchemize pain and questions into powerful bodies of work. Through both creating and observing art, we are reminded of our ability to grow, heal, and change through loving, learning, and grieving. MCP released her solo album "Live in Paris" (recorded at Zoot Collectif) last year, and her songwriting has been featured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She was born in Texas, raised in New Jersey, and moved to the Bronx 7 years ago to pursue her dreams.

Marlo (Poetry) is a spoken word artist known for her powerful storytelling and animated stage presence. Her poetry explores themes of mental health, grief, identity, and sexuality. She is the founder, curator, and host of the monthly poetry event “The Butterfly Effect”. She is a three-time slam champion and has performed for renowned organizations including The Nuyorican Final Friday Slam, Brooklyn Poetry Slam, The Bronx Museum, and more. Her work was published in the 2024 Poets Choice anthology, Seven Jumbled Words. Through her art, Marlo fosters community and healing. She uses poetry to navigate personal struggles while offering a voice for shared human experiences, emphasizing the transformative power of vulnerability and connection.

Giorgio Miraflor (Film) is a multi-award-winning Filipino-American filmmaker and actor based in Brooklyn, NY. Starting as solely an actor in the independent film scene in Tampa, to getting a Master's in Filmmaking at the University of East London, he now continues to do both, looking to share diverse stories and underrepresented voices and faces through his short films.

CHAUHAUS (Food) is a culinary art studio that celebrates the intersection of gastronomy, technology, and storytelling to create otherworldly dining experiences. Best known for crafting experiential and experimental cuisine, CHAUHAUS curates immersive events, themed dinners, popups, and retreats. CHAUHAUS was founded by scientist and chef Steven Shikhel, PhD, during his culinary art residency at Nancy Manocherian’s the cell theatre.