Collaborators — Huddled Masses Project

theater%2Bcrew-1188.jpg — Caitlin Cisek. Creative Director.

Caitlin is a Production Designer, Stylist and Educator. Developed as a response to the 2016 election, Huddled Masses asks how design can be used to amplify and celebrate our shared truth of immigration. It is a privilege to use design to tell stories—

Oriana Lineweaver. Creative Consultant & Assistant Stylist.

Oriana Sophia is a costume designer, performing artist and Illustrator. She earned her BA in theatre and creative writing from Hunter college and continued her acting training at the Maggie Flanigan Studio. Olives are her favorite food.

Greg Kirkorian. Creative Consultant and Producer.

Greg is a queer grotesque artist who explores spiritual themes centering on desire, death and identity. Huddled Masses core project of exploring and lionizing the visible and invisible lineages we carry was a natural fit!

Maria Santiago. Photographer.

Psychiatric social worker by day, rocksteady soul singer by night. Maria brings an eclectic spirit to everything she does. She made the choice to move from the fast paced world of film to the even more intensive field of social work, 5 years ago, after spending a summer working for a non profit in Manilla, Philippines. Now she spends time merging her creativity with education and expertise in psychiatry, leading a team of clinicians to do their best work possible with some of the most vulnerable people in New York City.

Esther Ko. Photographer.

Esther Yumi Ko is a writer, photographer, fiber artist, arts administrator, ambivalent New Yorker, kickboxer, former fencer, erstwhile performer, anti-authoritarian, survivor, and child of immigrants. She has relished the opportunity to express all these disparate parts of herself for this project. Social: @estheryumiko Website: http://estheryumiko.net

Deirdre Morgan. Makeup Artist.

Deirdre is a freelancing costumer & makeup artist and has been working around NYC for the past 3 years, as well as a brief stint sailing the globe working for Disney Cruise Line. Her passion is all things clothing, hair, and makeup and she loves making people feel like their best selves. Deirdre came onto the Huddled Masses project at the beginning and loves every chance she can surround herself with Caitlin’s creative energy. When she’s not working Deirdre can be found snuggling up with her pup and a new book making herself as cozy as possible.

Angelica Stradford. Hair Artist.

I am a Bronx raised Artist who loves expressing her feelings/emotions through her ART. I find myself mostly drawn to Fashion, Photography/Modeling, Poetry, Painting and Dance. As you can see, I'm what you'll call an "Artistic-Weirdo"🤪. I really enjoyed and I'm gratefully humble about being apart of this project. It was such a pleasure having this project come to life. Follow me on my Instagram: @_____ang.marie

Nina Johnson. Photographer

Nina Johnson is a professional photographer who specializes in working with small businesses, non-profits, and individuals to capture the images they need to further their missions and achieve their goals. Nina prides herself on building a supportive and collaborative environment during every photography session, resulting in natural and engaging images. Nina holds a BA in Religion from Reed College, and has been a library worker, a pastry chef, a volunteer coordinator, and a swing dance instructor, before finding her career in photography.

Kasie Henderson. Culinary Collaborator.

Poet.

Hayfa Achour. Creative Consultant & Assistant Stylist.

Hayfa is mainly interested in the politics of liberation, identity, memory and land, especially in Africa and the Middle East. My academic focus has been on violence, torture and protests. I love using different forms of art for political engagement and activism and would never miss a chance to advocate for the artistic and political value of vandalism, graffiti, and other delegitimized means of expression used by the underprivileged and the unheard.

bead+cowrieears-3934.jpeg — Curry. Jewelry Designer. Creative Director of Bead and Cowrie.

Bead and Cowrie is a beauty brand created by BespokeCurry that is redefining Black Beauty. We are unapologetically honest about Black hair education and aesthetic while curating comfort, style and safe space for Black folxs. Inspired by whimsy, Black pop culture, and my forever religion. Us.

Maria Wilkerson. Creative Assistant.

From the southern United States, Maria is a life-long learner and theater artist who is dedicated to amplifying the stories of people from low-income and underprivileged communities.She earned a B.A. in Theatre (and a minor in Latin!) from Reed College in 2021 and continues to study performance, religion, and sacred music in tandem. She also has two pet rats, Onion Ring and Lima Bean.