Born on the Bicentennial (Opening Reception First Friday)

Seven Philadelphia artists born in 1976

Shawn Alleyne
Anastasia Crisostomo-Dawan
Justin Duerr
Bonnie MacAllister
Athena Astraea Scott
Keni Thomas
Michael N Thomas

Philadelphia artists born in 1976 “Born on the Bicentennial,” an August exhibition at Cherry Street Pier curated by Bonnie MacAllister, 4th year resident artist. Exhibition is upstairs in the Terrace Gallery.

Philadelphia artists born in 1976 “Born on the Bicentennial,” an August exhibition at Cherry Street Pier curated by Bonnie MacAllister, 4th year resident artist. Exhibition is upstairs in the Terrace Gallery.

August 7 First Friday
5-7 terrace reception
Runs through August 30 (closing at 4)

Shawn Alleyne is a multi-disciplinary creator and visual artist based in Philadelphia, originally from Barbados. His work pulls from many worlds, mixing sci-fi, mythology, and Afro-aesthetics with his Caribbean roots, love of hip-hop, and self-taught techniques. The result is a bold and layered style rooted in speculative fiction and storytelling.

Beyond his own creative work, Shawn is deeply committed to growing the artistic community. He is the founder of Artmada, an art collective that brings artists together, and The Xion Network, a comic book-focused networking group. He also co-founded Street Team Studios, an entertainment company built on collaboration and creative expression. @pyroglyphics1

Anastasia Crisostomo-Dawan comes to Cherry Street Pier through her work with Diaspora DNA Story Center: more than an archive or museum; it’s a living space where stories come to life.

As a Licensed Real Estate Professional and PA Commissioned Notary Public, Anastasia’s career has been grounded in acquisition strategy, municipal processes, investor collaboration, and asset management. She has worked alongside local governments, non-profits, and private investors. These experiences have afforded her access to redevelopment opportunities and an understanding of how public policy, capital, and community interests intersect. Today Anastasia continues to maintain her cultivated relationships and actively work with clients across acquisitions, project and property management, sales and marketing, and real estate consulting. @diasporadnactr

Justin Duerr grew up in rural Pennsylvania. As a child he studied ancient Egyptian mythology and art, oddities of pop-culture, religion, and anything odd he could find hiding in the woods or in the local library, unsurprisingly influences that carried into his visual, musical, and genre crossing output.
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In the early 1990s, Justin dropped out of high school and moved to Philadelphia, PA. He spent several years living in various squats while continuing to refine his creative vision, and also recording music and sound with hand held tape recorders. His work was shaped by experiences drawing large scale pieces by candlelight in an abandoned warehouse, working in the Bering Sea on fishing boats, and many musical performances and below-the-radar art events. He and his fascination with and research into the mysterious “Toynbee Tiles”, which are embedded in the asphalt of streets across the country — were the subject of a documentary called “Resurrect Dead: the Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles,” which received an award at the 2011 Sundance film festival for best director. Justin’s research and texts have led him to uncover art mysteries requiring trips to obscure settings and archives. Justin’s artwork has been exhibited internationally. @justinduerr

Bonnie MacAllister is a fourth year resident at Cherry Street Pier. Curator of the exhibition, her previous shows at the pier have included Phantastic Phibers, a large scale invitational multimedia fibers exhibition including interactive and industrial textiles and suspended puppetry spanning the length of the upstairs terrace, pier gallery, and the pier garden bridge view and Weaving on the Waterfront featuring looms, process work, an installation of woven estuary dolls depicting indigenous pre-colonial figures, and an interactive wishing well and tree constructed by her frequent collaborator Jamie Campbell.

Bonnie’s Craft Your Own Nature Inspired Fabric Art was selected as an Airbnb Original. This workshop and a variety of fiber arts experiences including embroidery, weaving, sewing, felting, and creating keepsakes are available to book at Cherry Street Pier monthly through her instagram links @bonniemacart. She has published and exhibited internationally and has been the recipient of grants and teaching artist residencies including a Fulbright- Hays to Ethiopia.

Athena Astraea Scott is an interdisciplinary artist from Philadelphia, Pa. She holds a Bachelor of Science from The Art Institute of Philadelphia and MFA from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts with a career background in web and graphic design.

Athena received a nomination for the Dedalus Foundation Fellowship and has been a Fellow of the Mural Arts Philadelphia Fellowship for Black Artists and The Dina Wind Foundation/InLiquid Fellowship programs. Athena has exhibited work in and around the Philadelphia area and has participated in the Artist in Residence program at Cherry St Pier, in Philadelphia. She has also received the Linda Lee Alter award with the awarded work acquired for the Linda Lee Alter collection. @athena_astraea

Keni Thomas also known as @Thomcat23, is a Philadelphia-based visual artist whose work explores social, political, and environmental themes through bold imagery and visual humor. He began his career as a graphic designer in sports marketing, working with organizations such as the Philadelphia 76ers and the Philadelphia Flyers. Since then, he has collaborated with brands such as Nike/Sneaker-Lab and Moment Watches, as well as fellow artists, on a wide range of creative projects.His primary focus is the human experience and general geekery. Keni went independent in 2020 and helped establish Philly Otaku (an anime fan community) with his partner Becky DeMaulé.

Michael N. Thomas is a painter, designer, and mixed-media artist hailing from New York City. Growing up in a multicultural household in Queens, New York, he began to use the city as his muse. The son of an Ecuadorian immigrant mother and an American free-spirited father, he learned the importance of creating art at a young age. Now a father himself, he speaks through each piece he creates. @tigerhorseart

Michael’s use of color and line is both poetic and powerful. Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, surrounded by the culture of New York City, inspired his abstract and textured style. Post-punk music, graffiti art, and Nuyorican poetry helped to shape his perspective.

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