As part of our Nostalgia & History series, this photo essay spotlights photographer Kristopher Johnson and his LUMEN ARCHETYPES—a powerful series capturing the diverse faces and vibrant community of Staten Island’s LUMEN festival. Through his iconic pop-up portrait studio, Kristopher documented the energy and creativity that transformed an industrial waterfront into a dynamic art hub. This essay honors not only Kristopher’s unique vision but also how the groundbreaking festival LUMEN redefined not just Staten Island’s waterfront but also the idea of art as a communal and immersive experience.

In this interview, we speak with Tony Quera, the Staten Island-based illustrator behind Garbage Dump and Scenes From The Landfill. A lifelong New Yorker, Quera has spent the past decade building a world where surreal characters—often part-object, part-animal, part-human—navigate everyday life in a place called The Landfill. Drawing inspiration from early webcomics, video games, and city life, his work combines humor, introspection, and a unique design language that challenges traditional ideas of what characters—and stories—can look like. Quera shares how Garbage Dump came to life and what it means to create personal art, even if it means pushing back against the algorithm.

As part of our Nostalgia & History series, Mary Campbell takes us on a journey through Staten Island’s lost venues—once-thriving spaces that nurtured creativity, performance, and community. Staten Island’s underground art scene has thrived in unexpected places—cafés, pop-up spaces, and DIY venues that became creative hubs before vanishing into memory. From the Muddy Cup to Art at Bay, this reflection honors the ephemeral nature of artist-run spaces and the resilience of local creatives who brought them to life.

Sound and performance artist Marisa Tornello gives insights into their creative process for upcoming performance, s(o)(e)wing which premieres at the Newhouse Center on November 22, 2024.