Studio CNS / Counter Narrative Society

Who we are / The Narrators

An artistic_research_activist unit…

Mabel Negrete (CNS), Principal
Hi! I am the founder and lead artist, conceptual designer, intercultural facilitator, community strategist, educator, anti-prison activist, entrepreneur (aka CNS), and am available for collaborations, consultations, workshops, lectures, and artist’s talks. Visit WHAT WE DO for a general guideline or my professional profiles at MabelNegrete.com, ACT, or LinkedIn.

I have been working as the Counter Narrative Society (CNS) | Studio CNS for over 19 years which is a studio that focuses primarily on decolonization, building community, and the abolition of the invisible punishing machine. I am also the founder of SPARKmakers LLC and cofounder of the Indigenous 215 Collective, Indigenous Peoples’ Day Philly, The Mobile Futures Institute, and other social initiatives. I currently serve as the Executive Director and Interim Chair of the Board Directors of IPDphilly.org.

I am also originally from Ngulumapu (Chile) and self-identifies as a Chola-Andina-Picunche-Chilean who migrated to Turtle Island over three decades ago. I hold a Bachelor of Fine Art from the San Francisco Art Institute and a Master of Science in Art, Culture, and Technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

+ Collaborators

Ry Hernandez. Engineer, educator, and working partner for SPARKmakers.org. Since 2017 Hernandez has helped co-develop the STEAM program at Mercy’s STEAM Program. So far, our program can deliver over 50+ hands-on projects. In addition, Hernandez helped co-develop the online program we are delivering in 2021.

Trinity Norwood. Partner and co-founding director for IPDphilly.org and Collaborator for ¿Me Escuchas? / Can you Hear Me?. Norwood is a citizen of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation in New Jersey and since 2017, Norwood with CNS and other colleagues helped build the coalition for what is now the nonprofit Indigenous Peoples’ Day Philly, Inc—an organization that brought attention to city officials to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day in place of the harmful Columbus Day. In addition, Norwood is a collaborator who helped facilitate the first two workshops for ¿Me Escuchas? / Can you Hear Me?—a project that CNS with collaborators and guest speakers presented during the One Book One Philadelphia 2020 at the Free Library.

Brittanie Sterner. Supporting collaborator for ¿Me Escuchas? / Can you Hear Me?—a project that CNS conceived for the Free Library’s One Book One Philadelphia 2020. Sterner is the Program Director of the One Book One Philadelphia. Currently, she and CNS are working on finishing a website for the project in order for it to be a resource and develop future workshops.

+ Advisors

Jondhi Harrell. Advisor, Mentor in Anti-Prison Activism. Harrell leads the Center for Returning Citizen Healing Center in North Philadelphia.

Stan Pokras. Advisor and Mentor on Networks and Collaborations in the city of Philadelphia. Also, he was a past collaborator through the Philadelphia Assembled: Atmosphere of Democracy.

Present & Past

Community/Project Partners and Funders

+ Mercy’s STEM Program – MercyNeighboors.org, Philadelphia. PA
+ One Book One Philadelphia 2020, Free Library, Philadelphia. PA
+ Jeanne van Heeswijk with Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia. PA
+ IDEA LAB – William Penn Charter School, Philadelphia. PA
+ Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art, Rancho Cucamonga. CA
+ Yerba Buena Center for Arts (YBCA), San Francisco. CA
+ The Center for Returning Citizens (TCRC), Philadelphia. PA
+ The Hacktory, Philadelphia. PA
+ DM+D | Department of Making + Doing, Philadelphia. PA
+ Code for Philly, Philadelphia. PA
+ Taller Puertorriqueño – Visual Arts Program, Philadelphia. PA
+ Historic Fair Hill Burial Grounds, Philadelphia. PA
+ Decarcerate PA, Philadelphia. PA
+ Human Rights Coalition (HRC), Philadelphia. PA
+ Mural Arts Program – Restorative Justice Program, Philadelphia. PA
+ Leeway Foundation, Philadelphia. PA
+ MIT – Program in Art Culture and Technology (ACT), Cambridge. MA
+ We Players, San Francisco. CA
+ Intersection for the Arts, San Francisco
+ South of Market Arts (SOMARTS), San Francisco
+ HYPERSEA (Hyper Socially Engaged Arts), San Francisco

Present/Past Friends & Collaborators

Priscilla Anacakuyani Bell.  Artist, Activist and Co-founder of Indigenous 215 Collective and of IPDphilly.org. Bell is also a former collaborator for ¿Me Escuchas? / Can you Hear Me?–a project that CNS with collaborators and guest speakers presented during the One Book One Philadelphia 2020 at the Free Library.

Ariel Vazquez, Collaborator, Architect, Urban Researcher & Co-founding Member of CP-LAB

Theresa Shoatz, Advisor, Mentor in Anti-Prison Activism for Healing Our Wounds

Mayfield (aka Mary Ann Brooks) – Performance Artist & Lecturer. Old-time friend, advisor, and collaborator of CNS. Mayfield has worked on numerous projects with CNS since we were in San Francisco, California.

Rebecca Travick – curator @ Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art –  Inside/Outside: Prison Narratives exhibition and our solo exhibition Desegregate: Dismantle Isolation (Sept-Nov. 2015)

Katya Mia – curator @ Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) – Room for Big Ideas: CONCEIVING PLACE  (May-Aug. 2015)

Hanna Novillo and Mary Vericat – curatorial support @ YBCA – Room for Big Ideas: CONCEIVING PLACE.

Lauren Elder @ CONCEIVING PLACE: SPARKmakers Thinkering School  – workshops: Interrupting Asphalt: Regreening Urban Space. A Practicum.

Adrienne Skye Roberts @ CONCEIVING PLACE: SPARKmakers Thinkering School – workshops: BlogSpeak: FREEDOM and A Living Chance

Christine Villanueva @ CONCEIVING PLACE: SPARKmakers Thinkering School – workshop: Drop-in Clinic: D.I.Y. Comics & Zines

Book and Wheel Works + Collaborators @ CONCEIVING PLACE: SPARKmakers Thinkering School – workshops: Sustaining Place Series // (aka artists Kate Connell and Oscar Melara) + Jarrel Phillips, Alisa Messer, Aliyah Dunn-Salahuddin & Amber Straus.

Healing Arts Collective (aka artist/health activist Ivy McClelland) – @ CONCEIVING PLACE: SPARKmakers Thinkering School – workshops: Interactive Performance Workshop + Living Workshop Performance Score

Bri Barton, Collaborator, Artist & Gardener @ Historic Fair Hill

Eric Manganaro, Teacher Assistant for How Things Work and Support Teacher for the Summer Camp @ Fort Washington

Gina Gadger, is an old-time pal, artist and freelance editor/grant writer who provides occasional support to CNS. She is currently living in Toronto, Canada. For more information about her work, visit her website: http://ginabadger.ca/info/

John Hulsey is a socially engaged artist and filmmaker who lives and studies in Cambridge, MA. He contributed with critical evaluation, processes and writing for the manifesto and project Glaciers_Under Our Skin. He is currently undertaking his PHD at Harvard. — Website: http://jhulsey.net

Marguerite Davenport is a photographer and holds a BA from Smith College in Pan-African Studies and International Relations. She is currently developing with her colleague in Kenya a literacy program. She contributed as researcher for the Racial Pre_Filing Vest and as photographer for the Sensible Housing Unit.

Joshua Short is a multimedia artist who lives in San Francisco. He has been a principal supporter to CNS since its inception. – website: http://joshuashort.com

Axel Herrera is a composer sound artist who lives and works in San Francisco. He contributed with a symphonic poem for the installation of the Sensible Housing Unit project.

Denis Maxwell is a videographer and assisted with the production of the Restless Sleep project.

Alli Spector is a performer, activist and radical artist based in San Francisco. She contributed with an experimental performance for the Subliminal Sketches of a SHU.

Victoria Restler is a producer, curator and artist based in New York. She contributed with research and writing to the Subliminal Sketches of a SHU.

Jose Negrete is a storyteller and major contributor to the You and Me project. He is currently surviving from imprisonment in the California State Prison.

Fernando Marti is a San Francisco based architect working in the field of radical urban planning. He was a major contributor for the Thinking of You project and initial studies for the Hunting the Now. — Website: Main Profile & Portfolio

Fiona Glas is a San Francisco based clinical social worker practicing in the field of radical art therapy. She was contributor to the projects of Thinking of YouHunting the Now and Sensible Housing Unit. She is now a friendly advisor and occasional contributor.

Chris Carlsson
 is a San Francisco based writer, historian, activist and creator of numerous cultural projects. He is also friend of “the society” for occasional consultancy, for some ideas or info on local history. He was a historian and editor to the making of Hunting the Now project. — Websites: Main Profile | The Nowtopian | FoundSF | Critical Mass |

Links we like!

Collectives & Groups
Philly with Standing Rock / Philly NoDAPL
Femmes Are From the Future
The AfroFuturist Affair
Black Quantum Futurism
Justseeds
REV
La Pocha Nostra
Interrogative Design

Artists
Praba Pilar

Mathew Mazzota
Joan Jonas
Antonio Muntadas

Directories
resartis.org
re-title.com
missionartist.net
idealist.org

Galleries & Organizations
SOEX
The Intersection for the Arts
Galería de la Raza

Art & Tech
Eyebeam