CAFKA.25: Field Guide to the Understory
June 7 - July 26, 2025
CAFKA.25: Field Guide to the Understory is a temporary contemporary art festival running from June 7 - July 26 in publicly-accessible spaces throughout Waterloo Region.
CAFKA.25 draws inspiration from the intricate ecosystems of the forest understory, where life flourishes in the fleeting glow of dappled light and where intricate microhabitats thrive in the shadow of giants.
CAFKA.25 considers the possibilities of an urban understory where, below the tall buildings and executive suites, we see a rich tapestry of entwined narratives and a deep desire for balance and community.
Through the works in the biennial, we are searching for the quiet places where life is nurtured and supported atop stable ground, and our understory serves as a place of shelter and intimate discovery where each artwork presents a bridge between the seen and unseen in everyday life.
CAFKA.25 considers the possibilities of an urban understory where, below the tall buildings and executive suites, we see a rich tapestry of entwined narratives and a deep desire for balance and community.
Through the works in the biennial, we are searching for the quiet places where life is nurtured and supported atop stable ground, and our understory serves as a place of shelter and intimate discovery where each artwork presents a bridge between the seen and unseen in everyday life.
Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener + Area (CAFKA) is a non-profit, charitable, artist-run organization that presents a free biennial exhibition of contemporary art in the public spaces of Waterloo Region. Between biennial exhibitions, CAFKA presents public artworks and provides professional development opportunities for the visual arts community. As Ontario’s oldest public art forum, for over 20 years, CAFKA has brought thought provoking contemporary art to the public spaces of the Region in order to inspire, engage, and enrich community life.
