STAFF

 

Žana Kozomora | Director/Curator

director @ cafka.org

Žana Kozomora (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist, curator and arts administrator, with nearly a decade of supporting contemporary exhibitions and programming with public galleries, university art galleries, artist-run, and grassroots organizations. Her recent curatorial projects include A scaffold with, against at the Art Museum, University of Toronto (2022), and At the far edge of worlds, featuring works from the collection of the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (2022). She holds a Master of Visual Studies - Curatorial Studies from the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design at the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo specializing in studio art. Kozomora was born in Sarajevo, BiH, and grew up in Kitchener, Ontario, the traditional territory of the Attawandaron (Neutral), Anishnaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples.
 

Marilyn Adlington | Program Manager

programming @ cafka.org

Marilyn Adlington (she/her) is an MFA graduate of Criticism & Curatorial Practice from OCAD University with a background in Art History and Museum  Studies. She has a dedicated passion for curatorial work and exhibition development, with several years of experience developing contemporary art programming in communities throughout Ontario. She has published art writing in the Journal of Curatorial Studies, PUBLIC journal, and The Senses and Society journal. As the Interim Director for CAFKA, Marilyn strives to facilitate public art experiences that engage audiences in unique and innovative ways, generating meaningful community dialogue.


 

Julie Hall | Operations and Outreach Coordinator

outreach @ cafka.org

Julie Hall (they/she) is an artist and writer of settler descent concerned with perception and language. Julie grew up outside of Kjipuktuk/Halifax and, before attending art school, was a research scientist until their fascination with objectivity ran its course. They work collaboratively with their partner, Jacob Irish (he/they), developing a ten-year co-creative practice in sculpture, video, and audio. Julie seeks the unspoken through artmaking, probing the ideologies and structures so ingrained in their own life and settler-colonial Canadian society that they go unnoted. They thrive in uncertainty and are calm in chaos. Earning a BFA from NSCAD University in 2017 and an MFA from the University of Waterloo in 2022, Julie has exhibited work at the Anna Leonowens Gallery in Halifax,                                                        Centre Bang! in Chicoutimi-Saguenay, the Art Gallery of Guelph, Hamilton Artists Inc., and the University 
                                                   of Waterloo Art Gallery.

 

Sofia Habib| Marketing Coordinator

marketing @ cafka.org

Sofia Habib (she/her) is an actor, arts worker, and film festival director. She holds a BA in History of Art from the University of Toronto and a post-graduate certificate in Arts Administration and Cultural Management from Humber College. She has performed in short films and theatre productions around the GTA, and in November 2024 will have her directorial debut at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival in Toronto. Sofia founded Peaks Central Asian Film Festival, and in early 2024 she programmed a screening of Central Asian films from around the world. Sofia is dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion in contemporary art and media and actively integrates these values into her life and work.

 

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

 

Sharl 2 th_0.png

 Sharl G. Smith | President and Board Chair

 Artist / Architect

Originally from Jamaica, Sharl Smith lived in the U.S. for 17 years before moving to Canada in 2015. She received her Bachelor of  Architecture with honours from New York Institute of Technology, where she was also the founder and Editor-in-Chief of NYIT’s Campus Newspaper. She practiced at architectural firms in the U.S. for 6 years before moving to Canada in 2015. She now operates Sun Drops art studio in Waterloo where she creates beaded sculptures and jewelry.
 

 

Lauren Prousky | Programming Chair

Artist / Writer / Culture Worker

Lauren Prousky is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, and culture worker based in so-called Kitchener. Her visual practice, which centers curiosity, experimentation and collaboration, consists of installation, painting, social practice, performance and video. She has an MFA from University of Waterloo and a BFA from Concordia University. Lauren was the inaugural 2023 AGOxRBC Emerging Artist-in-Residence, where she created the participatory performance project, Black Tie Soup Night. Recent exhibitions include SPACEMAKER II, Public Sweat x UWAG, School of Art Gallery, The plumb, Xpace and Cambridge Art Galleries. In 2021, she was selected to participate in the COVE/COVOX program, facilitated by Inter Arts Matrix and funded by Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, to develop the large-scale collaborative performance piece, "When we speak at the same time we speak the same language". Lauren has published writing with Public 
                                                   Parking, Untethered, SUM and Peripheral Review and has curated exhibitions for Lumen Festival, Gallery
                                                   Stratford, Apollo Cinema and a public pool.

 

Ginger Whitney | Fundraising Chair

Real Estate Broker

Ginger Whitney is a Real Estate Broker, Vice President and Managing Partner at WHITNEY & Company Realty in the Region of Waterloo. With 11 years of experience, 2 international designations and being a 5th generation WHITNEY realtor Ginger has established herself as a real estate entrepreneur. Ginger is focused on helping local companies grow their businesses and getting more involved with the community. Joining CAFKA’s Board provides an opportunity for Ginger to contribute her knowledge and expertise towards the ongoing development of the thriving local arts culture. Ginger has a keen interest in architecture, design, photography, contemporary art, music, dance, commerce and fitness. In her spare time Ginger enjoys outside activities that include - photography, walking her dogs, cross country skiing and downhill skiing.
 

Amara Pope | Director

Scholar / Artist 

With over a decade of work experience in marketing, brand management, and digital media across several industries, Dr. Amara Pope also holds a Ph.D. in Media Studies from Western University. Her Ph.D. research focused on the nuanced intersections of media, culture, and race, particularly within popular music and digital media. She also earned a Master's in Communication Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University and completed a Joint Honours Bachelor's Degree in Rhetoric and Professional Writing and Fine Arts with a Digital Media Specialization from the University of Waterloo. Dr. Pope is dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering diversity, as exemplified in her TEDx Talk. She has delivered impactful lectures at prestigious 
                                                   universities such as the University of Southern California, and more. She has also spoken at conferences and
                                                   served as a guest panelist across Canada. Her insights have been featured in notable media outlets including CTV,
                                                   CBC, Vice, and others. When not immersed in her professional pursuits, Dr. Pope enjoys weightlifting and 
                                                   experimenting with oil, acrylic, and mixed-media painting.

 

Wen Li | Director

Artist / Engineer before 2012

Wen Li is a multi-media artist. She received her BFA from the University of Waterloo. Wen originally trained and worked as an engineer in China, and now merges her cultural heritage with Western art training in her art practice. Intrigued by unintentional and unpredictable forms, she incorporates these visual elements into her art through a process guided by chance. Having volunteered at several CAFKA events before joining the board, Wen is hoping to contribute to the local art scene at various levels. 
 
 

Victoria Kent | Director

Local Business Owner

Victoria Kent owns the Yeti Cafe, a community hub and grassroots venue in Downtown Kitchener founded in 2012. Victoria previously worked as a media librarian, DJ and scenic painter. This is her third term on the CAFKA board, with a focus on fundraising and events. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Graham Whiting | Director

Architect / Artist

Graham is an architect, artist and father who has been living and working in Waterloo region for over 20 years. A former board member and chair, he is returning to CAFKA after a few years of exploring opportunities in project management, residential construction and most recently, public playground design and construction with Earthscape Play in Wallenstein, Ontario. With a keen interest in public art, performance and community activation, he is focused on logistics, installation, and events.

 

Kevin Dias | Director

Lawyer

Kevin Dias is a first generation lawyer, practicing in expropriation and land use planning law, at a national firm in Waterloo Region. He moved to Kitchener in 2007, and spent his early career working with various local organizations in roles focused on communications and business relations. In his spare time, he enjoys local bike rides and spending time with his family and their cat, Francis.