Since 2019, Penn State professors poet Julia Spicher Kasdorf and photographer Steven Rubin have worked on a documentary poetry and photography project to represent agricultural activity within walking distance, about 30 miles, of our homes. Through the Covid 19 pandemic and into a second Trump administration, we have followed the seasons and worked to represent landowners, Hispanic farm workers, and farm communities with beauty and complexity. Our radically local focus reveals implications of global issues, such as climate change, corporate consolidation, industrialization, migrant labor, land development, and food insecurity. During the residency, we hope to finalize our art book manuscript.

Website: https://www.juliakasdorf.com/

https://www.stevenrubin.com/

Affiliation: Penn State

Andy Li is a composer based in New York City whose work spans musical theater, opera, and audio drama, with productions presented by organizations including Classic Stage Company, The American Opera Projects, and the Centre for Contemporary Arts Glasgow. Jill Ohayon is an internationally recognized writer and performer whose creative practice explores resilience, identity, and community through lyrical and character-driven narratives. Together, they created The Garden Bridge, recipient of the awards for Best Music & Lyrics and Best Production at the 2025 SheNYC Summer Festival. During their residency at Catwalk, they will continue developing new theatrical works that merge powerful storytelling with music-driven performance.

Affiliation: NYU