Arts Journalist, Carl Mellor takes a closer look into the vibrant world of Talking Sticks, Collages, Quilts, & More by Amber Robles-Gordon in her latest retrospective exhibition Healing Forward: Rituals of Self-Repair, Cultivation of Community, and Collective Action. Check out the full feature on cnyarts.org.
Creative Arts Academy and beyond, CAA student, Alyssa Seward shares her artistic journey and talents with NewsChannel 9’s Carrie Lazarus, journalist and founder of the Fund for Extraordinary Talent. Advanced beyond her years, Alyssa began dancing at the age of five. She is currently studying piano, flute, and ballet with Dance Technique Coach, Charles Haislah. This summer Alyssa will train at the Chautauqua Institute School of Dance alongside dancers from the New York City Ballet.
See the full episode – HERE
The Community Folk Art Center presents – Healing Forward: Rituals of Self-Repair, Cultivation of Community, and Collective Activation: A Retrospective Exhibition by Amber Robles Gordon
The Community Folk Art Center presents “Healing Forward: Rituals of Self Repair, Cultivation of Community, and Collective Activation.” A retrospective exhibition of over 60 multimedia and quilted works by Amber Robles Gordon, an interdisciplinary visual artist of Puerto Rican and Caribbean descent who resides in Washington, DC. This body of work traces the through-line of healing—personal, communal, spiritual, and ecological frameworks—across the artistic career of Amber Robles-Gordon. Bringing together installations, quilts, assemblages, and collages created over more than a decade, the exhibition reveals how healing has functioned not only as a thematic concern, but as a methodology and ethical framework within the artist’s practice. This exhibition will be on view in The Herbert T, Williams Gallery at the Community Folk Art Center, located at 805 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse, New York, 13210. The works will be on view from February 9th–April 30th, 2026
This immersive exhibition bridges past and present, artistically blending history, culture, and creativity into a transformative experience. Drawing from Afro-Caribbean spiritual traditions, decolonial histories, feminist thought, and ecological consciousness, her artworks operate as sites of reckoning and renewal. They ask viewers to confront inherited systems of harm while offering space for breath, ritual, protection, and transformation. The exhibition is organized into three interrelated sections, each articulating a distinct yet overlapping mode of healing and awareness.
About Amber Robles-Gordon : Robles-Gordon is an advocate with over fifteen years of exhibiting her artwork, as an art educator, and coordinating exhibitions. She received a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration in 2005 at Trinity University, and subsequently completed her Master’s in Fine Arts (Painting) in 2011 from Howard University. Her artwork has been reviewed/featured in national media and art publications. Robles-Gordon has been awarded artist and artist teaching residencies and exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally. She has been commissioned by art museums, galleries, art centers, universities/colleges, radio and television stations to teach workshops, lectures, and create temporary/permanent public art installations for art fairs, agencies, and institutions.
This year we invite you to reflect on this year’s Black History Month Focus : A Century of Black History Commemorations. “2026 marks a century of national commemorations of Black history. Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, George Cleveland Hall, William D. Hartgrove, Jesse E. Moorland, Alexander L. Jackson, and James E. Stamps institutionalized the teaching, study, dissemination, and commemoration of Black history when they founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) on September 9, 1915. In 1925, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson planned the inaugural week-long observance of Black history, he could hardly have anticipated the imprint he would leave on the world. From Negro History Week to Black History Month, ASALH has carried forth the tradition, and the observances have become part of the warp and weft of American culture and increasingly the global community. For our 100th theme, the founders of Black History Month urge us to explore the impact and meaning of Black history and life commemorations in transforming the status of Black peoples in the modern world.” – asalh.org
The Community Folk Art Center (CFAC) is seeking an Education Outreach Program Coordinator to support and expand our educational and creative programming. This role focuses on planning and implementing exhibitions, film screenings, gallery talks, workshops, studio courses, Creative Arts Academy (CAA) programs, and performing and expressive arts initiatives. You’ll work closely with the Executive Director to execute outreach goals, collaborate with community partners (including schools, libraries, and youth programs), coordinate project teams, and manage program scheduling and registration. If you’re passionate about arts education, community engagement, and working with youth and university audiences, we’d love to connect.
Join us for a thought-provoking book talk with author, Dr. Tanisha Jackson, moderated by Dr. Gwendolyn Pough, Syracuse University College of A&S Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives on Black Women’s Art Ecosystems Sites of Wellness and Self-Care.This event is free and open to the public, light refreshments will be provided. RSVP Here
About the book: Delving into historical and contemporary practices, Jackson looks at Black women who use their artwork as acts of resistance, self-expression, and holistic wellness. Jackson’s multidisciplinary approach blends art history, Black studies, and personal narratives to examine the ways that the art ecosystems created by these women foster resilience and empowerment. Their dramatic stories underscore the transformative power of art in cultivating activism and mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, but also provide a framework for understanding how art can be a vital component of self-care and communal wellness. A meticulous portrait and inspiring roadmap, Black Women’s Art Ecosystems celebrates Black women’s artistic achievements while revealing how their work creates communities of restoration and mental health.
Over the holiday break a nonprofit center was selected for our 2025 Warm Hearts Full Plates Drive (November 17th – December 17th, 2025). Thank you to the students, instructors, parents, and community members who supported our winter drive. Your generosity helped provide hundreds of essential food items and warm clothing for all ages. Last week, members of the CFAC team were happy to deliver the donations to We Rise Above The Streets Recovery Outreach Inc. and meet with founder, Al-Amin Muhammad. Additional volunteer opportunities with We Rise Above The Streets include : Sandwich Saturday, We Rise Above The Streets, Youth Ambassador Program, and their annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the Homeless. To learn more on how to make an impact visit www.streetsrecoveryoutreach.org/
Happy New Year from the Community Folk Art Center. 2026 is the perfect time to try something new and rediscover your inner artist! Whether you’re new to music and dance- or a returning student- our ballet, piano, and African Drumming classes welcome all skill levels. Step out of your comfort zone, move to the rhythm, and find your signature sound. Unleash your creativity today by registering online at Community Folk Art Center’s Eventbrite
To register for a class students may purchase a monthly class pass for $75.00 and take an unlimited amount of classes in a 30 day period or purchase an individual class for $10.00 via cash or online payment.
Piano : Mondays 6:30 – 7:30 PM. Instructed by Berny Williford. In this course you will learn music theory, and discover how to play a variety of popular songs and music styles
Ballet : Mondays & Wednesdays 6:30 – 7:30 PM. Instructed by Charles Haislah. This course focuses on techniques, and steps of classical ballet with an emphasis of terminology and correct body alignment. For attire please wear a leotard, tights, and ballet shoes with optional overgarments of your choice (leggings, shorts, or flexible leg wear).
West African Drum : Thursdays 6:30 – 7:30 PM. Instructed by David ‘Etse’ Nyadedzor. Step into the rhythmic world of drum with this exhilarating percussion course.
Join us for a joyful evening filled with laughter, delicious food, and inspiring performances by the talented students of the Creative Arts Academy, Randum Poet, and more! Hosted by George Kilpatrick Inspiration For The Nation.
Thursday, December 4th, at 6:00 PM| Doors will open at 5:45 PM.
The 2025 Central NY Scholastic Chess Championship took place on Saturday, November 15th at North Syracuse Junior High School. More than 140 students from grades K-12 across Central New York spent the day playing chess, problem solving, and enjoying friendly competition. Two students from the Creative Arts Academy, Ellis Durce and Robert Jones, joined the tournament alongside MasterMinds Chess Club. The pair both won multiple matches as they competed in their first ever tournament. Instructors, Walter Eiland and John Elliott share that the MasterMinds Chess Club aims to build thinking skills, creativity, and sportsmanship, while promoting a fun learning environment. Ellis expressed that “It was really exciting to play against other students and he looks forward to participating in more tournaments in the future.” Robert added, “The Chess Championship was an enjoyable first time experience!”
