ENCOUNTER THE REeL 2025
Black and White 35mm film collective project
Encounter the Reel is a project born from the want to see more photography perspectives from underrepresented people in the photography community. It brings together real and diverse personal experiences, values, and cultures from ALAANA women, non-binary individuals, and people from the LGBTQIA+ community.
The idea first took root after experiencing the barriers of submitting to galleries without having the funds to properly display artwork. In 2023, that seed was watered, and Encounter the Reel was the result.
Through this project, we’ve worked to create a space where both newer and seasoned photographers can develop a body of work alongside us, but independently. We’ve provided free studio space to create images, hosted photo meets, assisted with artist bios and statements, taught hand-painted backdrop techniques, and sought out exhibition locations. With the support of a Mass Cultural Council Grant, we’ve also been able to provide the financial resources needed to print and mount the images created.
None of this would be possible without the artists who trusted us, the community who supported us, and the resources that made it a reality. Together, we’ve started something we hope will continue to grow for years to come. We invite you to experience these stories, celebrate these voices, and join us in reshaping the future of photography.
This exhibit explores the subtle and often hidden emotional experiences of individuals navigating the complex landscape of political turmoil, repression, and conflict. Through intimate portraits and environmental photography, it delves into the emotional undercurrents that persist beneath the surface of everyday life, particularly in times of political polarization, unrest, and authoritarian control.
In this theme, we look beyond the noise of headlines and rhetoric to capture the personal emotional costs of living in a charged political climate. The exhibit reveals the internal struggles of individuals—whether it's the quiet tension of anxiety and fear, the weight of emotional repression in politically oppressive regimes, or the fragile hope that persists amidst ongoing conflict.
The Quiet Struggle also highlights how peace—or the fragile attempt at peace—can coexist with a society still divided by conflict, distrust, and unresolved tension. It looks at the emotional toll of silence under authoritarianism and the cautious optimism of those striving for peace, even in the face of setbacks. From the constant low hum of stress and fear to the hidden resilience that refuses to be silenced, the exhibit captures the complex emotional responses of a society grappling with the weight of political division and the ongoing struggle for harmony.
The Artist
Meet the 4 individuals behind the "The Quiet Struggle" exhibit. Their unique perspectives and undeniable passion will speak to you through each visual series.
Kat Almonte
Multidisciplinary Artist
Kat Almonte is an abstract painter and black & white film photographer. Their works are primarily created using the technique of automatism in swathes of paint. Light and shadows placed by the sun or artificial lights of the city inspire their photography. Almonte uses these overlays to show the parts of their formative years in their environment. Within their painting and photography lies the unconscious concept of their past. Primal screams from an adolescent Almonte were only silenced by their visually impactful shots of unbiased intention and the courage to see their surroundings as more than something that conflicts with their values.
Natasha Jimenez
Documentarian of Life & Love
Natasha Jimenez is a Massachusetts-based photographer whose inspiration stems from everyday life, finding beauty in its most natural and unassuming forms. With over eight years of experience, she has built a career specializing in weddings, family portraits, and documenting life’s most meaningful milestones.
Her work is rooted in connection — the unspoken exchanges, fleeting glances, and quiet truths that reveal themselves when people feel truly seen. While she has photographed countless stories for clients, her most personal work centers on her own children, capturing the layers of love, resilience, and growth that unfold over time.
In both her professional and personal projects, Jimenez’s photographs carry a sense of honesty and intimacy, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and find pieces of their own story within the frame.
Reneiry Santiago
Artist
As a Dominican photographer, Reneiry Santiago's work explores the human experience with an artistic vision that blends documentary storytelling with a cinematic and introspective feel. Driven by a desire to convey feelings and thoughts through the lens, they create evocative and timeless imagery across various genres, including portraiture and street photography.
Reneiry’s work is united by a focus on the quiet moments that define our lives, whether they are captured in the intimate vulnerability of a self-portrait or within the fleeting scenes of everyday life. By infusing each photograph with emotional depth and a unique perspective, Reneiry aims to create a lasting connection with the viewer, inviting them to take a moment and find beauty in the ordinary.
Mahli Rivera
Multidisciplinary Artist
Mahli Rivera is a queer afro-latina artist based in the city of Lawrence, MA. Her artistic journey began in 2023 when she started taking art classes at her college, driven by a desire to understand her world and her interaction with it. Through photography, Rivera explores her emotional journey and the complexities of her identity, particularly as a queer Latina woman raised in a religious environment.
Working primarily with film, digital, and medium-format photography, Rivera's work is deeply rooted in symbolism, contrast, texture, and visual storytelling. She draws inspiration from her personal experiences and the Baroque movement, which influences the dramatic, emotive style she brings to her work. Her modern-day Baroque-inspired photography expresses the layers of her emotions, navigating past, present, and future stages of life.
Rivera’s art aims to evoke deep emotional reflection in viewers. She hopes that her pieces encourage those who engage with them to process their feelings and explore their own personal journeys. Her signature technique involves playing with contrast and texture to create compelling visual narratives that invite introspection and emotional connection.
EXHIBIT DATES
September 7th - September 27th
/ OVA The Overlook Gallery at St. Gabriel's
175 Washington St., Brighton, MA 02135
Located located inside of the Overlook at St. Gabriel’s residential village. The gallery is on the lower level of the large historically preserved church. There is an elevator and an accessible ramp in the rear.
There is some auto parking in the main circle and on Washington Street. There are also guest spaces at off of Fidelis Way. Take Fidelis Way, the first public street after the Overlook (if Overlook is on your left)
Full Collection
Opening Reception:
September 7 2pm-4pm
Open Gallery Hours:
Saturday 12pm-4pm
Sunday 12pm-4pm
September 28th
/ Online Exhibit
Full Collection
Online exhibit will be available for viewing as of September 28th. Please view below.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Lawrence Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Sponsors
