STUDIO JCM Cathleen Parra

Her name is Cathleen Parra, although on some platforms she goes as Caffeine Parra. And then if you want the whole nine yards, it’s Cathleen Marie Thérèse Parra.
She’s a photographer, painter, and illustrator. To exhibit in a show titled “Create Chaos!” is all in a day’s work for Parra. In that West Philly show, she exhibited her photo, “Kissing,” which shows a girl in a polka-dot dress playing on the floor with two Barbie dolls, both naked, one decapitated.
Got a problem with that?
You shouldn’t. This Jersey Cityite has pretty hefty art cred for a 25-year-old. She studied photography at Parsons The New School For Design and Technology and is pursuing a BFA in photography at New Jersey City University; she’s shown in numerous group and solo shows, given lectures, and won awards.
Though she was born in Paterson, she grew up in a small Florida town. Her family background weaves a rich tapestry.
Her grandmother, a lesbian, was a Native American craftswoman who made jewelry, painted, and wove baskets. “She was my goddess and my inspiration to become an artist,” Parra says.
“I knew I would make some kind of visual medium. As a kid I’d cut out pictures from magazines, tape them on paper, and pretend I was a photo editor.”
Her memories and perceptions of childhood are reflected in her work, which sometimes uses toys and often depicts childhood’s more uncomfortable moments. She also works in paper mache and cardboard, and uses found or recycled objects.
Parra is a young 21st century Renaissance woman. She’s studied literature, not only because she draws inspiration for her art from the written word but because she just likes to read. She also has an interest in forensic photography and would like to pursue a career in crime-scene photography. A bisexual, she’s involved in the LGBT community and interested in LGBT issues.
She works out of her “makeshift, live-in studio” in Journal Square.
“I basically think of myself as a photographer,” she says. “I do eccentric portraiture, though I also make physical objects, illustrations, and paintings.” She makes her own props. “I did a fairy tale project where I made paper mache heads, based off illustrations, recreating the illustrations with photography.”
Many Jersey City artists feel a comfort level being across the river from what many believe is the art capital of the world. And yet, Jersey City’s own art community is an increasing draw. “There is a wonderful grassroots scene which is very refreshing,” she says. “Jersey City is a really interesting community. It’s so close to New York, what people think of as the mecca for art.”
But, she says, “I’m fine over here. The art scene is fulfilling.”