El Loop Fair

Posted on May 21, 2016June 3, 2016 by Alejandro

Latino Grassroots Innovation Fair

“Check out the breakthrough ideas, design and product innovations from Latinos across the city and Puerto Rico.”

Saturday, May 28th 1:00PM – 6:00PM

Loisaida Inc. Center – 710 East 9th Street and Avenue C

El Loop fair will include displays, talks and town halls that integrate localized initiatives into a larger learning community.

TOPICS & AIMS:

-Connect PR-based to NY-based innovators.

-Reclaim sustainable traditions.

-Link new technologies to rooted cultural practices.

2016, Bilingual, Dance/Movement, Education, Events, Partnerships, Past, Senior

Senior Day

Posted on May 2, 2016May 10, 2016 by Alejandro

‘SENIOR DAY’

PROGRAMA

2 DE MAYO, 2016

12:00-12:30pm:

REGISTRO

12:30-1:30pm:

1ra Sesión de Talleres

-ETIQUETAS NUTRICIONALES (IPRO) – Teatro

-ZUMBA – Salón 1

1:30-2:30pm:

COFFEE BREAK

2:30-3:30pm:

2da Sesión de Talleres

-REIKI (sanación y energía) con Malín Falú -Teatro

-TAI CHÍ (ejercicio chino) – Salón 1

3:30-4:30pm:

BOHEMIA con Wally Ruíz – Teatro

2016, Bilingual, Caribbean, Education, Events, Festival, Partners, Puppetry, Residencies, Storytelling, Theater, Visual Art, Workshops

Low Tech High Magic

Posted on April 20, 2016June 3, 2016 by Alejandro

Loisaida Inc. and Casa Múcaro presents:

LOW TECH HIGH MAGIC – FREE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP

Schedule: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Starting Monday, May 9th through Sunday, May 29th.

Overview:

Create puppets out of recycled and upcycled trash, waste and discarded found materials. Learn how to transform junk into beauty! Spin straw into gold! Art with an ecological, green twist. Create your own wondrous puppet or assist in larger collaborative group puppet project.

Making art with trash is one way of reusing everyday found objects and instead of seen as a nuance, if used right, it could become an object of beautification. The purpose behind this workshop is to create a group of community members, or volunteers, interested in working together to be part of a parade happening on the 25th of May and be part of a pageant, happening right after. As a way of bringing people together with under a similar motif, centered around the Loisaida community’s societal impact as pioneers of urban ecology creative innovation.

We’ll be making masks and big puppets, with “upcycled,” or reused materials and full body masks and costumes, made with reusable and recyclable materials. We’ll be reliving the lives of those that made this neighborhood alive, with those that are present today. Be part of this event and help us exalt the creativity of the Loisaida community towards an ecological mindset. Trash, or daily found objects, will be our best friend for this workshop, as they are a cost-effective material filled with endless applications.

Outcomes:

1. A new contingent will be added to the opening Carnival Procession (Parade) of the Loisaida Festival. An exuberant celebration of Caribbean solidarity, drawing inspiration from Afro-Caribbean mythological symbols, and the resilient creative spirit of looking backwards and forwards: a recognition of all the lives of those that made this neighborhood alive, with those that are present today. (Featuring the collaboration of: Braata Productions, Semi-Upright Cultural Workers Collective,and RMO)

2. Join our Giant Puppet making community workshop Low Tech, High Magic. Learn how to create masks! Parade costumes! Larger-than-life Puppets! Colourful parade floats!

3. Beyond the Parade, join the amazing outdoor street-theatre puppet-pageant that follows as part of the Theater Lab inside La Plaza Cultural! Be part of this homage to the legacy of Latino community builders from the Young Lords forward in celebration of all lives that make this neighborhood alive.

Workshop is led by Pablo Varona of CASA MUCARO.

Profile:

Casa Múcaro is a collaborative project on a forested mountaintop near Las Marias, Puerto Rico. We are multidisciplinary artists in pursuit of self-sufficiency for ourselves and others, through “the sharing of tools, materials, and know-how.” We envision “termitopia” cities, like termite mounds, in which by means of re-use, or recycling of materials, their citizens understand the benefits of self-managing “waste” generated by their neighborhood and can actively participate in the construction and maintenance of their own city.

Collaborative Practices: Casa Múcaro’s project will feature a collaboration of with Braata Productions, Semi-Upright Cultural Workers Collective, and the Rude Mechanical Orchestra (RMO) with the goal of joining the talents, resources and visions of multiple theater, music, arts and culture collectives working on projects related to the people and culture of Caribbean Islands living in NYC. It will produce a collection of different works to be presented at the 29th edition of Loisiada Festival and Braata Production’s Caribbean Folk Festival in Jamaica, Queens the following weekend.

Individual Bios:

Bill Birdsall is an artist refugee from Los Angels, with about 40 years of residence now in backwoods Puerto Rico. Bill went from airplanes to coffee farmers, learning survival skills along the way. He built his own home out of free, discarded fishnet and cement, using a technique he calls nylon-cement. Bill invents things and posts his inventions on Instructables.com under the name “Thinkenstein”. Search for his “nylon-cement”, PVC, and “tootophone” instructables there, among other things. See his website: http://thinkenstein.info for other things Bill do, like paintings, sculpture and music.

Pablo Varona or “Pablillo José, spends most his time living close to the forested mountaintops of Puerto Rico. At the time, he is a puppeteer, street performer and a supreme believer of juggling as his way through every corner he visits. He is amazed by the immeasurable value that the reuse, recycling and/or “forgotten” objects do when it comes to the transformation of urban contexts. His interests revolve around making these issues relevant and accessible to the general audience, with the hopes that some day we will all learn from its potential uses and collaborate in the creative process of experimenting with the most abundant material out there: Trash. To see more of his work, go to http://www.diminuto.info.

Daniel Polnau has created puppet parades, circuses, and outdoor theatre spectacles for over 30 years. He specializes in creating larger than life puppets out of recycled junk and up-cycled materials making the mundane become extraordinary. Projects and residencies have spanned the globe from Moscow to Bali to Juneau, Alaska to Puerto Rico. Highly collaborative, at the heart of each project he strives to demystify the creative process and quicken the innate creative abilities in all – regardless of age, abilities or arts experience. He is committed to respectfully embracing underserved and marginalized populations.

2016, Music, Past, Residencies, Visual Art

GULIVER X

Posted on April 12, 2016July 29, 2016 by Alejandro

Final Presentation / Opening day of our visual artist in residence:

Florencia Escudero presents: GULIVER X

May 7th from 7:30PM – 9:30PM

with Sound Performance by Stephen Decker at 7:30 pm

GULIVER X was developed by the visual artist Florencia Escudero for Loisaida’s Artistic Residency Program.

In her own words:

Over the field, up the stairs, under the bed, through the door, under your feet, the things you can manage and the things that shrink you down in size. “Guliver X” is an installation that was initially conceived as a map of objects in space.

“Guliver X” refers to an erotic comic by Milo Manara describing a series of unfortunate adventures that bring a woman from one island to another. In the story her physical size radically changes from miniature to that of a giantess.

With each of these changes she must reevaluate her position in space and how this affects the world around her: when she is a giant she can potentially crush the people of the island, and when she is as small as a mouse she must fight a rat in order to survive.

Escudero appropriated the literary source and modified it for her own use, imagining this character as a post-gender one. She also explores the connection of the book with the idea of visiting different islands, since the island of Manhattan is so closely connected to the Puerto Rican island.

Even though the initial inspiration is fantasy-based, the actual objects produced are a result of a concrete movement through urban space, in particular that of the Loisaida neighborhood. Escudero collected hundreds of images from weekly excursions, principally through the Loisaida gardens, but also paying attention to urban detritus and anything that caught her eye along the way. These images were fused into the objects: a chain link fence merged into a staircase; a piece of a wig which mixes in with grass and becomes contained in a puzzle; flowers, cigarettes, mirrors and statues become a face.

The goal of the placement and scale of the objects give the viewer a chance to look through holes, to crouch down or look up or go through the pages of the book. The oversized book reminiscent of taxonomic books is part of an ongoing exploration of the human silhouette as a placeholder for visual information and materiality that we all have access to in our day to day. There is a back and forth between 2d and 3d and a strong emphasis on the act of looking. In addition to spending time walking around the neighborhood she began to research its history and how different factors have molded and affected the local throughout time.

This installation will serve as a site-specific performance by Stephen Decker utilizing a live radio broadcast for web browser. Those in the audience will be able to experience the work with their mobile devices, thus amplifying the performance through the built in speakers. The performance will involve electronic instrumentation as a way to segue between or interrupt multiple scenarios that will conclude when all audience members’ browsers have been closed, thereby rendering it inaudible.

Stephen Miguel Decker is a Virgina-born artist based in New York. He has participated in a yearlong residency program at the MoMA PS1 Print Shop as a part of the artist-collective ALLGOLD, presented an evening-long performance to inaugurate the Filipino American Museum and extends his activities as a DJ on the London-based station NTS Radio, where he hosts a monthly show (NODE).

Stephen often works with sound as a multi-genre medium that frequently intersects online/transmission-based infrastructures, narrative techniques, graphic representation and the experience that emerges from it. Stephen holds an MFA from the Yale School of Art and is currently a lecturer at The New School, where he teaches classes on experimental publishing and sound art.

Florencia Escudero is an artist from Argentina that currently lives and works in New York City. She is a multimedia artist working predominantly in the field of sculpture, photography, video, and drawing. Her work seeks to explore her sensorial experience of the world through the collection of images and creation of objects. She is curious about how information is selected and processed. In order to understand this phenomenon she explores the relationship between object and image and fact/fiction through collapsing both past and present into the same space.

Florencia has a Master in Fine Arts from the Yale University School of Art (2012) and a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts (2010). She received a full scholarship to attend Pilchuck Glass School Residency (2010) and has attended the Nebraska Art Farm Residency (2013). Her work can be seen in different publications such as Trapper Keeper, CREEPS annual and Precog magazine.

Upcoming events as part of the residency:

May 29th, 2016 – Workshops by Karen Tepaz and Colectiva Cosmica from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm part of The 29th Loisaida Festival.

June 11th, 2016 – Video Screening at 710 East 9th Street, The Loisaida Inc. Center East Courtyard from 7:30 pm.

2016, Bilingual, Books, Children Friendly, Education, Events, Family Activities, Festival, New York History, Partners, Past, Residencies, Storytelling, Visual Art

GUARDIANS OF LOISAIDA

Posted on April 9, 2016July 28, 2016 by Alejandro

Loisaida Inc. is proud to present:

Marvel writer Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez

Opening Saturday, May 28th 2015 from 1:00PM to 5:00PM.

Miranda-Rodriguez brings an exhibition of original artwork from his best-selling debut comic book Guardians of the Lower East Side from the anthology series Marvel’s Guardians of Infinity.

Join Edgardo for a book signing and art talk. Miranda-Rodriguez and his Marvel team will discuss comic book making and how traditional art techniques and digital technologies come together to create today’s comic world heroes. The art talk is part of El LOOP, Loisaida Inc.’s new fair for Latinos in Innovation.

*Exhibition dates are May 31st, 2016 through July 28th, 2016. Gallery is open to the public by appointment and for special tours Monday to Friday 12:00PM – 5:00PM.

Follow Edgardo on Twitter: @MrEdgardoNYC

2016, Education, Events, Partners, Partnerships, Past, Storytelling, Style, Visual Art, Workshops, Youth

(PILOT) Analog STEAM+D Bootcamp

Posted on March 20, 2016May 21, 2016 by Alejandro

Event Description

Loisaida Inc. in partnership with NEEUKO Inc.

(PILOT) ANALOG S.T.E.A.M.+D INTENSIVE 3 DAY WORKSHOP

This is a FREE 3 days/3 hour workshop – However, we ask for a donation of $50 to cover workshop material expenses. This donation for materials fee can be paid in person at beginning of workshop.

Who will benefit from this bootcamp:

Young adult entrepreneurs, between the ages of 25-40, who have a business idea or product idea. They don’t need to have design experience or a fully developed idea, as this bootcamp will give them the hands on tools to take an idea beyond concept to a product prototype or business prototype.

Dates & Time:

Friday, May 6th – Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Saturday, May 7th – Time: 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Sunday, May 8th – Time: 1:00 – 4:00 PM

Workshop is led by Alejandro Excia of NEEUKO Inc.

MAIN GOAL:

Participants will create a product or business prototype from an initial idea using only analog tools (leave your computer at home), to measure whether an idea can become a solid product or business and push your idea beyond the conceptual stage.

Day 1

Friday, May 6th – Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM

DESIGN THINKING & PROBLEM RECOGNITION

Apply design thinking techniques to a product or business idea. Using a combination of case studies and exercises, students will discover and narrow down the problems their product or business idea solves.

Day 2

Saturday, May 7th – Time: 1:00 – 4:00 PM

HOW TO TELL YOUR STORY

Formulate a unique product or business narrative using graphic information and storytelling. Students will construct a storyboard that will support them in turning their idea into a selling pitch or a product development opportunity.

Day 3

Sunday, May 8th – Time: 1:00 – 4:00 PM

OPPORTUNITY RECOGNITION

Assess whether a product or business idea have business potential. Students will acquire manual tools for time and project management, as well as techniques for developing a product or business that truly serve their consumers.

About Neeuko Inc.

NEEUKO@Sagrado is part of an innovative college ecosystem of the Sacred Heart University located in the heart of Santurce, Puerto Rico. In this space we promote an environment and the culture of open innovation and entrepreneurship, within a series of educational activities that may include lectures, interviews and book presentations. Neeuko encourages the community to bring their concept ideas and they will be guided through a process that it will enhance that idea into reality.

*Arrangements can be made if you cannot afford the materials fee, please contact The Loisaida Center or call (646) 755-0522 for more information. Space is limited.

Bios

Javier De Jesus Martinez
Innovator, serial entrepreneur, design strategist, architect and urbanist with over 18 years of academic and professional experience. Outstanding career in Public Policy issues, Strategic Planning, University and Governmental Management, R&D and Commercialization. His combined understanding of the private sector with an extensive understanding of government processes informs his design thinking processes in the development strategies and methodologies among the diverse professionals and groups involved in urban socio economic projects. Javier has successful track record conceptualizing and implementing strategies to attract external competitive funding from federal and state government and private investors for educational institutions and non-profit community based organizations. Javier studied architecture at the University of Puerto Rico and at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Sciences and Art in New York City. His thesis, Flatness as a memory of movement: A cartography of a nomad landscape was directed by John Q. Hedjuk. He had lectured in universities and professional forums within the United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, Perú, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and China.

• Founder La’gencia Innovación Abierta 2014-present
• Founder and Dean School of Architecture Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico 2008-2014
• President-Creative Industries Advisory Council Puerto Rico Commerce and Export Company 2014-present
• Founder-CEO Adaptable Paths Strategies Investment and Resources-2007-2012
• Advisor to the Governor on Urbanism, Infrastructure and Environmental Affairs 2005-2007
• Director Design, Construction, Planning and Development Offiece University of Puerto Rico President’s
• Associate Dean-School of Architecture University of Puerto Rico
• Undergraduate Program Coordinator School of Architecture University of Puerto Rico
• Second Year Design Studio Coordinator School of Architecture University of Puerto Rico

Alejandro Excia
Alejandro Excia Studied his bachelors degree in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico. After Working for a year in a local art and architecture studio he pursued a double master in Domus Academy and Wales University achieving a degree in Product Design and a Master of Arts in Design respectively. His undergrad thesis dealt with consumerism strategies in order to revitalize dead public spaces within the city of Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. His curiosity for the phenomenon of consumerism carried through images and products helped him undertake his masters research in a creative way.

For his dissertation thesis “Creoelectric” he developed a design methodology derived from the cultural context of his hometown “Criollos” or “Jibaros Puertorriqueños”, to design an electric car charger for the rural context worldwide for the company French/German company Hager. Alejandro Excia co-founded his design consultancy studio postData.Design, with his partner Alejandro Mieses, which works on various projects that range from product design, interaction design, custom software and hardware interfaces. His studio has worked projects in cities like Atlanta, New York, Milan and his hometown of Puerto Rico. postData.Design studio featured and showcase one of their products at Wanted Design New York as part of the Puerto Rican collective “Design in Puerto Rico” where they where part of the group that consisted of 16 young emerging puerto rican design studios.

• Co-founder of Design Consultancy Studio postData.Design
Adjunct professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.
• Director of the Laboratory of Fabrication “FabLab”, where he manages different types of technologies like 3D printers (Desktop and Full rapid prototyping 3D), CNC Routers, Milling machines, Vacuum Forming, Laser cutters among others to help produce prototypes for students and private clients of the School of Architecture.
• Co-coordinator of the entrepreneurial initiative in digital fabrication.
• Faculty Best Practices: Cross-Campus Arts Integration Mixing Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Unique Venture Development. CEO Conference 2012 Chicago.

WHERE: The Loisaida Inc. Center – 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009 – View Map

2016, Bilingual, Education, Family Activities, New York History, Past, Visual Art, Workshops, Youth

Arts Path to Leadership

Posted on March 18, 2016May 2, 2016 by Alejandro

Loisaida Inc. presents

Arts Path to Leadership with Maria Dominguez

FREE for Ages 15-19

When: 4 Thursdays, April 7, 14, 21, and 28 from 6:30PM – 8:00PM (4 days, 1.5 hours)

Overview:

Maria Dominguez (visual artist, muralist, educator) will use Object Based learning with Loisaida, Inc’s 2015 acclaimed !Presente! Exhibit. While adhering The New York States Department of Education Standards the workshop will lead students to gain access into the contribution of the Puerto Rican community’s cultural, political history while engaging them in a hands-on art project. This exposure can lead students to make global community connections. One that is imperative to the development of young students as they form their character and identity.

Pedagogy of Object Based Learning:

1. Provides a direct link with a topic or ‘the past’ and can really enhance young people’s interest
in and understanding of a good topic/subject.

2. Encourage learners to use all their senses – especially touch, sight and smell.

3. Helps to develop the important skill of drawing conclusions based on an examination of evidence, together with an understanding of the limitations and reliability of evidence.

4. Ideal for generating group and class discussion.

5. Promote the value of museums and encourage young people to visit museums and galleries with their families to further their learning.

About Maria:

Dominguez Is a Loisaida native who graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 1985 and went on to establish her career as a muralist by achieving an internship with CITYarts Org., a public art organization. This 30 year trajectory in public art making lead to her commission by The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in NYC with a permanent glass installation “El –Views”in 2002. She has exhibited locally, nationally and internationally in numerous solo and group shows, and has received awards from The National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council for the Arts and New York Foundation for the Arts. Currently, scholars are surveying her early murals and personal professional documents are being archived by The Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College in NYC.

WHERE: The Loisaida Inc. Center – 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009 – View Map

2016, Bilingual, Books, Education, Partners, Past, Poetry, Politics, Storytelling, Theater, Workshops, X-Change Express, Youth

How to Self Publish Your First Book

Posted on March 17, 2016April 1, 2016 by Alejandro

La SoPA NYC and Loisaida Inc. presents

How To Self Publish Your First Book

A free workshop talking about the process of publishing, editing and promoting your first book using low cost digital tools.

Speakers: Elisabet Velasquez & George Torres

The School of Poetic Arts aka La S.O.P.A. is a producer of diverse poetry and performing arts events in New York City, formed using the philosophies of the most progressive intellectual and artistic movements of the last century (i.e. The Harlem Renaissance, the Beat Poets, Black Arts Movement & most notably the Nuyorican Movement). We were founded in Brooklyn in March 2007 as an Open Mic & made our presence felt immediately by featuring both veterans as well as up-and-coming performers of spoken word, prominent visual artists, comedians, and select musical guests covering the genres of salsa, bomba y plena, progressive hip hop, and more. We have taken our brand to major academic institutions like New York University, Hunter College and Long Island University, and we have also taken our brand to major international corporations like National Grid Energy and Pepsi.

3/30 – 6pm -8pm

2016, Past, Performance, Poetry, Residencies, Storytelling, Theater

Venus y el Albañil – Casa Cruz de la Luna

Posted on March 17, 2016April 11, 2016 by Alejandro

Loisaida Inc. presents:

“Venus y el Albañil” (in Spanish)

written by: Nara Mansur, as interpreted by: Casa Cruz de la Luna

Saturday, April 9th at 8:00 PM -and- Sunday, April 10th at 3:00 PM

Admission is by a donation $5 – $10

In Spanish. Adult Content.

Our resident theater company Casa Cruz de la Luna will give us a glimpse into their development process. Interpreting the theatrical text “Venus y el Albañil” by Nara Mansur. Presentation is in Spanish, content is adult oriented.

With Alejandra Maldonado and Christopher Cancel Pomales.

Directed by: Aravind Enrique Adyanthaya.

Presentation venue: Loisaida Center, 710 E. 9th Street & Avenue C

Limited Capacity,

With Alejandra Maldonado and Christopher Cancel.
Directed by: Aravind E. Adyanthaya

Capacity is Limited.

2016, Bilingual, Education, Past, Performance, Poetry, Residencies, Storytelling, Theater, Workshops, Youth

Words & Images – Intensive Workshop for Youth

Posted on March 7, 2016April 20, 2016 by Alejandro

Loisaida Inc. presents:

WORDS & IMAGES

FREE Intensive two day workshop with Casa Cruz de la Luna Theater Company

Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17: 1:00P.M.-5:00P.M

Ages 15 – 18

Come and explore how bodies in space create theatrical pictures that can be linked in many ways to spoken and projected words. This workshop combines Brazilian director Augusto Boal´s notions of image theatre with “escritura acto” (computerized writing projected live), a practice we have developed at Casa Cruz de la Luna Theatre. Using the texts generated by the participants some of the exercises will take the form of individual poetry presentations or collective performative sketches.

Instruction will be conducted in English but participants can work in whatever language they choose.

Saturday April 16 and Sunday April 17: 1:00P.M.-5:00P.M.

Facilitated by Casa Cruz de la Luna Company members: Aravind E. Adyanthaya, Alejandra Maldonado and Christopher Cancel.

Requisites:

-Targeted for ages 15-18 years old

-Participants should be able to attend the full two sessions

-Wear clothes comfortable for movement. Bring pen or pencil and notebook.

This workshop is free, but space is limited. Register Today!