2017, Caribbean, Central America, Education, Latin America, Partnerships, Past, Performance, Residencies, Talk / Panel, Visual Art, Workshops, Youth

Future Now // Futura Ahora (Exhibition Opening)

Posted on by Alejandro

Atomic Culture in collaboration with the Loisaida Inc. Center as part of the 2017 Art Residency Program at Loisaida. presents:

Future Now // Futura Ahora

Exhibition open from February 4 to March 18, 2017

Opening Reception: February 4th, 2017 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Details:

Future Now // Futura Ahora calls to attention the movement of artists reclaiming and reconfiguring their cultural disposition and narratives with society at large. Through sound, installation, literature, and visual arts each artist presents compelling possibilities for the future by embracing and reclaiming their histories, traditions, and present-day experiences.

During Atomic Culture’s curatorial artist residency at the Loisaida Center. They will bringing together 15 artists native to the southwest United States, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and California to discuss futurism and geopolitics. Futurism is not just about technology but an act of self preservation and concern toward the creation and dismemberment of invisible borders, pillaging of natural resources, and colonization. Through decolonization and reclamation of traditions, personal culture, land and natural medicine.

Within the exhibition and workshops each artist addresses these issues blending their complex histories with a contemporary perspective creating a new trajectory.

Future Now/Futura Ahora will host multiple workshops on reclaiming use of the land and the natural remedies she provides you, discussions and screenings on chicanx futurism. The exhibition serving as a catalyst to discuss and initiate thinking and being in a time of increased tension and unknown.

Artists:

Electronic Disturbance Theater 2.0, Nani Chacon, Gilbert “Magú” Luján, Ryan Dennison, Zeke Pena, Chico MacMurtrie, Claudia X. Valdes, Ruben Ortiz Torres, William Camargo, Rick Cortez, Lindsay Kane, Delilah Montoya, Cristobal Martinez, Scott Williams, Cultural Workers, and a SSSK Distro retrospective.

2016, Bilingual, Book Readings, Books, Children Friendly, Education, Events, Family Activities, Festival, Latin America, Partners, Partnerships, Past, Poetry, Storytelling, Youth

The Word Festival at Loisaida Inc.

Posted on by Alejandro

Loisaida Inc. and Acacia Network together with Salón Literario Libroamérica, Instituto Cervantes, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña presents:

Festival de la Palabra (The Word Festival)

When?

Thursday, October 27th through Saturday, October 29th from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Thursday and Friday) and 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Saturday)

Where?

Loisaida Inc. – 710 East 9th Street New York, NY 10009

OVERVIEW:

Festival de la Palabra (The Word Festival) is the top literary event in Puerto Rico, and the only literary festival in the world based on one single community -the Puerto Rican community- which is held in two very distinct cities: San Juan and New York, and for the first time celebrated at Loisaida Inc. in the heart of the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Over 15,000 visitors attend this international encounter of writers and readers, featuring 100 prestigious authors from Puerto Rico and 20 other countries in America, Europe and Africa, all sharing their common passion for literature.

Thursday, October 27th – 6:00 PM

Venue: LOISAIDA INC. CENTER – 710 EAST CALLE 9 LOWER EAST SIDE – 6:00 PM

“LOS DE AQUÍ Y LOS DE ALLÁ” 
PANELISTAS:
• Manolo Núñez Negrón
• Tere Dávila
• Bonafide Rojas
• Urayoán Noel

Venue: INSTITUTO CERVANTES – 211 EAST 49TH STREET – 7:30 PM 

“EUROPA-AMÉRICA LATINA: VIAJES A UTOPÍA”
PANELISTAS:
• Jesús Ferrero
• Marina Perezagua
• José Manuel Fajardo
• Raúl Aguiar
• Mayra Santos-Febres

Friday, October 28th – 7:30 PM

Venue: LOISAIDA INC. CENTER – 710 EAST CALLE 9 LOWER EAST SIDE – 7:30 PM
”SAN JUAN NOIR”  (RSVP here)
INAUGURACIÓN Y PRESENTACIÓN DE LIBRO CON:
• Johnny Temple
• Mayra Santos-Febres
• Charlie Vázquez
• Wilfredo Burgos Matos
• Manuel Méndez
• Tere Dávila

Saturday, October 29th – 12:00 – 10:00 PM

Venue: LOISAIDA INC. CENTER – 710 EAST CALLE 9 LOWER EAST SIDE
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

“LOISAIDA’S MINI FEST” (RSVP here)

12:00 – 1:00 PM – CUENTACUENTOS (Storytelling)
CON:
• Tina Casanova
• José Rabelo

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – ESTACIONES ITINERANTES DE ACTIVIDADES CREATIVAS
CON:
• Zule Alejandro
• Daniela Fabrizi
• Juan Bautista

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM – ESPECTACULO DE LUCES
CON:
• i Luminate

Venue: LOISAIDA INC. CENTER – 710 EAST CALLE 9 LOWER EAST SIDE
4:00 PM – 9:00 PM

4:00 PM – “MEMORIA, LITERATURA Y COMUNIDAD”
PANELISTAS:
• Tina Casanova
• Charlie Vázquez
• José Rabelo
• Mariposa Fernández

4:30 PM – PROYECCIÓN DE DOCUMENTALES: “LUIS/LIZZA” Y “CLEMENTE SOTO VÉLEZ”
CON:
• Joelle González-Laguer
• Luis Felipe Díaz
• Alfredo Villanueva Collado

5:30 PM – “CARIBE: ARCHIPIÉLAGO DE SUEÑOS”
PANELISTAS:
• Raúl Aguiar
• Carlos Fonseca
• Manolo Núñez Negrón
• Mayra Santos-Febres

7:00 PM – PRESENTACIÓN DE LIBRO “YO SOY IRIS CHACÓN”
CON:
• Iris Chacón

8:00 PM – CIERRE POÉTICO

Sponsored by: Southwest Airlines © and the New York Public Library

2016, Caribbean, Education, Family Activities, Latin America, Partners, Partnerships, Past, Performance, Storytelling, Summer, Uncategorized, Visual Art, Workshops, Youth

Garbagia Island

Posted on by Alejandro

Loisaida’s First Summer Program 2016: Garbaggia Island

July 11th, 2016 – July 30th, 2016
at The Loisaida Inc. Center

Workshop Dates:

  1. Saturday, July 16th 2016 – 6:00 pm
    at La Plaza Cultural Community Garden
    Bimbo Rivas Art Workshop
    Plus original footage from Charas and Bimbo Rivas
    by filmmaker Hector Quintana
  2. Tuesday, July 19th 2016 – 4:00 pm
    at La Plaza Cultural Community Garden
    Carmen Pabon Art Workshop
  3. Thursday, July 21th 2016 – 4:00 pm
    at Loisaida Inc. Center
    Silvia Rivera Art Workshop
  4. Saturday, July 23th 2016 – 4:00 pm
    at La Plaza Cultural Community Garden
    Puppet Workshop!
  5. Tuesday, July 26th 2016 – 4:00 pm
    at Loisaida Inc. Center
    Theater games for the whole family
  6. Thursday, July 28th 2016 – 4:00 pm
    at La Plaza Cultural Community Center
    Recycling Art Workshop
  7. Garbagia Island – Pirate Fashion Show and Performance
    La Plaza Cultural Community Garden
    Saturday/July 30, 2016. (Sunday, 31st if rained out Saturday)
    6:00pm
    __

    8. Concept:
    “Garbagia Island” is a dystopian representation of the Island of Puerto Rico and it’s current economical and political situation. The story goes along the lines of pirates arriving to an island full of trash, and discovering magical creatures made out of garbage. What it seemed to be a simple pile of waste becomes a fantastical tale for the pirates to appreciate. The pirates who are already filled with music and celebration unify forces with the creatures and people living in the island. The moral of the story is creating consciousness and renaming waste into resource and emphasizing people’s creativity as a tool for recovering gradually from the crisis. We will use historical LES “nuyorican” and LES characters like Carmen Pabón, Jorge Brandon, Bimbo Rivas, Pedro Pietri, Sylvia Rivera, Petra Santiago, Chino García, Silvia Rivera, Adam Purple as inspiration.Currently the island of Puerto Rico is facing a huge colonial consequence. The people are finally noticing the impotence and fragility of our economy and political situation. It’s very important now to point out to the solutions, more than the problems or flaws. Similar to the self-help spirit of the early residents/founders of the Loisaida neighborhood, the project will emphasize the history of pirates around the Caribbean and their challenging attitude towards how we re-define either/or dichotomies such as: garbage/ treasure, waste/resource, empty lot/green haven, fiscal crisis/ sustainable opportunity, forced migration & displacement/ community building. This way we use our creative thinking into problem solution and acquire a more optimist view of our situation.

    Description:
    The summer program will be developed in two weeks during July, creating an open platform for the community to participate in an integration and creative process. We will have open workshops five days a week, for the community and will have arranged visits from summer camps around the Lower East Side. They will all take place between Loisaida Inc.Center and La Plaza Cultural. During the workshops we want to educate the community about re-purposing waste into materials. They can be a tool for developing kids motor skills and adults perspectives and creativity. All the efforts will be directed into the final activity, it will take place at La Plaza Cultural. The activity will be compound of a fashion and creature show. We will have a live pirate band, a pirate host and a DJ. This activity will be a community celebration for the outcome of the workshops and will be open for the public. After the activity we will do a symbolic peregrination to Carmen Pabón re-opend garden as a showing of our support and admiration for Carmen Pabón’s legacy. We want to stand out community awareness of current legal garden’s risk and motivate people to take action in democratic process.

    Outcome of the Summer Program:
    The Summer Program will be composed of a two-week intensive open workshop accessible for the public. There will be five directed workshops for Summer Camps or School groups. Screening projections and other audiovisual material for educational purposes about the history and important people in the Loisaida (Lower East Side) Community. Then we will have the final activity open for the public were we will show a pirate fashion and creatures made out of recycled materials. It will all end with a symbolic peregrination to the Carmen Pabón garden.

    Screening projections and other audiovisual material for educational purposes about the history and important people of the Loisaida (Lower East Side) Community. Then we will have the final activity on Saturday, July 30th at La Plaza Cultural Garden also open to the public. We will show a pirate fashion show and puppet creatures made out of recycled materials, then it will all end with a symbolic peregrination to the Carmen Pabón garden.

    Pedagogical benefits:
    Participants will develop a socio-political approach and learn about crucial contributors to the history of LES through active participation. This will be directed with a pedagogical perspective into recreating what important key people (yet invisible to the mainstream narrative) did for the neighborhood. This will create awareness into reusing waste and reconstructing its concept into resource. Also pointing out the use of communal spaces for the benefit of the community. We will like to empower participants to be active in their communities. The art workshops are beneficial for trans-generational bonding, mental health, motor skills and cognitive development in younger participants. Infusing the creative act with social contemporary issues at stake in the neighborhood and the larger world of many residents, creates empathy, conviviality and a sense of agency to make a difference.

    Overview: The Summer Program will be composed of a two-week intensive open studio workshop accessible to the public; Weekdays 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm from July 11th – 29th. There will be five directed workshops for Summer Camps or School groups; Dates are Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm from July 16th – 29th. Contact info@loisaida.org to schedule your group visit.

    Pedagogical benefits: Participants will have a political approach to the history of LES by active participation. This will be directed with a pedagogical perspective into recreating what important people did for the neighborhood. This will create awareness into reusing waste and reconstructing its concept into resource. Also pointing out the use of communal spaces for the benefit of the community. We will like to empower the people to be active in their communities. The art workshops are beneficial for the mental health, motor skills and development of the participants. Using creativity with political consciousness to create more initiative and active people in the community.

    Loisaida’s First Summer Program is made in collaboration with La Plaza Cultural & the Museum of Urban Reclaimed Space

2016, Education, Events, Latin America, Music, New York History, Partners, Past, Storytelling, Workshops, X-Change Express, Youth

Meet and Greet – Johnny Colón

Posted on by Alejandro

Loisaida Inc. presents:

The Johnny Colón School of Music @ Loisaida Inc. Center

Eventbrite - Johnny Colon School of Music at Loisaida

Music theory lessons for the younger set by the boogaloo music legend Johnny Colon. Divided into three groups ages; 8-10, 11-14 & 15-18. Bilingual friendly (Spanish, English)

Latin music legend and renown music teacher Johnny Colón revives the tradition of his famous uptown music school, now downtown at the Loisaida Center. An dynamic hands-on weekly series of ongoing music classes focused on Latin rhythms and sounds directly under the instruction of vocalist, multi-instrumenatlist, arranger and musical director Johnny Colón.

About Johnny Colón

Johnny Colón, was born in New York City to parents of Puerto Rican heritage. He is the director of the Johnny Colon Orchestra, founder of the legendary East Harlem Music School and widely recognized as a major and legendary contributor to the popular boogaloo sound of the 1960s. 

Colón, a versatile vocalist, multi-instrumenatlist, arranger and musical director, became one of Latin music’s leading impresarios at the forefront of the new “Latin Boogaloo” sound when he formed the first Johnny Colon Orchestra in the mid 1960’s. He first found success in the world of salsa with his 1966 debut album”Boogaloo Blues” in 1966, which became a classic, selling over 3,000,000 copies worldwide, and which continues to be an anthem for this period on Latin music history. Colón’s hit “Boogaloo Blues” came out during a time of transition in the Latin music scene of New York years before there was such a thing as “salsa,” when the mambo craze was over and Puerto Ricans were coming of age in the city and the “Nuyorican” culture was emerging. As many of their peers went off to fight in Vietnam, some of New York’s younger Puerto Ricans were losing interest in Latin music and beginning to identify more with R&B hits in English than with the music of their roots. Johnny recorded several other notable tunes over the years, releasing five albums over the period 1967-72.

In 1968, with public funding and much of his own money, Colón founded the East Harlem Music School and offered free lessons to the community. His impact as a music instructor for more than three decades may be even greater than the effect of his recordings. Students like the singer Tito Nieves, percussionists Jimmy Delgado and Robin Loeb, bass player Rubén Rodríguez, and singer Marc Anthony would all go on to become stars in salsa and contemporary Latin music. By the mid-1990s, Colón was struggling to secure funding to maintain the school open. In 2004, unable to keep a permanent space for his school, Colón was given the opportunity to bring his brand of music education to New York City public schools. Today, as well as teaching in schools around the city, Colón has begun giving music classes to patients at drug treatment centers. He’s found a new location for his school at The Loisaida Inc. Center.

– Meet and Greet on Saturday, March 19 at Loisaida Inc. 710 East Ninth Street, New York, NY 10009

Stay tuned!

 

2015, Afro Puertorrican Bomba, Bilingual, Caribbean, Children Friendly, Dance/Movement, Education, Family Activities, Latin America, Music, Plena, Plenatorium, X-Change Express

Sonidos Primarios

Posted on by Alejandro

Saturday, October 10th

Loisaida Inc and Plenatorium Project present a double feature:

12:30pm

Sonidos Primarios: a hands-on discussion and presentation by artists who produce kid-friendly cultural content featuring an album of traditional Puerto Rican music for children by Viento de Agua, a Grammy Nominated bomba and plena contemporary band dedicated to de production of new music and projects as well as teaching the traditional rhtyms… Bring the kids! $5 suggested donation

Come share with Grammy-nominee and percussion master Tito Matos about the experience and details of recording a kid’s musical record. Tito and his group Viento de Agua have just released a children’s songs record, Sonidos Primarios, and he comes to share the experience and to perform a few of the songs from the record. He will be joined in the discussion by the members of the band Aclopaditos, who have vast experience in teaching and recording for children. Acopladitos will also perform a few songs for the enjoyment of all. Bring your little ones!

Following the presentation:
2:30pm

‘The New Latinos’ – screening and guided discussion featuring Tito Matos and Tato Torres.

Join us in the viewing of ‘The New Latinos’, episode 4 of The Latino Americans documentary series. This 60 minutes episode, that dwells on the experience of the Caribbean migration (Cuban, Dominican and Puerto Rican) to the United States, will be followed by a hands-on-drums one hour discussion reflecting on the musical aspects of these diasporic groups; the discussion will specifically revolve around the preservation, innovations, and hybridization of the musical traditions of these three groups after their arrival to the continental United States. The hands-on-drums discussion will be led by Grammy Award nominee, the maestro Tito Matos, and Tato Torres, founder, singer and leader of the group YERBABUENA. This viewing and talk are part of the Loisaida, Inc. Center’s Plenatorium Project initiative and part of the American Library Association/NEH Grant The Latino Americans, LA500.

Sponsored by The National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association with Acopladitos and Viento de Agua

2014, Bilingual, Caribbean, Central America, Education, Latin America, Performance, Poetry, Politics

Ferguson/Ayotzinapa: CantoMundo Poets Read and Respond

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The Loisaida Center

Monday, December 15, 6-8pm

Ferguson/Ayotzinapa: CantoMundo Poets Read and Respond

featuring: Yesenia Montilla, Darrel Alejandro Holnes, Rosebud Ben-Oni, and Urayoán Noel

This event brings together New York-based current and former fellows of the national Latina/o poets workshop CantoMundo (cantomundo.org/) to read from their work in solidarity with ongoing protests and mobilizations in and around Ferguson, Missouri, and the College of Ayotzinapa in Iguala, Mexico.Many of the poets reading are also participating in #CantoMundoLongestNight, a social-media offering of poems in honor of the countless black and brown bodies slain by state-sanctioned violence.

Darrel Alejandro Holnes is from Panama City and the former Canal Zone of Panamá. His poetry has been published in Poetry Magazine, The Best American Experimental Writing, Callaloo, The Caribbean Writer, The Potomac, MEADE, Lambda Literary, Assaracus, Weave Magazine, The Feminist Wire, The Paris American, Kweli, featured on The Best American Poetry blog, and elsewhere in print and online. He is the co-author of PRIME: Poetry & Conversations (Sibling Rivalry Press, 2014). He is a proud CantoMundo and Cave Canem fellow. darrelholnes.com

Yesenia Montilla is a New York City poet with Afro-Caribbean roots & CantoMundo Fellow. Her poetry has appeared in the literary journals: 5 AM, Adanna, Wideshore and others. She received her MFA from Drew University in Poetry and Poetry in Translation. Her first collection of poetry The Pink Box is forthcoming from Willow Books in Fall 2015.

Born to a Mexican mother and Jewish father, Rosebud Ben-Oni is a CantoMundo Fellow and the author of SOLECISM (Virtual Artists Collective, 2013). Her work is forthcoming or appears in POETRY, The American Poetry Review, Arts & Letters, Bayou, Puerto del Sol, among others. Rosebud is an Editorial Advisor for VIDA: Women in Literary Arts (vidaweb.org). Find out more at 7TrainLove.org

CantoMundo fellow Urayoán Noel is the author of the critical study In Visible Movement: Nuyorican Poetry from the Sixties to Slam (University of Iowa, 2014) and several books of poetry in English and Spanish, including EnUncIAdOr (Editora Emergente, 2014) and the forthcoming Buzzing Hemisphere/Rumor Hemisférico (University of Arizona). Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he lives in the Bronx and teaches at NYU.

 

*The views and opinions expressed on this event are soley those of the participating poets, scholars and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Loisaida Inc., Acacia Network and staff, and/or any/all contributors to this event.