2017, Education, Events, Family Activities, Latin America, Neighborhood, New York History, Partners, Past, Photography, Politics, Storytelling, Style, Visual Art, Youth

La Lucha Continua The Struggle Continues: 1985 & 2017 (EXTENDED)

Posted on by Alejandro

La Lucha Continua The Struggle Continues: 1985 & 2017

“Top of the list at New York Times of must-see galleries in the Lower East Side!”

Overview:

In 1985, Eva Cockcroft, founder of Artmakers Inc., gathered together 34 “artists of conviction” to create 26 political murals on four vacant buildings overlooking the then neglected La Plaza Cultural community garden. Known as La Lucha Continua The Struggle Continues, the murals addressed six political issues: gentrification, police brutality, immigration, feminism, and opposition of U.S. intervention in Central America and apartheid in South Africa. Today, the garden is thriving, the issues remain of grave concern, and only two of the murals still exist, the paint cracked and faded.

Exhibition Details:

Opening Date:
Saturday, April 8, 2017

Now Extended through July 31st 2017

Viewing Hours:
Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Noon to 6:00 pm
and by appointment.

Organizer:
Artmakers Inc.
For more info and media queries: Jane Weissman, ArtmakersNYC@aol.com, (212) 989-3006

Host Venue:
Loisaida Inc. Center
(646) 726-4715

710 East 9th Street, Lower East Side
New York, NY 10009 United States
+ Google Map
 
Email: info@loisaida.org

Past Public Programming:

April 19, 6:30-8 PM. Panel: Loisaida: Then & Now. With Chino Garcia, Maria Dominguez, Noah Jemisin, Kristin Reed, Seth Tobocman. Libertad Guerra, moderator

April 26, 6:30-8 PM. Illustrated Talk: Protest & Celebration: Community Murals of the 1970s & 1980s in Loisaida and on the Historic Lower East Side. Jane Weissman, presenter

April 30. 1 PM Gallery Talk / 2 PM Garden Visit to La Plaza Cultural at 9th & C. (Gallery remains open to 5 PM)

*SECOND ILLUSTRATED TALK, BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND*

May 11, 7:00-8:30 PM. Illustrated Talk: Protest & Celebration: Community Murals of the 1970s & 1980s in Loisaida and on the Historic Lower East Side. Jane Weissman, presenter

*May 23, 6:30-8 PM. Illustrated Talk: La Lucha Continua The Struggle Continues: 1985 & 2017. Jane Weissman, presenter. City Lore Gallery (56 East 1st Street). Also co-sponsored by Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation & City Lore

*May 27, 2 PM Gallery Talk / 3 PM Garden Visit to La Plaza Cultural at East 9th Street & Avenue C Unless noted, all events take place at The Loisaida Center (710 East 9th Street, NYC) Part of the 2017 Loisaida Festival Weekend Programming.

All events are co-sponsored by Artmakers Inc. and The Loisaida Center

*In conjunction with Lower East Side History Month

Media Queries: Jane Weissman, ArtmakersNYC@aol.org, 212.989.3006

2017, Bilingual, Caribbean, Caribbean Heritage, Dance/Movement, Events, Music, Past, Senior, Style, Summer

Noches de Bohemia with IRIS CHACON

Posted on by Alejandro

Buy Tickets – Comprar Boletos

Your contribution will support our commitment to the Puerto Rican and Latino Cultures and the preservation of our heritage in New York City.

Made possible through the generous support of AgeWell New York

AgeWell New York

2017, Bilingual, Caribbean, Children Friendly, Education, Events, Family Activities, Festival, Latin America, Lower East Side, Neighborhood, Past, Puppetry, Senior, Storytelling, Style, Summer, Visual Art, Workshops, Youth

Open Community Textiles Workshop

Posted on by Alejandro

Loisaida inc. is proud to present Tejedoras de Magia with Daniela Fabrizi. This open community textile workshop will be complementing with costumes, banners and flags the Cabezudo and the Parade Making workshops to debut in the Opening Community Parade of the The 30th Annual Loisaida Festival. This collaborative atelier will be open to visitors and the community at large during the whole month of May, all FREE.

Specific Dates by theme:

Re-plasti-cycle your Garments: July 2017 New Dates TBD (3pm-6pm)

Costumes! Banners! Flags! GIANTS!: July 2017 New Dates TBD (3pm-6pm)

Workshop description:

  1. Re-plasti-cycle your Garments

Learn how to reuse plastic and repurpose everyday plastic trash into your own hand-made fabric. We will focus at making fabric from plastic junk, crafting our own textile patterns and building handmade garments and wearable pieces that would be used by individuals at the parade.

This workshop is aimed at younger audiences, who are in the beginning of their journey on their textiles and design interests. Also participants will explore the idea of reusing, recycling and re-inventing with what they have and experiment letting their mind to be their own limit to create new beautiful and usable things.

(Recommended for Pre-teen and Teens)

  1. Costumes! Banners! Flags! GIANTS!

Fabric is one of the most versatile, used and indispensable materials that could transform any parade into a memorable experience within any community. On this workshop we will learn and apply some basic skills on textiles to make costumes, banners, flags and giants. Open to all artists interested in textiles with any experience. In collaboration with Zuleyka Alejandro.

All creations can be part of this year’s edition of the Loisaida Festival Community Parade.

(Recommended for kids, adults, EVERYONE)

Artist Bio:

Daniela Fabrizi. Always inspired by the work of women and her own travels, she is a costumes and textiles lover. Based in New York, and having working experience in Puerto Rico, New Orleans, France and London, she works in all crafts related to this medium: from film, tv and theater to textile arts work with the community and her own independent projects. She enjoys the most working and sharing her craft with the community, while learning and getting inspired from them.

Contact Daniela Fabrizi at dani.fabrizi@gmail.com or call (347) 314-3555

2017, Education, Events, Family Activities, Latin America, Neighborhood, New York History, Partners, Past, Photography, Politics, Storytelling, Style, Visual Art, Youth

La Lucha Continua The Struggle Continues: 1985 & 2017

Posted on by Alejandro

La Lucha Continua The Struggle Continues: 1985 & 2017

“Top of the list at New York Times of must-see galleries in the Lower East Side!”

Overview:

In 1985, Eva Cockcroft, founder of Artmakers Inc., gathered together 34 “artists of conviction” to create 26 political murals on four vacant buildings overlooking the then neglected La Plaza Cultural community garden. Known as La Lucha Continua The Struggle Continues, the murals addressed six political issues: gentrification, police brutality, immigration, feminism, and opposition of U.S. intervention in Central America and apartheid in South Africa. Today, the garden is thriving, the issues remain of grave concern, and only two of the murals still exist, the paint cracked and faded.

Exhibition Details:

Opening Date:
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Time: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Viewing Hours:
Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Noon to 6:00 pm
and by appointment.

Organizer:
Artmakers Inc.
For more info and media queries: Jane Weissman, ArtmakersNYC@aol.com, (212) 989-3006

Host Venue:
Loisaida Inc. Center
(646) 726-4715

710 East 9th Street, Lower East Side
New York, NY 10009 United States
+ Google Map
 
Email: info@loisaida.org

Public Programming and important dates:

April 19, 6:30-8 PM. Panel: Loisaida: Then & Now. With Chino Garcia, Maria Dominguez, Noah Jemisin, Kristin Reed, Seth Tobocman. Libertad Guerra, moderator

April 26, 6:30-8 PM. Illustrated Talk: Protest & Celebration: Community Murals of the 1970s & 1980s in Loisaida and on the Historic Lower East Side. Jane Weissman, presenter

April 30. 1 PM Gallery Talk / 2 PM Garden Visit to La Plaza Cultural at 9th & C. (Gallery remains open to 5 PM)

*SECOND ILLUSTRATED TALK, BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND*

May 11, 7:00-8:30 PM. Illustrated Talk: Protest & Celebration: Community Murals of the 1970s & 1980s in Loisaida and on the Historic Lower East Side. Jane Weissman, presenter

*May 23, 6:30-8 PM. Illustrated Talk: La Lucha Continua The Struggle Continues: 1985 & 2017. Jane Weissman, presenter. City Lore Gallery (56 East 1st Street). Also co-sponsored by Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation & City Lore

*May 27, 2 PM Gallery Talk / 3 PM Garden Visit to La Plaza Cultural at East 9th Street & Avenue C Unless noted, all events take place at The Loisaida Center (710 East 9th Street, NYC) Part of the 2017 Loisaida Festival Weekend Programming.

All events are co-sponsored by Artmakers Inc. and The Loisaida Center

*In conjunction with Lower East Side History Month

Media Queries: Jane Weissman, ArtmakersNYC@aol.org, 212.989.3006

2016, Education, Partners, Partnerships, Past, Performance, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Style, Visual Art, Workshops

The Sustainable Artist Toolkit

Posted on by Alejandro

We are excited to host FABNYC’s next Sustainable Artist Toolkit workshop,

Artists with Radical Visions: Shifting, Challenging, Thriving!

Before we all break for the holidays, let’s refocus our energies towards realizing our self-determined liberated life. Engage in a strategic dialogue around needs and resources and learn to work together to define boundaries, affirm goals, and stand in our power.

Tuesday, December 13, 7-9pm right here at Loisaida Inc. Center!

RSVP: http://fabnyc.org/archive/artists-rad-visions/

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

(PILOT) Analog STEAM+D Bootcamp

Posted on by Alejandro

Event Description

Loisaida Inc. in partnership with NEEUKO Inc.

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

Eventbrite - (Pilot) Analog STEAM+D Bootcamp

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
2015, Bilingual, Dance/Movement, Events, Performance, Photography, Style, Visual Art

Collective Group Show

Posted on by Alejandro

en casa afuera

June 12- 19

Opening Reception and Performances June 12 at 6:00 pm.

A live exhibit which will bring together new young artists— Mckenzie Angelo, Anthony Rosado, Jonathan Gonzalez, Yoira Santos, Adam Echahly, Lamar Stephens, Adam Rhodes, Chazz Bruce, and Stephanie Mota.

 

Curatorial Statement 

en casa afuera –

Think gentrification is completely erasing the hirstory and identities of native New York residents? Think again. Amidst new developments, increasing rents, empty storefronts, newcomers in LES, Crown Heights, Washington Heights, Harlem, & Bushwick, artists are finding ways to claim their stake in the areas, tethering the old soul of these communities. A group of such artists are coming to Loisaida, Inc.’s Center, one of the remaining physical spaces serving the LES and NYC Latino and independent community, to present a series of interactive works paying tribute to the Home(s).

en casa afuera, a live exhibit which will run from June 12th to June 19th, brings together new young artists from the metropolitan New York and New Jersey region spanning the ages of mid 20’s-30’s.— Mckenzie Angelo, Anthony Rosado, Jonathan Gonzalez, Yoira Santos, Adam Echahly, Lamar Stephens, Adam Rhodes, Chazz Bruce, and Stephanie Mota. They came together to investigate the intersections of home and displacement, as well as the potential for art making to reflect and revision these relations. Loisaida Inc., as the performance hub, may then be the home or shelter that localizes this web of creative results.

The process of what initially began as a series of conversations on the shifting dynamics of New York City, the forces that will it, and what is authentic in these urban amalgamations, developed into a need to generate around these lofty queries – what is home? and what remains as the physical departs from what we know it to be? (whether by a stripping of possession or decay.) Lastly, what does this process of transition look like, feel like, for us?

Visitors and members of the community, old and new, are encouraged to the engage in and think about the daily rituals of Home(s). The series of installations range from the symbolic to the banal. One of the works, a collage in the main hallways shows a Nuyorican’s response to gentrification while another shares with audiences the everyday objects our communities use to pamper themselves. Together, all works zoom in and out of the experience of a changing neighborhood.

en casa afuera represents and shines light onto the complex process of change and gentrification in NYC, and celebrates the histories that are passed on from generation to generation and carried everywhere. Above all, they encourage artists and guests to preserving our stories and our communities will follow.

When asked what Loisaida means for them the group responded:
“Loisaida has been an iconic place-maker for both its residents and the world at large. It architecturally houses the pride and cultural breadth of a community, while transcending the energetic embodiment of LES – a location/identity in flux. These dynamics are at the heart of our creative interests and explorations en casa afuera.”

 

2014, Bilingual, Children Friendly, Events, Family Activities, Music, Partners, Style, Visual Art, Workshops, X-Change Express

Making Music with Everyday Objects

Posted on by Alejandro

Making Music with Everyday Objects

Saturday, November 22nd at 3:00pm

Join the amazing and dynamic musical duo Acopladitos for an interactive musical experience as you create your own musical instruments using recycled materials during an exiting music/art making session. This 90-minute workshop will be structured in the format of Loisaida Center’s one-time specialized workshop or talk program the X-Change Express.

Acopladitos will demonstrate how to make a variety of musical instruments using everyday objects, especially those found at home. They will share with the audience their playful approach to the idea of “sound explorations.” More than making your own instruments, Acopladitos will share some musical ideas to guide the audience through a creative composition process that the entire family can practice at home. The last portion of the talk consists of a “hands on” approach to music making where the audience will have the opportunity of playing the instruments.

Acopladitos is dedicated to teaching Spanish language through music and movement to young learners.

This events is open to a general audience, but will specifically benefit early childhood teachers and parents.

We hope you can join us and help us spread the word!

Click on flyer below to RSVP for this event:

acopladitos-makie-music

 

 

About Acopladitos:

Acopladitos is a Spanish immersion music program for young children. The word “acopladitos” in
Spanish can be translated to mean “being together in complete harmony” and refers to much more than
just music. The program is designed to cultivate the child’s first musical encounters through singing,
creative movement, music-making, games and dramatic play. A presentation by
Acopladitos incorporates charming original songs with a repertoire of popular Latin American children’s
songs. Designed and led by composer Angelica Negrón and ethno-musicologist Noraliz Ruiz, the
program was created to fill a void in early childhood Spanish-language music education in NYC. This
team of Brooklyn-based experienced educators and creative artists will engage the children in a
collaborative and exciting musical experience that will nurture their artistic, intellectual, physical and
social-emotional development. We are interested in collaborating with Loisaida Center in order to bring
fun and interactive programming to the children of Loisaida and reach out to the community at large.