Project LAZO: CROSSROADS
2019-03-19 18:00 - 2019-03-30 21:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
*Image by: Pedro Wainer | ‘Cruces’ , 2019.
LAZO at Loisaida present:
CROSSROADS
Opening Reception: Tuesday, March 19th, 2019 | 6-8 PM
Only through Saturday, March 30th
Curated by: Silvia Benedetti in collaboration with LAZO
Participating Artists:
Isabella Cruz-Chong
Jose Joaquín Figueroa
Catalina Schliebener
Pedro Wainer

Overview:
Standing in a crossroads makes us realize that the greatest block we can create for ourselves is the idea that there is a single right choice. This exhibition gathers a series of artworks –in a variety of mediums– in which the literal and figurative meaning of a crossroads is present. Daily life, childhood, gender, class, landscape, and identity are a few of the themes brought to bear by the works in the exhibition. These references, intersected through a range of material and narrative gestures, reveal how various perspectives can exist in a given moment.
This exhibition brings together four Latin American artists from different backgrounds for which New York functions as a point of intersection. The works on display build narratives along different lines: Isabella Cruz-Chong’s works reference the US-Mexico border fence, filmed on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Mexico where she grew up. She presents a performance/video of an invisible wall highlighting the struggle and irony that goes with it. Cruz-Chong also has on view instructions made for Mexican children who are learning how to behave when crossing the border.
José Joaquín Figueroa presents a record of everyday environments illustrating his ongoing pilgrimage. In his drawings he reflects on the fragility of fleeting moments, the complications of inter-layered identities, and the impossibility of a single perspective.
Catalina Schliebener presents a series of collages made with children’s books; material that carries implicit narratives around gender, sexuality, and class. She researches childhood, considering it an important period in which the limits between reality and fiction are not yet defined.
Lastly, Pedro Wainer explores analogue film and photographic techniques by reconfiguring technologies in disuse. He presents composite footage and moving projections made from still images of the East River from both sides in Manhattan and Brooklyn–highlighting the river and its bridges as both a geographic and man-made border meant to be crossed.
This exhibition was organized in collaboration with Silvia Benedetti, a Venezuelan New York-based independent
curator and art writer, and is part of a series of events organized by LAZO at The Loisaida Center in NYC.
Read more about the LAZO project and residency here.
Download press release here.

About the artists:
LAZO is a collaborative project founded by Alva Mooses and Claudia Cortínez. We are artists of Latin American descent focusing on intersections of photography, sculpture and printmaking and began working together while doing our graduate studies together at Yale University. We have organized exhibitions, publications, and talks that support artists while furthering cross-cultural dialogue. Both born in the U.S. (Alva to parents from Mexico & the U.S. and Claudia to parents from Argentina & Chile) our practices have relied largely on being based in NYC while working internationally creating ties to distinct communities.
Alva Mooses is an artist based in New York. She received her BFA from The Cooper Union and her MFA from Yale University. She has exhibited her work at the 10th Havana Biennial, Instituto Cervantes in NY, Shirley Fiterman Art Center, Logan Center for the Arts, Eduardo Sívori Museum, among others. She has completed residencies such as the APL Program at The University of Chicago, Tou Trykk in Stavanger, Norway, the Davidoff Art Initiative in the Dominican Republic, and Casa Wabi in Oaxaca, Mexico. She has presented her work through artist talks at the Swiss Institute in NYC, Rogaland Kunstsenter in Norway, University of Chicago, among others. She is the recipient of a Yale University Schoelkopf Fellowship, the Rema Hort Mann Foundation Artist Community Engagement Grant, and UChicago Arts Grant, among others. Since 2004, she has organized community art initiatives and collaborations in Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, El Salvador, and Argentina. Alva currently teaches Sculpture at The Cooper Union School of Art.
Claudia Cortínez is a visual artist currently living and working between Buenos Aires and NYC. She received her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and her MFA at Yale University. She is the recipient of the Alice Kimball English Traveling Fellowship from Yale University (2012), the Blair Dickinson Memorial Grant from Yale University (2013), the Rema Hort Mann Emerging Artist Grant in NYC (2013), among others. She has exhibited her work extensively in solo and group shows in the US, Latin America, and Europe, and has curated exhibitions at the Shirley Fiterman Art Center in NYC (2016) and the Eduardo Sívori Museum in Buenos Aires (2018), bringing together artists from both cities. She has participated in various residencies such as LMCC Swing Space (2014), La Ira de Dios (BsAs, 2016), Mass MoCA (2017), Real Time and Space (CA, 2018), and Tou Trykk (Norway, 2018), among others. She is currently an artist in residence at the NARS Foundation in Brooklyn, NY.

“Opinions like those expressed while in a panel, presentation, performance or through artwork are expressed by the author in their personal capacity and are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Loisaida Inc., its affiliates or staff.”

Agroecology & Food Sustainability
2019-03-30 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Simultaneous events at Loisaida Inc. Center and :Pública, a cultural space in Santurce, Puerto Rico; will explore the perceived tension between the traditional and the 21st century methods of harvesting and preparation as it relates to all things FOOD. Themes and topics will include: growing ingredients, recipes, colonization and agriculture, farming and imported food, where traditional cuisine comes from and what it means, and where and how Puerto Rican food can be found and prepared locally – both in the Lower East Side and in Santurce, Puerto Rico.
Space is limited, please RSVP here.
Presented as part of the Loisaida Inc. Center AIR Program. Lead by resident artist, Jocelyn Bonadio de Freitas.

@ Loisaida Inc. Center
Speakers: Tara Rodriguez-Besosa, Jocelyn Bonadio-de Freitas
Food by: Tara Rodriguez-Besosa (Asopao – Puerto Rican Stew))
Music/Sound Collage by: Jocelyn Bonadio-de Freitas
@ Pública
Speaker: Ian Pagan, Natalia Vallejo
Food by: Natalia Vallejo (Asopao – Puerto Rican Stew)
Program:

Doors Open at 6:00 pm
Event starts at 6:30 pm and ends at 8:00 pm EST
Rundown
6:30-6:45: Introduction and explanation of event by Jocelyn Bonadio-de Freitas
6:45-7:30: Talk/Sharing from Tara, Ian, Natalia including explanation of “asopao” (Puerto Rican Stew)
7:30-7:45: Audience eats, Q&A, Jocelyn set up
7:45-8:05: Jocelyn Live Sound performance*

Puerto Rico, Debt & Education led by artist-in-residence Jocelyn Bonadio-de Freitas
2019-06-28 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
How is the Puerto Rican debt crisis unfolding, and how is it affecting education systems on the island? How can we think about and understand the debt, and what, if anything, can be done about it? Audiences in diaspora on the Lower East Side and in Santurce gather to dialogue with organizers and journalists working on the island. Tembleque will be served. A new piece of music will be debuted by Artist-in-Residence Jocelyn Bonadio-de Freitas, who produced and curated this event along with Tara Rodriguez-Besosa of El Departamento de la Comida, in collaboration with :Pública.

DETAILS:
Friday, June 28th, 6:30pm

Speakers:

Eva Lourdes Ayala Reyes, Educamos
Luís J. Valentín Ortiz, Centro de Periodismo Investigativo
Members of Colectiva Feminista
Dr. Frances Negrón-Muntaner, Columbia University

Food by:

Chef Gabriela Álvarez of Liberation Cuisine
Vero Vero of El Departamento de la Comida

Music by:

Jocelyn Bonadio-de Freitas, Artist-in-Residence
Presented as part of the Loisaida Inc. Center AIR Program. Lead by resident artist, Jocelyn Bonadio de Freitas.

“Opinions like those expressed while in a panel, presentation, performance or through artwork are expressed by the author in their personal capacity and are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Loisaida Inc., its affiliates or staff.”

Open Arts LES
2019-10-12 14:00 - 17:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Open Arts LES
Saturday, October 12th, 2019 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
at: Loisaida Inc. – 710 East Ninth Street and Avenue C
Fourth Arts Block (FAB) launches Open Arts LES to introduce the public to the broad range of Lower East Side arts & culture experiences and opportunities. The event is designed to engage NYC residents in exploring arts and culture opportunities in the LES. Participation in Open Arts LES is open to nonprofit and community based organizations, as well as individual artists who wish to offer open studio hours.

Loisaida Center presents:
Activist Estates: Gallery Talk & Exhibition Tour 3:00 to 5:00 pm.
Join Architect Nandini Bagchee in conversation with Sociologist Miranda Martinez at the Loisaida Center.

Activist Estates: A Radical History of Property in Loisaida is an exhibition curated and installed by the Architect/ Historian Nandini Bagchee in partnership with Loisaida Center Inc. The exhibit visualizes the narratives of a historic space-based activism via maps, models, photographs, pamphlets and posters. The Loisaida Center has been instrumental in bringing visibility to the many histories of the Latinx resistance in New York. This new exhibition illuminates yet another facet of this history by juxtaposing the parallel trajectories of different social movements. The issue-based timelines construct a network of solidarity between individuals and institutions in the Lower East Side.
Nandini Bagchee is the designer and curator of the exhibit and author of Counter Institution: Activist Estates of the Lower East Side (Fordham University Press, 2018).
Miranda Martinez is the author of Power at the Roots: Community Gardens, Gentrification, and the Puerto Ricans of the Lower East Side (Lexington Books, 2010).

Artist in Residence Open Studio: 2:00 to 5:00 pm.
During his 3-month residency at Loisaida Center, Kevin Pérez has utilized the studio space provided to make sculptures, paintings, audio and video recordings and produced a series of work including performances, video screenings and a final exhibition.
Kevin Perez uses multi-disciplinary approach (performance, painting, sound) in the merged tendencies of Art Informel and Neuve Invention style, whose work means to be an exploration of the subconscious, its shadows and enlightenments.The visual performative language he evokes can sometimes be violent and dissonant, however within the apparent chaos, angst, and irrationality therein lies also a reflection of innocence and at times pure beauty in an effort to come to terms with a sense of dis-location that reimagines a new way forward for the discarded.
The choice of materials demonstrate resourcefulness, as Kevin uses whatever found objects and materials he gets his hands on to create an out of the blue formulation. The objective is to demonstrate that wastes, obsolete components from our trash cans, can enter a creative process as a material and become something else. The desire is not to highlight the object but to use it as a unique component.
An initial member of Loisaida’s Garbagia Project collective, an aspect of Kevin’s practice has involved collaborative, often participatory process involving people as the medium or material of the work. During his 3-month residency at Loisaida Center, Pérez has utilized the studio space to explore his solo practice to make sculptures, paintings, audio and video recordings, and give in to the evolving pursuit of a cohesive cosmology to share as outcome exhibit.
“Papo Cucaracha Vertedero El 3ro in The Realm of Forms (or the story of how the Underworld blinded me by the light)” is an attempt to interpret complex emotions that can live unnoticed in the psyche of a person. Utilizing painting, sculpture, video and sound Papo Cucaracha travels to the underworld in search of the realm of forms to find the true nature of the self. He returns blind but transformed form within with faint interpretations of the creatures (emotions) that inhabit this realm.
Read more here.

“Opinions like those expressed while in a panel, presentation, performance or through artwork are expressed by the author in their personal capacity and are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Loisaida Inc., its affiliates or staff.”

"Papo Cucaracha Vertedero El 3ro in the Realm Of Forms, or the story of how in the Underworld, I was blinded by the light"
2019-10-18 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
The Loisaida Center is proud to announce
2019 Artistic Residency Recipient:
KEVIN EMILIO PÉREZ

Loisaida Center Inc. is pleased to present an “open Studio” style exhibition and resident visual artist Kevin Pérez. Opening on Friday, October 18th, 2019
“Papo Cucaracha Vertedero El 3ro in the Realm Of Forms or the story of how in the Underworld, I was blinded by the light”
Exhibition Opening: Friday, October 18th, 2019 – 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Overview:
Kevin Perez uses multi-disciplinary approach (performance, visual, sound) in the merged tendencies of Art Informel and Neuve Invention style, whose work means to be an exploration of the subconscious, its shadows and enlightenments.
The visual performative language he evokes can sometimes be violent and dissonant, however within the apparent chaos, angst, and irrationality therein lies also a reflection of innocence and at times pure beauty in an effort to come to terms with a sense of dis-location that reimagines a new way forward for the discarded.
The choice of materials demonstrate resourcefulness, as Kevin uses whatever found objects and materials he gets his hands on to create an out of the blue formulation. The objective is to demonstrate that wastes, obsolete components from our trash cans, can enter a creative process as a material and become something else. The desire is not to highlight the object but to use it as a unique component.
An initial member of Loisaida’s Garbagia Project collective, an aspect of Kevin’s practice has involved collaborative, often participatory process involving people as the medium or material of the work. During his 3-month residency at Loisaida Center, Pérez has utilized the studio space to explore his solo practice to make sculptures, paintings, audio and video recordings, and give in to the evolving pursuit of a cohesive cosmology to share as outcome exhibit.
“Papo Cucaracha Vertedero El 3ro in The Realm of Forms (or the story of how the Underworld blinded me by the light)” is an attempt to interpret complex emotions that can live unnoticed in the psyche of a person. Utilizing painting, sculpture, video and sound Papo Cucaracha travels to the underworld in search of the realm of forms to find the true nature of the self. He returns blind but transformed form within with faint interpretations of the creatures (emotions) that inhabit this realm.
During his 3-month residency at Loisaida Center, Pérez has utilized the studio space provided to make sculptures, paintings, audio and video recordings and produced a series of work including performances, video screenings and a final exhibition.

“Opinions like those expressed while in a panel, presentation, performance or through artwork are expressed by the author in their personal capacity and are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Loisaida Inc., its affiliates or staff.”

A TransCaribbean Graff Encuentro Pt.1
2019-11-05 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
A Trans-Caribbean Graff Encuentro Pt.1
Tuesday, November 5th, 2019.
6:30 – 8:30 pm
Hosted by: Marie Jiménez & Carlos Jesús Martínez-Domínguez.
Loisaida Inc. Center – 710 E 9th Street | NY, NY 10009

Join us for Marie Jiménez and Carlos Jesus Martinez Dominguez‘s first public component of their artistic residency project: Ephimero: a Dominican Graff Perspective, an interactive archive and exhibit that functions as a platform for cultural research and community experience. We are pleased to host the EPHIMERO project in our our new Computer Learning Lab, part of the new Loisaida Tech and Media component; El Semillero or the “Seedbed.”

OPEN CALL for graffiti writers from the LES interested in being part of the EPHIMERO archiving project! RSVP today!

Tag artist/writer “blacbooks”
Share your stories
Make stickers

The project’s focus is on Dominican street art and graffiti gestures made in public and private spaces by artists working both in the Dominican Republic and others working abroad. It proposes the organization of a large-scale graffiti related art exhibition to take place simultaneously at Santo Domingo, New York City and San Juan.
Read more about the residency here.
All welcome!

Marie Jiménez
Marie Jiménez is a multidisciplinary artist with an AAS in Fine Arts from Chavon, Dom. Rep; a BFA from Parsons, NYC; a Masters in documentary filmmaking from ECIB, barcelona; and, workshops from Chavon, DGCINE, and EICTV in Cuba. Marie is now teaching videart while developing a documentary on Ephimero; she has also just finished her first feature film which is now on stages of film festivals distribution.
From a personal experience and usually through an intimate approach to what conforms her immediate context; Marie develop the depictions seen in her work; with special interest in how the camera can become a tool to question and analyze the idea of ‘the marginal’.
Carlos Jesús Martínez Domínguez / FEEGZ, FIGARO & FIRO173
Carlos Jesús Martínez Domínguez is an artist who draws inspiration from the cultures and related histories of Hip Hop, NYC, and the Caribbean. He started tagging in 1987. He has exhibited his work nationally and internationally. Notable venues include the Studio Museum in Harlem, El Museo del Barrio, Art Museum of the Americas, Washington DC, Centro Leon Museum, Santiago, DR, El Museo Latino, Omaha, NE and Bronx Museum of Art in the Boogie Down.Carlos currently lives and works in Washington Heights, NY and is an educator at El Museo del Barrio, MAD Museum and the Studio Museum in Harlem.

Relevant programming and upcoming events:

EPHIMERO: The Archive (Broadcast Release Date TBD) Early 2020

“Opinions like those expressed while in a panel, presentation, performance or through artwork are expressed by the author in their personal capacity and are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Loisaida Inc., its affiliates or staff.”

De Aquí y de Allá
2019-12-19 18:00 - 20:30 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Overview:
Event producer and musician Jocelyn Bonadio-de Freitas, has organized a series of three events premiering at Loisaida Inc. Center from March through September. The events will take place simultaneously at Loisaida Inc. on the Lower East Side and at the new :Pública art space in Santurce, Puerto Rico.
Description:
The third event organized by the artist for her residency will center around the theme of protest. Through an interactive “open studio” style conversation with guests at partnering nonprofit Cultural organization :Pública in Puerto Rico, attendees and participants will explore and think critically about recent Puerto Rican protests, that lead to the resignation of their governor. Our guests will also break bread, and enjoy a live music performance and debut song by Jocelyn. Through complex, relevant topics like food (in)justice, renewable energy, colonialism, protest, education, and privatization, the events seek to explore the ways in which Culture is informing and reshaping protest in the 21st century. Quotidian life now incorporates meaningful protest for the Puerto Rican diaspora, with a constant exchange of information, strategy and resources reinforced by their roots on the island. Each event will feature educational, engaging speakers, and live performances.

Presented as part of the Loisaida Inc. Center AIR Program. Discussion lead by resident artist; Jocelyn Bonadio-de Freitas.

“Opinions like those expressed while in a panel, presentation, performance or through artwork are expressed by the author in their personal capacity and are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Loisaida Inc., its affiliates or staff.”

Haus of Dust
2020-10-01 16:00 - 2021-01-01 18:00 UTC | NY
People of The Chaotic Period
2020 Artistic Residency Recipient

Overview
People of the Chaotic Period is the latest artistic residency recipient at the Loisaida Inc. Center. Their aim is to create and develop the project they have titled; Haus of Dust; a multimedia campaign aimed at supporting and projecting the realities of a Queer-Latinx community that is struggling with drug abuse, physical and emotional addiction, redemption and rehabilitation through an interdisciplinary artistic lens.
The team behind the Haus of Dust project are comprised of multi-disciplinary creatives: Gabriel Torres (Writer & Director), Dani Sanchez (Designer), Aaron Salazar (Producer) and Josh Friedman (Cognitive Developer) as well as the rest of the People of the Chaotic Period collective; Allie Marotta, Vinny Eden Ortega, Fernando Moya, Salome Eggas, Anthony O’Conell, Vanessa Rappa, Samantha Herrera, Raquel Rivera and Kirsten Kelso. They will be working closely with a vast group of social workers, neuroscientists, and queer community leaders to activate this campaign with three central objectives:
– Create an online platform to provide resources, data, and personal stories to engage participants and de-stigmatize conversations surrounding drug abuse in the community.
– Design garden area to be built inside of Loisaida Inc. Center where we they will host a variety of social outreach functions that serve as a therapeutic and educational oasis.
– Develop an interactive digital platform and possible on-site immersive theatrical experience that conforms to social distancing guidelines and explores drug addiction, trauma and survival through a personal Queer-Latinx lens.

This project is arriving at a crucial time, as Covid-19 has presented unique challenges for those struggling with substance abuse. This project is aimed to serve as a tool for outreach that not only addresses the problems the Queer-Latinx community face with the onset of the novel coronavirus pandemic, but also provides safe haven.

Connect:
Our collective understands that human connection is crucial, and it is specifically needed in our targeted communities.
The center of this campaign will take place in an online hub where community members are encouraged to share their stories. Whether posted anonymously or not, sharing experiences and creating a judgment free conversation is an effective way of helping to de-stigmatize conversations around drug abuse and build strength between community members.

About:
People of the Chaotic Period is a new multidisciplinary theater collective of emerging performers, theater makers and activists. POTCP originated in March 2020 and is thus irrevocably marked by the fallout of Covid-19. We began gathering virtually to envision an inclusive story-making process where the narrative is devised through the diverse personal experiences of the collective. POTCP is committed to community outreach and is poised for future growth, with the mission to activate an annual social campaign project raising awareness to socioeconomic, health, and social justice issues facing our community.
People of The Chaotic Period are: Gabriel G. Torres, Allie Marotta, Dani Sanchez, Vinny Eden Ortega, Fernando Moya, Salome Eggas, Anthony O’Conell, Vanessa Rappa, Samantha Herrera, Raquel Rivera and Kirsten Kelso.

Community Engagement Events:

THE LOISAIDA ARTISTIC RESIDENCY PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED, IN PART, BY PUBLIC FUNDS FROM THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

Haus of Dust - Open Community Engagements
2020-11-11 08:00 - 2020-12-05 17:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
CHORUS

(Click to Register)

Breath of Harmony through Chorus
November 7th – December 5th, 2020
(Click to Register)
What: In collaboration with National Queer Theater, Haus of Dust is excited to organize and host a chorus workshop. This workshop is open to all who are willing to participate and can commit to participate in the project. Facilitated by Vanessa, who plays the role of the Master of Ceremonies (MC) in Dust Vanishes Away, the workshop will focus on utilizing breath and presence to spiritually connect to the self and others, rather than skill. By omitting the necessity for skill and prior training, the workshop will foster harmony with the self and others and create an inclusive space for creative expression and inspiration. Footage and recordings from this workshop will be used in Dust Vanishes Away. The workshop is limited to six participants.
When: Beginning the week of November 7th to December 5th, Vanessa will meet with two of the six participants at a time for forty-five minute sessions on each of the following dates: November 7th, November 14th, November 21st, November 28th, and a final group session with all six participants on December 5th. Times are still to be determined, but the final session will have the participants record a demo that will be used in the project.
Where: Breath and Harmony Through Chorus will be virtual, with the fifth and final session being in person at The Loisaida Center, located at 710 E 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009. Social distancing guidelines will be followed, with mandatory requirements of participants wearing a mask and taking their temperature upon arrival to Loisaida.

SHRINES

(Click to Register)

Creativity Through Shrines
December 1st through December 6th, 2020
(Click to Register)
What: A part of inspiration in Haus of Dust and Dust Vanishes Away derives from the presence of spirituality and god-like forces and their influence and guidance in the project. Haus of Dust is excited to explore these themes through our shrine making workshop in collaboration with The LGBT Center. Facilitated by the design director of the Haus of Dust, Dani, participants will help create life-size shrines for each character to be used in the production. By creating the shrines to be the same size as the actors themselves, the final product aims to engage their presence beyond their physical role in the project. The goal is to directly involve and include the community in creating elements of the production that call for collaboration and whose creation can act as a means of healing, whether it be spiritual, mental, or emotional. All artists welcome.
When: December 1st through December 6th. Participants will be divided into two groups of five, with the first group coming in for the morning session from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and the second group coming in for an afternoon session from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Where: Creativity and Collaboration Through Shrines will take place at The Loisaida Center, located at 710 E 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009. The workshop will be in person, with guided videos by Dani to be distributed by Revolución Latina.

Mime Class with Bryan Fernandez
2024-09-28 14:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | NY
Mime Class with Bryan Fernandez
at the Loisaida, Inc. Center
Every Sunday 2 ~ 5 PM

Basics of Woodworking - Session 2: Tools & Techniques
2025-04-19 14:00 - 18:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Course Title: Basics of Woodworking
Class Schedule: Saturdays, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM (April 12 – May 24)
Duration: 7 sessions (28 hours total)
Capacity and Target Audience: 6 Students – Beginners with no prior woodworking experience
Location: Loisaida Center – 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009
Instructor: Josué Guarionex Colón
Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/xu2y4dt

Scope of Work

Objective:
Provide participants with foundational woodworking skills, safety protocols, and hands-on experience to build small projects independently.
Learning Outcomes:

Understand and apply woodworking safety standards.
Identify and use essential woodworking tools and materials.
Measure, cut, and assemble wood accurately.
Finish a personal woodworking project.

Resources Provided:

Tools: Saws, drills, clamps, sanders, measuring tapes, etc.
Materials: Lumber, screws, glue, sandpaper, and protective equipment.
Instructional handouts and project templates.

Key Deliverables:

Completed personal project (e.g., a small table or shelf).
Participant certificate of completion.

Curriculum
Session 1: Introduction to Woodworking & Safety

Overview of tools and materials.
Shop safety rules and demonstration.
Basic measuring and marking techniques.

Session 2: Tools & Techniques

Hands-on practice: saws (manual and power), drills, and sanders.
Techniques for cutting, drilling, and sanding.

Session 3: Wood Joints & Assembly Basics

Introduction to types of wood joints (butt, miter, dado).
Practice assembling a simple joint.

Session 4: Project Planning & Material Preparation

Selecting and measuring materials for the project.
Cutting and preparing wood pieces.

Session 5: Assembly and Construction

Assembling the project (e.g., a small table or shelf).
Tips for ensuring structural integrity.

Session 6: Sanding and Finishing

Sanding techniques for smooth surfaces.
Introduction to wood finishes (paint, varnish, stains).

Session 7: Final Touches and Reflection

Completing the project and applying finishes.
Group project showcase and feedback session.

Assessment:
Participants will be evaluated on their ability to follow safety protocols, demonstrate basic skills, and complete their project within the course timeline.
Requirements:
Participants must wear closed-toe shoes, and the program will provide safety goggles.

Basics of Woodworking - Session 3: Wood Joints & Assembly Basics
2025-04-26 14:00 - 18:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States

Basics of Woodworking - Session 4: Project Planning & Material Preparation
2025-05-03 14:00 - 18:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States

Basics of Woodworking - Session 5: Assembly and Construction
2025-05-10 14:00 - 18:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States

Basics of Woodworking - Session 6: Sanding and Finishing
2025-05-17 14:00 - 18:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States

Basics of Woodworking - Session 7: Final Touches and Reflection
2025-05-24 14:00 - 18:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States

Wheeling & Healing 2
2025-06-26 06:00 - 20:00 UTC | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Wheeling & Healing 2:

Holding the Mic in the Middle of the Storm

Wheeling and Healing 2 is here! OPEN DOORS Reality Poets are back Wheeling and Healing through words of empowerment, wisdom, and perseverance. Wheeling & Healing II is a poetry anthology edited by the Reality Poets. We invited long-term care residents, neighbors on Roosevelt Island, mentors, and friends to contribute their voices towards a message of empowerment.
Thank you to all who submitted writing and joined us at Loisaida Center on June 26th, 2025.
