Loisaida Inc.

25th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival
2023-02-12 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Sara D. Roosevelt Park, Grand St between Chrystie St & Forsyth St, New York, NY, 10002, United States
Parade Route: Mott & Canal to Chatham Square to East Broadway towards the Manhattan Bridge, completing on Eldridge and Forsyth Streets towards Grand Street next to Sara D. Roosevelt Park.

La Cocina de Loisaida: The Best of Bacalao!
2023-02-11 12:00 - 14:00, 2023-02-09 18:30 - 20:30 | Essex Market – Essex Kitchen, 88 Essex Street (Mezzanine Level), New York, NY, 10002, United States
La Cocina de Loisaida is a monthly in-person cooking class series presented by The Loisaida Center and Essex Market, where longtime Lower East Sider and home chef Maria Bido shares authentic Puerto Rican recipes and cooking techniques. Each month we’ll explore a new batch of family favorites, all based in Puerto Rican flavors and using ingredients from Essex Market.
In this class, we’re all about bacalao! Bacalao – salted codfish – is the backbone of countless Puerto Rican dishes, and served all over the island in various preparations. You’ll also learn to make Serenata de Bacalao and Quesitos. This class will be about 2 hours long and include time to savor the dishes you prepare together as a group.
Buy your tickets now on Eventbrite!

Super Adult Day at Loisaida
2023-02-03 10:30 - 13:30 | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Loisaida Inc. is committed to our senior community by providing programs that help improve people’s mental & physical health through arts and culturally enriching programming and engaging activities that help support good mental health, physical and emotional well-being.
Super Adult Day at Loisaida is on the first Friday of each month, from 10:30am – 1:30pm at the Loisaida Center. During each event, we offer snacks and beverages, a wide variety of enrichment classes such as dance, exercise, arts, and live music to our guests!
Capacity is limited, so come early!
Dates:
February 3, 2023 / 10:30am – 1:30pm
March 3, 2023 / 10:30am – 1:30pm
*April 14, 2023 / 10:30am – 1:30pm (*first Friday of April is skipped)
May 5, 2023 / 10:30am – 1:30pm
July 7, 2023 / 10:30am – 1:30pm
August 4, 2023 / 10:00am – 1:30pm
September 1, 2023 / 10:00am – 1:30pm
October 6, 2023 / 10:00am – 1:30pm
November 3, 2023 / 10:00am – 1:30pm
**December 1, 2023 / 10:00am – 1:30pm (**Holiday Celebration)

Seedco Resume Reviews
2023-02-01 13:00 - 16:00 | Seedco, 513 W 207th St, New York, NY, 10034, United States
Seedco New York presents Resume Reviews at their office at 513 W 207th St, New York, NY 10034.
You will have a 30 minute resume discussion. You must have your resume (paper or digital).
Dates:
February 1st, 1 – 4pm
February 15th, 1 – 4pm
March 1st, 1 – 4pm
March 15th, 1 – 4pm
April 5th, 1 – 4pm
April 19th, 1 – 4pm

La Cocina de Loisaida: Asopao Puertorriqueno
2023-01-21 12:00 - 14:00 | Essex Market – Essex Kitchen, 88 Essex Street (Mezzanine Level), New York, NY, 10002, United States
La Cocina de Loisaida is a monthly in-person cooking class series presented by The Loisaida Center and Essex Market, where longtime Lower East Sider and home chef Maria Bido shares authentic Puerto Rican recipes and cooking techniques. Each month we’ll explore a new batch of family favorites, all based in Puerto Rican flavors and using ingredients from Essex Market.
Stay warm during this wintry month by learning how to make the national Puerto Rican soup – Asopao de Pollo, as well as Aranitas and Budin de Pan! These dishes are traditional favorites in Puerto Rico and you will learn how to make them with ease! This class will be approximately 2 hours and include time to savor the dishes you prepare together as a group.
Buy your tickets now on Eventbrite!

OPENING: Artists Alliance Inc. Presents Javier Castro: Open Wounds (Dec 14 - Mar 11)
2022-12-14 12:00 - 18:00 | Cuchifritos Gallery + Project Space, Inside Essex Market, 88 Essex St #21, New York, NY, 10002, United States
Through a series of videos, installations, documents, and sculptures, Afro-Cuban artist Javier Castro’s solo exhibition Open Wounds questions the broken promises of a postcolonial world. While many of the practices at the center of the work on view draw directly from the artist’s experiences with the island, the larger exhibition interrogates methods of manipulation embedded within prevalent social structures, including language, economic power, and religion. The show is the artist’s most personal contemplation of the social foundations that underlie our intimate and communal relationships, and the oppression, grief, and injustice that they represent within Black communities.
Learn more at: https://www.artistsallianceinc.org/event/on-view-open-wounds/

Haus of Dust - Open Community Engagements
2020-11-11 08:00 - 2020-12-05 17:00 | 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.

Haus of Dust
2020-10-01 16:00 - 2021-01-01 18:00 | 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.

Be a Census Worker!
2020-01-16 12:00 - 18:00 | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States

De Aquí y de Allá
2019-12-19 18:00 - 20:30 | 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.”

A TransCaribbean Graff Encuentro Pt.1
2019-11-05 18:30 - 20:30 | 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.”

Senior Day - November
2019-11-04 12:00 - 16:00 | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
‘LOISAIDA SENIOR & ELDERS DAY’
PROGRAMA NOVIEMBRE 2019
Every First Monday of the Month from 12:00 to 4:00 pm
Loisaida Cultural Center is excited to announce that our new Computer Learning Lab is open to our guests every Senior Day, plus will continue to rotate a series of diverse activities every month.

1. Sharpen computer skills, create, share documents and content with assisted learning at our brand new Computer Learning Lab.
2. Exercise your body and mind with dance, self-defense, yoga and Tai-Chi classes.
3. Enrichment programs will include health and nutrition information, government information, technology demos and more.
4. For entertainment, we will also offer live music, art and writing.
The Loisaida Inc. Media Arts and Cultural Center is committed to providing programs that help our community members improve their mental & physical health. For seniors, staying active and engaged in interesting activities can boost energy and increase well-being. We aim to offer a wide variety of exercise, arts, lifestyle and enrichment classes for seniors to improve cognitive health, imagination, creativity and a safe place to enjoy new activities, make friends and have fun. These classes aim to keep seniors active and connected within their community and in their personal lives.

"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 | 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.”

Activist Estates: Lunchtime Lecture
2019-10-15 12:00 - 14:00 | Cooper Union, 7 East 7th Street, NY, NY, 10010, United States
Lunchtime Lecture with Architect Nandini Bagchee at Cooper Union.
Activist Estates: A Radical History of Property in Loisaida
@ Cooper Union, 7 East 7th Street, between Third and Fourth Avenues
Tuesday, October 15th, 2019 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM (EDT)
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).

Overview:
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.
An examination of participatory practices in New York City reveals the critical relationship between real estate, architecture and activism. In cities across the country, in the 1970’s, the devaluation of property created a vacuum of ownership. Vacant lots, storefronts, schoolhouses, factories and abandoned tenements in New York City became havens for experimental, communal practices. These same urban landscapes, in the present time, face the opposite crisis of inflated costs and high-profit development. Escalating speculation threatens the small gains made by communities in historically marginalized neighborhoods. Amid current debates about urban justice and access to the city, Activist Estates critically re-evaluates the place of counter-institutional practices that shape the landscape of New York City.
About:
Nandini Bagchee is an Associate Professor at the Spitzer School of Architecture at CCNY (CUNY) and principal of Bagchee Architects. Her research focuses on activism in architecture and the ways in which ground-up collaborative building practices provide an alternative medium for the creation of public space. Nandini is the author of a recently published book on the history of activist-run spaces in New York City entitled, Counter Institution: Activist Estates of the Lower East Side (Fordham University Press, 2018). Her built-work and writing has been published in the New York Times, Interiors Now, Urban Omnibus and the Journal of Architectural Education. She is the recipient of grants from the Graham Foundation, New York State Council of the Arts and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Her research-based design work involves an ongoing engagement with politically active organizations such as the South Bronx Unite, Sites of Conscience, Interference Archive, Cooperation Jackson and the Loisaida Center.

Activist Estates: A Radical History of Property in Loisaida is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in in partnership with the City Council and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and administered by LMCC. LMCC serves, connects and makes space for artists and community.

Activist Estates: Gallery Talk
2019-10-12 15:00 - 17:00 | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Architect Nandini Bagchee in conversation with Sociologist Miranda Martinez at the Loisaida Center.
Gallery Talk: Activist Estates: A Radical History of Property in Loisaida
710 E 9th Street | NY, NY 10009
Saturday, October 12th, 2019 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM (EDT)
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).

Overview:
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.
An examination of participatory practices in New York City reveals the critical relationship between real estate, architecture and activism. In cities across the country, in the 1970’s, the devaluation of property created a vacuum of ownership. Vacant lots, storefronts, schoolhouses, factories and abandoned tenements in New York City became havens for experimental, communal practices. These same urban landscapes, in the present time, face the opposite crisis of inflated costs and high-profit development. Escalating speculation threatens the small gains made by communities in historically marginalized neighborhoods. Amid current debates about urban justice and access to the city, Activist Estates critically re-evaluates the place of counter-institutional practices that shape the landscape of New York City.
About:
Nandini Bagchee is an Associate Professor at the Spitzer School of Architecture at CCNY (CUNY) and principal of Bagchee Architects. Her research focuses on activism in architecture and the ways in which ground-up collaborative building practices provide an alternative medium for the creation of public space. Nandini is the author of a recently published book on the history of activist-run spaces in New York City entitled, Counter Institution: Activist Estates of the Lower East Side (Fordham University Press, 2018). Her built-work and writing has been published in the New York Times, Interiors Now, Urban Omnibus and the Journal of Architectural Education. She is the recipient of grants from the Graham Foundation, New York State Council of the Arts and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Her research-based design work involves an ongoing engagement with politically active organizations such as the South Bronx Unite, Sites of Conscience, Interference Archive, Cooperation Jackson and the Loisaida Center.

Activist Estates: A Radical History of Property in Loisaida is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in in partnership with the City Council and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and administered by LMCC. LMCC serves, connects and makes space for artists and community.

Open Arts LES
2019-10-12 14:00 - 17:00 | 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.”

Activist Estates: A Radical History of Property in Loisaida
2019-10-02 18:00 - 20:00 | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Activist Estates: A Radical History of Property in Loisaida
Opening Reception
710 E 9th Street | NY, NY 10451
Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EDT)
Read More

Overview:
Activist Estates: A Radical History of Property in Loisaida is an exploration of buildings and properties in the Lower East Side that are celebrated sites of resistance. This exhibition curated and designed by the Architect Nandini Bagchee in partnership with Loisaida Center visualizes the narratives of a historic space-based activism via drawings, maps, models, photographs, manuals and posters.
An examination of participatory practices in New York City reveals the critical relationship between real estate, architecture and activism. In cities across the country, in the 1970’s, the devaluation of property created a vacuum of ownership. Vacant lots, storefronts, schoolhouses, factories and abandoned tenements in New York City became havens for experimental, communal practices. Amid current debates about urban justice and access to the city, Activist Estates critically re-evaluates the place of counter-institutional practices that shape the landscape of New York City.

The exhibit features the drawings of Nandini Bagchee and the photography of David McReynolds, Ed Hedemann, Marlis Momber and Jade Doskow. It also highlights the work of collectives such as CHARAS, PAD/D, REPOhistory, Paper Tiger TV, ABC NO Rio and the dedicated artists/ organizers that have created posters, banners, buttons, newsletters and films that advocate for social justice, housing, community and the environment within the Lower East Side.
This project is supported by a grant from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and is part of Archtober. The materials for the exhibition are courtesy of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Urban Democracy Lab, War Resisters League, Clemente Soto Velez and Cooper Square MHA.
About:
Nandini Bagchee is an Associate Professor at the Spitzer School of Architecture at CCNY (CUNY) and principal of Bagchee Architects. Her research focuses on activism in architecture and the ways in which ground-up collaborative building practices provide an alternative medium for the creation of public space. Nandini is the author of a recently published book on the history of activist-run spaces in New York City entitled, Counter Institution: Activist Estates of the Lower East Side (Fordham University Press, 2018). Her built-work and writing has been published in the New York Times, Interiors Now, Urban Omnibus and the Journal of Architectural Education. She is the recipient of grants from the Graham Foundation, New York State Council of the Arts and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Her research-based design work involves an ongoing engagement with politically active organizations such as the South Bronx Unite, Sites of Conscience, Interference Archive, Cooperation Jackson and the Loisaida Center.

“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.”

Garbagia Hallucination Station - Summer Program
2019-09-22 14:00 - 18:00 | El Jardin del Paraiso, East 4th to E. 5th Streets, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Garbagia: Hallucination Station
Sunday, September 22, 2019 from 2:00 – 6:00 pm
at: El Jardin del Paraíso Garden, Lower East Side, NY

Garbagia Projects is on its fourth cycle and every year it keeps expanding its reach. This year, Garbagia: Hallucination Station explores re-envisioning of a new world and continues to address topics of climate change, sustainability of our planet and reducing and reusing our waste as a beloved material and resource. Hallucination Station will be this year’s platform to portray this vision of the future and showcase its possibilities. Time is running out… How can we change our destructive ways?
Garbagia Project is Loisaida Center’s annual Summer Program based on a series of free, open community art and puppetry workshops with a focus on creating works with materials while creating a story working on present issues related to ecological topics, community and nature/urban resources, understanding trash as a treasure for the development of a sustainable life and protecting the world.
For the first time, Garbagia’s Upcycled & 2nd Hand Fair and Garbagia’s Art Auction will be presented during Lower East Side Community Festival: LUNGS Harvest Fest.

+ MUSIC including PincLouds and Cookie Tongue! +
+ Sound Art +
+ Independent Performances +
+ Garbagia’s 4th Year Performance and Fashion Show +

This program is funded by the New York City Council’s Cultural Immigrant Initiative, in partnership with the New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs, Loisaida United Gardens and El Jardín del Paraíso Community Garden. Cover Art by: Patricio O’Hea

LIFTING H.E.ARTS: THE PRESENT, THE FUTURE AND THE FOUNDATION
2019-09-07 17:30 - 20:30 | H.E.ARTS, 349 E 140th Street, New York, NY, 10451, United States
LIFTING H.E.ARTS: THE PRESENT, THE FUTURE AND THE FOUNDATION
LIVE Artist Talk and Closing Reception
349 E 140th Street | The Bronx, NY 10451
Saturday, September 7, 2019 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM (EDT)

Join us on Saturday, September 7, for a celebration of art and activism in “Lifting H.E.ARTS: the Present, the Future and the Foundation.”
Commencing with a plenero-led procession from Brook Park to the old Lincoln Detox Center, the event will feature a mural unveiling, an update on our community land trust’s acquisition efforts and a film screening – all focused on one culturally vital building – and at an important moment in time on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Young Lords. With complimentary food and music and intersecting themes of community-led solutions in health, education, the arts, criminal justice, environmental justice and immigration, the event will include:
5:30 pm. RUMBA PROCESSION | BROOK PARK TO OLD LINCOLN DETOX/H.E.ARTS BUILDING AT WILLIS AVENUE PLAYGROUND
At 5:30 pm, Pregones Theater- and Nos Quedamos- organized Stage Garden Rumba at Brook Park (East 141st St and Brook Ave) will lead a plenero-driven procession from Brook Park to the old Lincoln Detox Center/H.E.ARTS building at 345 East 140th Street where an event will already be underway to unveil the mural “We Have a Story to Tell.”
6:00 pm. MURAL UNVEILING | “WE HAVE A STORY TO TELL”
Hear local artist, Virginia Ayress, discuss seeing children being separated from their parents as the inspiration behind her newly completed mural, “We Have a Story to Tell..” The mural, created and painted by Ayress with the Experimental Art Workshop and volunteers from the community, aims to express the experience of immigrant children and their broken dreams.
6:30 pm. H.E.ARTS UPDATE
Hear Mychal Johnson, Member of the Board of Directors of the Mott Haven-Port Morris Community Land Stewards and Co-founder of South Bronx Unite, discuss the status of the local community land trust’s efforts to repair and restore the vacant old Lincoln Detox Center building and house nearly a dozen community-based organizations working in the fields of health (H), education (E) and the arts (ARTs) in a retrofitted space with offices, shared meeting areas, a culinary arts kitchen, classrooms and performance spaces. A full feasibility report has now been completed, documenting a fully baked, economically sustainable plan reflective of nearly five years of broad-based community envisioning sessions and extensive community based organization interviews.
7:00 pm. THE PEOPLE’S DETOX | FILM SCREENING
Hear Walter Bosque, former Young Lord, Licensed Acupuncturist and Co-founder of Lincoln Detox (1970-1978), introduce the film “The People’s Detox” to be screened in the handball court across the street from the building. In November 1970, Lincoln Hospital was taken over through the collective organizing of local heroin addicts, revolutionary health organizations, the Young Lords, members of the Black Panther Party as well as other organizations. Through political education, the clinic examined the role of global politics in the influx of heroin into urban centers as well as the economic incentives of the established protocols for drug treatment. With the introduction of acupuncture as an aid in detoxification, eventually replacing pharmaceutical treatments, it was not only the walls of the hospital that were breached but the very apparatus of addiction and recovery. “The People’s Detox” is a contemplative look at how the history of a revolutionary drug clinic reverberates through to contemporary notions of health and care. The film was directed by Jenna Bliss.

With support from the Nathan Cummings Foundation and part of the public events of Pasado Y Presente: Art after the Young Lords 1969-2019 produced by Loisaida Center. This event is in partnership with Pregones Theater, Nos Quedamos, South Bronx Unite, Mott Haven Community Land Stewards, and Taller Experimental de Arte. To set up an appointment to visit the Nathan Cummings Foundation exhibit, contact exhibits@nathancummings.org

“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.”

Pasado y Presente: Art After the Young Lords - Exhibition Closing
2019-09-04 18:30 - 20:30 | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Pasado y Presente: Art After the Young Lords
LIVE Artist Talk and Closing Reception
Loisaida, Inc. | 710 East 9th Street | New York, NY 10009
Wednesday, September 4, 2019 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (EDT)

The Loisaida Inc. Center in partnership with the Nathan Cummings Foundation, collaborated on: Pasado y Presente: Art After the Young Lords, an exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Young Lords Organization in New York that will be on view at the Nathan Cummings Foundation offices through October 25, 2019. More information here.
Join us for a report-back from the Valor Y Cambio Project: a story-telling, community-building, and solidarity economy initiative housed at the Pasado Y Presente: Art after the Young Lords exhibition on view at Loisaida. The report back, from artist and creator, Frances Negrón-Muntaner, will be followed by a dialogue with Dominican York participating artists on decolonial artistic / social practices, New York-Caribbean intra-diasporic ties, fluid understandings of value, mobility, exchange, solidarity processes and trans-national identity and belonging:
Pepe Coronado
Scherezade Garcia
Carlos Jesus Martinez Dominguez
Frances Negrón-Muntaner

To set up an appointment to visit the Nathan Cummings Foundation exhibit, contact exhibits@nathancummings.org

Related Programming:
LIFTING H.E.ARTS: THE PRESENT, THE FUTURE AND THE FOUNDATION
Saturday, September 7, 2019 at Pregones/PRTT | 575 Walton Avenue | The Bronx, NY 10451 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM (EDT)
This event is in partnership with Pregones Theater, Nos Quedamos, South Bronx Unite, Mott Haven Community Land Stewards, and Taller Experimental de Arte. The event is a celebration of art and activism to close off the public programs of the Pasado Y Presente: Art After the Young Lords exhibition. Commencing with a plenero-led procession from Brook Park to the old Lincoln Detox Center in the South Bronx, the event will feature a mural unveiling, an update on the Mott Haven’s community land trust’s acquisition efforts, and a documentary screening – all focused on one culturally vital building – and at an important moment in time on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Young Lords. With complimentary food and music and intersecting themes of community-led solutions in health, education, the arts, criminal justice, environmental justice and immigration, the event will include:
5:30 pm. RUMBA PROCESSION | BROOK PARK TO OLD LINCOLN DETOX/H.E.ARTS BUILDING AT WILLIS AVENUE PLAYGROUND
6:00 pm. MURAL UNVEILING | “WE HAVE A STORY TO TELL”
6:30 pm. HEALTH, EDUCATION, ARTS (H.E.ARTS) Project UPDATE
7:00 pm. THE PEOPLE’S DETOX | FILM SCREENING

“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.”

MEDIA USED FOR EQUITY JUSTICE & RESPECT (M.U.J.E.R.)
2019-07-20 12:00 - 2019-08-10 16:00 | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Loisaida Inc. Center is pleased to present a 4-week intensive workshop in media literacy and production for young women and their allies at the early stage of their careers, within the launch of our long-awaited El Semillero/The Seedbed. The program is slated to be lead by local filmmaker Eden Martinez. We are offering the program to local individuals who are emergent or pre-emergent artists, media workers, and/or technologists, ages 16 – 24. Participants will learn how to break down media messages, stories from the LES, strategic messaging and script writing, video production, and more.
We are offering $250 stipend for participants who are committed to the full run of the program. Participants are chosen by a committee on a needs-basis as well as on the basis in which participants can demonstrate their level of commitment. Please spread the word about this program, as we are looking for as many potential registrants as possible!
Click here to register!
The program is slated to run every Saturday, beginning July 20 through August 10 (12pm – 4pm) as a minimum number of registrants is met.

The Infinite Flash of Memory: A conversation on Jardín de Pulpos (Octopus’s Garden)
2019-07-15 19:00 - 21:00 | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
The Infinite Flash of Memory: A conversation on Jardín de Pulpos (Octopus’s Garden)
Date: Monday, July 15th, 2019
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10009
FREE to the public. Limited seating. RSVP at caborca.tickets@gmail.com

About:
This evening features a discussion about Latin American resistance movements and protest-theatre art originated in the 20th century; about the collaborative creative process, dramaturgy, acting, staging, and translating Jardín de pulpos for the 21st century Anglophone US audience.
“The other time when we did the workshop [with actors], I told them that the public also writes as they are watching. You, [as playwright], write something that you think actors and actresses are acting on. The actors and actresses are acting something that they think the audience will understand and the audience understands something they need, but it is not necessarily what the author says, nor what the actors and actresses say. It is a great disagreement. What happens is that there is a disposition or willingness to believe.”
– from Juegos interiores: an interview with Arístides Vargas.

Presented by Caborca and Loisaida Inc., in partnership with The Graduate Program in Translation at the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras, and UArte – Universidad de las Artes in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Javier Antonio Gonzalez is a participant in the Global Connections–IN the LAB program, funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered by Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for the professional not-for-profit American theatre
This symposium is being presented alongside Caborca’s visionary new production of Octopus’s Garden in its first English language version. Translated by Aurora Lauzardo. Directed by Javier Antonio González. Octopus’s Garden runs at Target Margin Theater from July 12-21. For tickets to our performances visit https://octopusgarden.brownpapertickets.com
A man enlists the town madwoman to help him recover his memory at the seashore. He encounters the ghosts of his ancestors emerging from the rupture of authoritarian violence, inviting him to dream again.
Special guests:
Arístides Vargas – playwright, founder, and director of one of the most important groups of Contemporary Latin American Theater: the Malayerba Group.
Charo Francés – founder and director of the Malayerba Actoral Training Laboratory.
Rosa Luisa Márquez – Puerto Rican director, actress and professor, specializing in Ibero-American Theatre.
Aurora Lauzardo – translator, professor and co-chair of the Graduate Program in Translation at the University of Puerto Rico.
Javier Antonio González – playwright and artistic director of Caborca.
Moderator:
Rojo Robles – writer, playwright, filmmaker and instructor of Caribbean and Latinx Literature at Brooklyn College, CUNY.

“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.”

Los Tres del Tablao - Bohemia Flamenca
2019-07-03 19:00 - 21:00 | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Don’t miss the only performance from ‘Los Tres del Tablao’ in the New York.
Come and enjoy this ‘Bohemia Flamenca’ directly from Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico, Debt & Education led by artist-in-residence Jocelyn Bonadio-de Freitas
2019-06-28 18:30 - 20:30 | 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.”

Trans & Gender Equity in the YLP
2019-06-26 18:30 | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Trans & Gender Equity in the YLP
June 26th, 6:30 pm
Loisaida Center, 710 E 9th St & Ave C
Join us for two intersecting conversations on:
6:30pm Revolution within the Revolution: Herstories of the Lords Party Women’s Union
Advocating for the total liberation of women, The Young Lords Women Union produced its own groundbreaking newspaper, La Luchadora, that addressed the specific socio-racial oppressions confronting Afro/Latinx women. Join Young Lords members Iris Morales and Gloria Rodriguez to discuss the platform and activism of the Young Lords Party Women’s Union and the Latinx feminist philosphy: Mujerismo. Moderated by Johanna Fernandez, PhD.
7:45pm Sylvia Rivera: the fusing catalyst
Sylvia Rivera was a Young Lords Party member (LES chapter) who was also an active voice and presence in the LGBTQ activism at the time of the Stonewall Riots. A native of the Bronx, Rivera was an icon of NYC’s transgender community, a member of GAA (Gay Activist Alliance) and GLF (Gay Liberation Front), and founder of STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries). Luis Carle, one of our participating artists and friends with Sylvia, has been documenting Borciua LGBTQ activism since the early 1980’s, and will join Anthony Rosado to discuss Rivera’s importance to their work, joined by Loisaida activist Juanita Ramos, co-founder of Comite Homosexual Latinoamericano. Moderated by Charles Rice-Gonzales, writer, long-time Bronx LGBT activist, co-founder of The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (BAAD!).
This is a public program associated with Pasado Y Presente: Art after the Young Lords exhibition produced by Loisaida Center with the support of the Nathan Cummings Foundation.

“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.”

The 32nd Annual Loisaida Festival
2019-05-26 11:00 - 17:00 | Avenue C Corridor, 12th - 6th Streets on Avenue C, New York, NY, 10003, United States

2019 Loisaida Basketball Tournament
2019-05-25 08:30 - 18:00 | Dry Dock playground, Avenue D and 10th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10009, United States
Last year a young man by the name of Jesse Brennan, born and raised in our Loisaida community, approached our organization to voice his concerns on what was perceived as a lack of sporting activities along Avenue D as compared to the time when he was growing up. There was a specific concern regarding the slow phasing out of the basketball tournaments that he and his peers used to enjoy growing up in the LES as a teenager. After a year of coordinating, we are proud to announce that Loisaida Inc. has brought back the Loisaida Basketball Tournament to Dry Dock playground on 10th Street and Avenue D.
Organized by Loisaida Inc. with the support of community advocate and leader Tom Brasuell and, with the help of many of you, the first Loisaida Basketball Tournament is now open to boys and girls ages 12 to 16.
The tournament will take place Saturday, May 25, 2019 at Dry Dock playground in the Lower East Side. And, the champions will be recognized on the main stage during the historic Loisaida Festival, celebrated on Sunday, May 26, 2019. A Memorial Day weekend full of activities in downtown Manhattan!
This basketball tournament will become another staple of Loisaida Inc. and the annual Loisaida Festival for years to come. The 2019 Loisaida Basketball Tournament will provide an opportunity for LES youth to gather and compete in a community environment through the game of basketball with an emphasis upon mental and physical development, health, wellness and growth through teamwork.

We are confirmed for the Skills Challenge at Basketball City!
Let’s get our girls and boys registered and the teams filled. Click here!
Save the Date – Saturday, May 18 – 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Basketball City – Pier 36 – 299 South Street, New York, NY 10002

Fiestas de Cruz at Loisaida
2019-05-11 17:00 - 20:00 | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Loisaida Inc. Center presents:
Fiestas de Cruz at Loisaida
Saturday, May 11 – 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
A Loisaida Tradition!
Loisaida Inc. and its project The Plenatorium are pleased to host a performance and ritual stemming straight from the faith based history of Puerto Ricans in the Lower East Side. The “Feast of the Holy Cross” roughly translates into “Fiestas de Cruz” and members of the community have kept it alive from generation to generation through oral history. On these days during the month of May, many families, neighbors, friends and strangers would gather to recite a live rosary chant accompanied by Puerto Rican traditional plena sounds.
Come and enjoy the good company and traditional “plena” sounds of Puerto Rico.
Arrive promptly at 5:00 pm to savor a bowl of traditional “Sancocho” or Puerto Rican stew before the ceremonies begin. Courtesy of Pepe Flores.

LOISAIDA SMORGASBORD CABARET & RESTORATION PROJECTS
2019-05-10 18:30 - 22:00 | The Loisaida Inc. Center, 710 East 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
L.A.B. & Loisaida Inc. Center present: A night of visual art and performance not to be missed!
Friday, May 10, 2019
at the Loisaida Center, 710 E 9th St
6:30 pm – Doors Open to mingle and jingle
8:00 pm – Performances begin!
Event ends promptly at 10:00 pm
Plus:
Opening reception of: Rolando’s Winter Flowers & Bimbo Rivas’ post-mortem prints: part of the Loisaida Restoration Projects at El Semillero. Special Edition prints will be on sale!
And, a special world premiere screening of the new Garbagia Projects short by: Audaz Productions! Woohoo!
Loisaida Inc. presents an evening of esoteric clowns, iconoclastic puppetshows, and strange & wonderful performance in the 4th dimension!
Tickets: $10-15
This event will serve as a fundraiser for the upcoming free community workshops and events in the LES community gardens, hosted by LAB, More Gardens, and the Loisaida Center. Throughout the month of May, visiting artists from around the world will be collaborating with local artists, community volunteers and gardeners to create giant puppets, masks, costumes and installations. Final performances will be held in different gardens of the Lower East Side on Friday, May 24, and Saturday May 25, and of course on Sunday May 26 at the Loisaida Festival, with the parade and the theater lab, culminating in the community pageant. All performances will highlight the struggles, and celebrate the rich stories of the gardeners, the everyday heroes that bring back the green Oasis to the island of Manhattan.
Featured performers for the May 10 show include: Bryan Fernandez, Alexandra Tatarsky, Alex Millan, Merry Carver, Marta Maria, Paola Michelle’s yoni dance, Kalan Sherrard bringing you some ecclectic performance Watch Out! Returning to Loisaida for the fourth year; Adam Ende’s Jawbone Puppet Theater, Pablillo Varona Borges of Casa Mucaro, national treasure Daniel Polnau, and more!
This will seriously be a weird and wonderful show that you don’t want to miss out on!
Check out the Loisaida’s Restorations Project: http://loisaida.org/the-seedbed/restoration-projects/
And check the work of last year’s Loisaida Artists in Residence: More Gardens http://www.moregardens.org/
