La Sala de Pepe y Foto Espacio is a cultural community space in the Loisaida neighborhood founded by Pepe Flores, a community activist, dancer, teacher, and one of the premier authorities in Latin Music.

This is a new kind of social club and art space where the past literally meets the future.

Every visit to La Sala de Pepe will also provide a visual feast, a rotating series of curated photography, film and design exhibitions.

Foto Espacio, builds on many decades of community photography programs, curating exhibitions, opening galleries and building relationships with national and international photographers.

 

Women in Bomba, a conversation with Pepe:

Pepe Flores is en la casa by Ed Morales

“Ninety-nine percent of this collection is what I collected in the years since I came to New York in 1971,” he said. “There were record shops in the 14th Street subway station, on Clinton and Delancey streets. Some of them were like holes in the wall. I mean, you come out with two bags of record shop, two bags, shopping bags on records for like $2.” The owners of those shops had no idea that the records would ultimately become collectors’ items, and they began calling Pepe to come over and pick them up.”

Current and past events:

La Sala de Pepe y Foto Espacio is supported in part by a generous donation from the Julio Martinez Memorial Fund and the Acacia Network. Women in Bomba is produced by Loisaida, Inc. through the Department of Cultural Affairs, Cultural Immigrant Initiative in partnership with the New York City Council and the Manhattan City Council Office of Councilmember Marte and Councilmember Rivera.