Today's featured shot from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by gulshan.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Cemi Underground's Luis Cordero chats with PRSUN Radio tonight
PRSUN Radio
Tune in at 9 p.m. tonight for a chat with Luis Cordero, the owner of Cemi Underground, a cultural bookstore and gallery in East Harlem that features literature, arts and a host of community events highlighting boricua and Latino talent. We will chat on Cemi Underground's challenges, accomplishments and future plans.
www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio
For more information on Cemi Underground, go to www.cemiunderground.com.
Photo of Luis Cordero and Elena Marrero at the Viva Bronx festival last year. (photo by Ismael Nunez)
UPDATE: Listen to show right here in this blog or go to www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Politics
Obama vows to solve Puerto Rico's status
It's a 110-year-old dilemma that Congress has never committed to solve: Puerto Rico's ambiguous political relationship with the U.S.
President-elect Barack Obama has vowed to turn this around.
In a letter sent earlier this month to newly elected Puerto Rican Gov. Luis Fortuno, Obama pledged to "enable the question of Puerto Rico's status to be resolved" during his first term. For more, go to
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/services/newspaper/printedition/tuesday/orl-probama1309jan13,0,5768559.story
Obama vows to solve Puerto Rico's status
It's a 110-year-old dilemma that Congress has never committed to solve: Puerto Rico's ambiguous political relationship with the U.S.
President-elect Barack Obama has vowed to turn this around.
In a letter sent earlier this month to newly elected Puerto Rican Gov. Luis Fortuno, Obama pledged to "enable the question of Puerto Rico's status to be resolved" during his first term. For more, go to
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/services/newspaper/printedition/tuesday/orl-probama1309jan13,0,5768559.story
PRSUN Heads to CT for Three Kings Exhibit
I plan to go to Bridgeport, Connecticut this weekend to take part in the Three Kings exhibit. I plan to exhibit my photography as well as promote Puerto Rico Sun Communications, a community-minded independent multimedia social entrepreneurship.
The exhibit, which was postponed from last weekend because of bad weather, will be held on Saturday, January 17.
The Puerto Rican Parade of Fairfield County is organizing the event, which will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Chase Wellness Center, 1071 East Main St.
I was invited to exhibit my work by the organization’s president, Diana Calderon Torres, a new member of our Puerto Rico Sun social network. She says they have about 22 artists and craftspeople lined up for the event.
If you go, make sure to stop by my table.
Community calendar
Al-Juriya
English/Spanish film...Puerto Ricans witness the occupation of Palestine
In light of the events in the Middle East, Cemi Underground presents this film.
3 p.m., Saturday, January 17
Cemi Underground, NYC's El Barrio
Suggested donation: $5
For more information, go to www.cemiunderground.com.
Community calendar
"Pregones Theater Music Emsemble" to perform in NYC's El Barrio
'Theater Music, Afro Caribbean Music, Spiritual Music' performance
Camaradas El Barrio in East Harlem
9:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 14
To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=48706237031
"Pregones Theater Music Emsemble" to perform in NYC's El Barrio
'Theater Music, Afro Caribbean Music, Spiritual Music' performance
Camaradas El Barrio in East Harlem
9:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 14
To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=48706237031
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Stairs
@ Mt Britton, El Yunque, PR
Today's featured image from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by kikepic.
Today's featured image from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by kikepic.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
My mom prepares pasteles
Christmas may be over, but for many boricuas the celebration is not over. They celebrate las Octavitas.
Feliz Octavitas.
Feliz Octavitas.
Three Kings celebration in El Barrio with a Mexican twist
Q&A with El Museo del Barrio's Gabriel Higuera
Gabriel Higuera is of Mexican and Cuban heritage, lives in Brooklyn and works at El Museo del Barrio in East Harlem as the coordinator of public programs. He describes himself as a writer, educator and organizer. Today his play inspired by the Mexican tradition of pastorelas will debut at the museum’s Heckscher Theater.
Set in East Harlem, the shepherd in the theater play is replaced by a tour guide, leading a flock of visitors through an entertaining and informative journey through the history and sites of the neighborhood. Some surprises are revealed as the tour winds to a close.
The theater play is part of the museum’s Three Kings Day celebration today, which will also include live parrandas with Eddie Alicea y Su Trio de Epoca. Admission is free, but space is limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. The event runs from 3 to 5 p.m.
I recently met up with Gabriel Higuera for a Q &A.
Q: Tell me about your play and does it focus on the Mexican community here in East Harlem or is it broader than that?
A. The play is about a tour group walking through El Barrio. This is interesting because so many times, people forget the beauty under their feet. They ask: “Why would someone take a tour of my barrio?” This play will tell you why. The history and cultural production of East Harlem has a worldwide audience, and it is important that the audience understands and appreciates that. The play is in the pastorela format celebrating a neighborhood, which since the 1950’s, has been largely Puerto Rican.
Q: You work in a respected cultural institution founded by the Puerto Rican community and which is more diverse today. You walk daily in the community. Do you see conflicts in the community?
A: I am honored to work for El Museo del Barrio. I feel a strong connection to the roots of the institution. I know what it is like to grow up Latino in a city where my history is not taught, not understood or appreciated. East Harlem is richer for having El Museo, the Julia de Burgos Cultural Center and many other organizations dedicated to preserving and promoting Puerto Rican and Latina/o history and culture. The only conflicts I have encountered in fulfilling the mission of El Museo that are merely budgetary.
Q: Going back to the play, will it show some of the hardships that Latinos in the community go through every day and will there be some cultural elements included in the play?
A. In the play, there is a focus on the poetry of East Harlem. This poetry often speaks of the hardships as well as the beauty of this area. Through poetry, I make connections with other cultural groups who are facing the same issues: identity politics, economics…
Q: Will the play include political issues such as immigration and housing?
A: Keep in mind that this is a holiday play. Through the use of projected images, some of the themes you mention will be gently touched upon, serving as food for thought. – Ismael Nunez
(photo courtesy of Gabriel Higuera)
Gabriel Higuera is of Mexican and Cuban heritage, lives in Brooklyn and works at El Museo del Barrio in East Harlem as the coordinator of public programs. He describes himself as a writer, educator and organizer. Today his play inspired by the Mexican tradition of pastorelas will debut at the museum’s Heckscher Theater.
Set in East Harlem, the shepherd in the theater play is replaced by a tour guide, leading a flock of visitors through an entertaining and informative journey through the history and sites of the neighborhood. Some surprises are revealed as the tour winds to a close.
The theater play is part of the museum’s Three Kings Day celebration today, which will also include live parrandas with Eddie Alicea y Su Trio de Epoca. Admission is free, but space is limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. The event runs from 3 to 5 p.m.
I recently met up with Gabriel Higuera for a Q &A.
Q: Tell me about your play and does it focus on the Mexican community here in East Harlem or is it broader than that?
A. The play is about a tour group walking through El Barrio. This is interesting because so many times, people forget the beauty under their feet. They ask: “Why would someone take a tour of my barrio?” This play will tell you why. The history and cultural production of East Harlem has a worldwide audience, and it is important that the audience understands and appreciates that. The play is in the pastorela format celebrating a neighborhood, which since the 1950’s, has been largely Puerto Rican.
Q: You work in a respected cultural institution founded by the Puerto Rican community and which is more diverse today. You walk daily in the community. Do you see conflicts in the community?
A: I am honored to work for El Museo del Barrio. I feel a strong connection to the roots of the institution. I know what it is like to grow up Latino in a city where my history is not taught, not understood or appreciated. East Harlem is richer for having El Museo, the Julia de Burgos Cultural Center and many other organizations dedicated to preserving and promoting Puerto Rican and Latina/o history and culture. The only conflicts I have encountered in fulfilling the mission of El Museo that are merely budgetary.
Q: Going back to the play, will it show some of the hardships that Latinos in the community go through every day and will there be some cultural elements included in the play?
A. In the play, there is a focus on the poetry of East Harlem. This poetry often speaks of the hardships as well as the beauty of this area. Through poetry, I make connections with other cultural groups who are facing the same issues: identity politics, economics…
Q: Will the play include political issues such as immigration and housing?
A: Keep in mind that this is a holiday play. Through the use of projected images, some of the themes you mention will be gently touched upon, serving as food for thought. – Ismael Nunez
(photo courtesy of Gabriel Higuera)
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