Author Archives: Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education

Casita Maria Celebrates Garifuna Culture with Gallery Exhibition and Public Programming

BRONX, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education and Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc. are delighted to announce Garifuna Intangible Heritage, an exhibition celebrating the cultural expression of the Garifuna people of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, St Vincent and the Grenadines and the United States. The art gallery exhibition and related public programs comprise the Winter season of ¡CelebrARTE!, Casita Maria's South Bronx arts and culture series.

Through ¡CelebrARTE! and other public programs, Casita Maria has become a premier location for the arts and culture of the South Bronx. "The Casita Maria Gallery features and promotes local, national, and international artists whose work reflects and honors the vibrant communities of Hunts Point and the South Bronx. Our programming and the artists we showcase are a testament to the transformative power of the arts," says Creative Arts Director Gail Heidel.

Garifuna Intangible Heritage will showcase the work of two self-taught Garifuna artists, Pen Cayetano and Isidra Sabio, whose brightly-colored paintings and digital prints highlight Garifuna culture, cultural expressions, and daily life.

The Garifuna Beat!, a companion photography exhibition in Casita Maria's Young Artist Gallery, will depict the joyful self-expression of the Garifuna Punta Dance Style.

Garifuna Intangible Heritage will honor the 18th anniversary of UNESCO's proclamation of the Garifuna Language, Music, and Dance as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This Heritage consists of the intangible and tangible aspects of the whole body of cultural practices, resources and knowledge systems developed, nurtured and refined by Garifuna people, and that are transmitted from generation to generation as a crucial component of their sense of identity and continuity.

Winter 2019-2020 season of ¡CelebrARTE! (Celebrate Yourself) series
On view at the Casita Maria Gallery December 5, 2019 - February 28, 2020

Free Public Events
Hours: Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
* Exhibition Opening Reception and Artist Talk: Thursday, December 5, 2019, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
* Workshop: ¡ExpresARTE! Express Yourself Through Garifuna Dance: Wednesday evenings beginning December 11, 6:30-8 PM. Workshop series on Garifuna dance styles, led by acclaimed performer Luz F. Soliz.
* ¡ExpresARTE! Performance: We will celebrate the end of the workshop with performances by ExpresARTE participants and Soliz's WABAFU Garifuna Dance Theater.
o February 28, 2020, 4-5:30 p.m.: Casita Maria program performance, open only to participants in Casita Maria's after-school program.
o February 28, 2020, 7 - 9 p.m.: Community performance-- free and open to the public.

Both performances will take place in the auditorium:

Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education
928 Simpson Street
Bronx, N.Y. 10459

Book Club: One Book One Bronx, Wednesday evenings, 6:30 - 8 PM. Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29, Feb. 5.
Featured book: Searching for Zion: The Quest for Home in the African Diaspora by Emily Raboteau.

Each week, the group will meet at Casita Maria to discuss a book related to themes reflected in art work featured in the Gallery. Reading selections reflect the Bronx's racial, economic, and gender demographics while (re)sparking a love of literature. The first 15 attendees to each series will receive a free copy of the book; participants are free to join even if they have missed earlier sessions.

Learn More: https://www.casitamaria.org/gallery

Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education - a 501(c)(3) non-profit - creates a safe and welcoming community, enriching and uplifting youth and families towards success through shared cultural, art and educational experiences and programs. We are the first and oldest Latino charity in New York, founded in 1934.

Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc. advocates for issues that affect the Garifuna community by projecting a united voice. The coalition contributes to the improvement of the social, economic, political and cultural conditions of New York's Garifuna Community.

One Book One Bronx is presented by the Literary Freedom Project, which is committed to creating spaces that help leverage the power of books, culture, and education. LFP's programs value the variety of histories and cultures found in the Bronx and give residents places to build community and explore social engagement.

Casita Maria's exhibition and public programs are made possible by support from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the Lily Auchincloss Foundation.

*IMAGE link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/19-1115s2p-garifuna-sabio-300dpi.jpg
*Caption: Garifuna Village by Isidra Sabio.

Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education and Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc. are delighted to announce Garifuna Intangible Heritage, an exhibition celebrating the cultural expression of the Garifuna people of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, St Vincent and the Grenadines and the United States. The art gallery exhibition and related public programs comprise the Winter season of ¡CelebrARTE!, Casita Maria's South Bronx arts and culture series.

Related link: https://www.casitamaria.org/

Exploring Black and Afro-Latinx female identity with RESPECT: gallery exhibition, workshops, and discussions

BRONX, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education is delighted to announce the opening of "RESPECT," an exhibition celebrating Black and Afro-Latinx womanhood. The art gallery exhibition and related public programs comprise the Fall season of "CelebrARTE," Casita Maria's arts and culture event series celebrating the South Bronx community and the art it has inspired.

"RESPECT" is a multimedia exhibition that features New York-based artists Timothy Okamura, Jessica Spence, and Nichole Washington. Like much of the art displayed at Casita Maria, the exhibition examines a belief about or within the community -- here, that beauty diminishes as skin tones become darker or hair becomes kinkier -- and turns it on its head, with powerful depictions of Black women respecting themselves and loving each other.

Each artist celebrates Black womanhood in their signature style. Okamura combines his 'realist' paintings of figures with details rendered in collage, spray paint and mixed media. The exhibition will include work he created from photographs of four Casita Maria after-school program participants as well as giclee prints from his Begin Transmission and Urban Portraits series.

Jessica Spence's acrylic paintings examine Black womanhood and societal beauty ideals, focusing on the beauty and versatility of Black hair. She will also participate in a panel discussion on the politics of hair and teach a workshop on her collage methods on Saturday, September 21.

Nichole Washington's bold and imaginative works explore feminine strength, identity, and spirituality through both photography and paint. Her strong use of design, layered with symbols and expressive brush strokes, creates a multidimensional space that allows room for nuance. For anyone interested in how she creates her engaging visuals, Ms. Washington will teach a workshop on symbol-making on Saturday, October 5.

Through CelebrARTE and other public programs, Casita Maria has become a premier location for the arts and culture of the South Bronx. Creative Arts Director Gail Heidel says, "Casita Maria is a safe, welcoming space that celebrates cultural pride and honors the communities we serve by creating a resilient ecosystem of self-expression, creativity and education. Seeing themselves and their families reflected in the art we present, neighborhood youth build self-esteem and pride in themselves and their communities. Our programming and the artists we showcase are a testament to the transformative power of the arts."

Fall 2019 season of the CelebrARTE (Celebrate Yourself) series
On view at the Casita Maria Gallery September 3 - November 15, 2019

Free and open to the public
Hours: Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

* Exhibition Opening and Artist Talk: Thursday, September 19, 5:30 - 8 PM
* Panel Discussion: The Politics of Hair: Self-Love, Self-Care and Understanding, Saturday, September 21, 1-3 p.m., Moderator: Lori Tharps, Panelists Sulma Arzu-Brown, Isidra Sabio Jessica Spence, Natasha Tarpley
* Workshop: ExpresARTE/Express Yourself Through Collage, September 21, 3:30-5 PM, Artist: Jessica Spence, Workshop: ExpresARTE/Express Yourself Through Symbol Making, Saturday, October 5, 10-11:30 a.m., Artist: Nichole Washington

Book Club: One Book One Bronx. Wednesday evenings 6:30-8 PM, beginning September 11

Featured books will include: "Girl in the Mirror: Three Generations of Black Women in Motion," by Natasha Tarpley, and "Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America" by Ayana Byrd and Lori Tharps.

Learn More: https://www.casitamaria.org/gallery

The exhibition and public programs are made possible by support from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and the Lily Auchincloss Foundation.

Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education is the first and oldest Latino 501(c)(3) charity in NYC, founded in 1934. The South Bronx-based community arts and educational organization presents diverse, contemporary visual and performing arts and education programming for all ages.

*IMAGE link for media: Send2Press.com/300dpi/19-0823s2p-Spence-Jessica-Sore-Arms-300dpi.jpg
*Image caption: "Sore Arms" by Jessica Spence.

The Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education is delighted to announce the opening of "RESPECT," an exhibition celebrating Black and Afro-Latinx womanhood. The art gallery exhibition and related public programs comprise the Fall season of "CelebrARTE," Casita Maria's arts and culture event series celebrating the South Bronx community and the art it has inspired.

Related link: https://www.casitamaria.org/

Celebrating Culture in Annual South Bronx Festival

BRONX, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education, and Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr., are proud to present the South Bronx Culture Trail Festival 2019: retroACTIVO. The festival will last from May 24 to June 29, and will include multiple family-friendly events throughout the South Bronx, presented in partnership with community-based organizations, art institutions, health providers, and city agencies.

Learn more: https://www.casitamaria.org/festival

Check out the full calendar of multidisciplinary artists, including drumming by the Native American Silvercloud Singers, protest songs from the Resistance Revival Chorus, West Side Story Reimagined by Grammy(R) nominated Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band, and a new mural by the First Lady of Graffiti, Lady Pink.

In line with the Festival theme, these artists, and many more will present work that references the past in a reinterpretation of traditions, artworks, and genres as a form of resistance and way to create a future filled with resiliency, inclusion and cultural pride. The artists gathered for this annual event are a testament to the transformative power of the arts, illustrating how the arts can help change dominant narratives.

Events will be held in or nearby historic Bronx cultural sites. We encourage Festival-goers to learn more about their place in the rich history of the South Bronx through guided and self-guided walking tours.

All events free unless otherwise noted. For rain locations, visit: https://www.casitamaria.org/festival

The South Bronx Culture Trail Festival (SBCT) is a community arts and education initiative, established in 2011 by Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education and Dancing in the Streets to celebrate and capture key moments in the cultural life of the South Bronx. Each year new artists and partners are invited by Casita Maria to contribute to this ever-evolving and robust history, establishing a Cultural Trail through the South Bronx.

This year Casita Maria partnered with: Banana Kelly, BronxCare, Bronx Music Heritage Center, Catholic Charities, CityLore, Digital Bodega, 52 People for Progress, Garifuna Coalition, Greater Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation, Kelly Street Garden, The Laundromat Project, Lincoln Center, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Bronx Neighborhood Health Action Center, New York Restoration Project, Pregones / Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, Theater Development Fund, Southern Boulevard BID, Urban Health Plan, the Whitney Museum and SBCT host Rhina Valentin.

In addition to a cultural celebration, the festival serves as an economic engine for the community, hiring local artists and promoting local businesses and tourism. As project lead, Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education presents a vibrant visual and performing arts program at indoor and outdoor locations in the community.

"Every year, Casita Maria partners with other community-based organizations and city agencies to create a free month-long festival for people of the South Bronx. The festival brings arts and culture for everyone to enjoy. There's something for everybody. The Dept. of Cultural Affairs, the City Council, and I are proud to support this event for the community. I am very excited to see this year's festival!" says Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr.

"Casita Maria is incredibly proud to lead the development of the South Bronx Culture Trail Festival 2019, in partnership with Council Member Salamanca, which celebrates the borough's rich and diverse culture with Latin jazz, mariachi, Afro-Brazilian percussion, and Garifuna music and so much more. The Festival is a testament to the rich and plentiful talent in the Bronx, as well as an appreciation to the resilient community that continues to give birth to emerging cultural movements," says Haydee Morales, Executive Director, Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education

About Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education:
Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education is the first and oldest Latino 501(c)(3) charity in NYC, founded in 1934. The South Bronx-based organization presents diverse, contemporary visual and performing arts and education programming for all ages. Learn more: https://www.casitamaria.org/

The South Bronx Culture Trail is supported by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and Council Members Rafael Salamanca, Jr. and Ruben Diaz, Sr., Con Edison, New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, New York City Department of Youth & Community Development, Southern Blvd. Business Improvement District, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Inc., Bronx Music Heritage Center and Metro Optics Eyewear.

Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education, and Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr., are proud to present the South Bronx Culture Trail Festival 2019: retroACTIVO. The festival will last from May 24 to June 29, and will include multiple family-friendly events throughout the South Bronx, presented in partnership with community-based organizations, art institutions, health providers, and city agencies.

Related link: https://www.casitamaria.org/

Lady Pink and Casita Maria Create Mural Celebrating Hunts Point Pride

BRONX, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education and Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. are proud to present a new mural by The First Lady of Graffiti, Lady Pink. We are excited to announce that she will paint the next mural on the facade of Casita Maria, located at 928 Simpson Street, Bronx, NY! She'll be painting May 11, 12, and 19, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (contact Luis Pagan directly for rain dates).

Together, we will unveil the finished mural at the Block Party on June 21, 4:15 p.m., as part of the South Bronx Culture Trail Festival 2019: retroACTIVO. Learn more: https://www.casitamaria.org/festival

Lady Pink's original mural design was inspired by feedback following a workshop with high school participants from Casita Maria's after-school program. It illustrates a young girl blowing bubbles, filled with memories and joy, that flow through the mural. The colorful imagery references migration and reflects on scenes of daily life and Afro-Latino culture. The viewer will see the words HUNTS POINT spelled out, celebrating the community and cultural groups that comprise it. We hope that this mural will fill community members with pride, happiness and positivity about the neighborhood.

This is the third year that the Casita Maria Mural Project has been supported by the Cultural Immigrant Initiative Fund. These murals are meant to welcome all to Casita Maria, the Hunts Point and Bronx community and to introduce the organization as an anchor that promotes unity, education, and advancement of knowledge for young people and the community.

Lady Pink Bio:

Lady Pink was born in Ecuador, raised in NYC and currently resides in the countryside north of the city. In 1979, she started writing graffiti and soon was well known as the only female artist capable of competing with the mostly male-dominated graffiti subculture. Pink painted subway trains from 1979-1985. In 1982, she had a starring role in the motion picture "Wild Style". That role and her other significant contributions to graffiti have made her a cult figure in the hip-hop community.

While still in high school she was already exhibiting paintings in art galleries, and at the age of 21 had her first solo show at the Moore College of Art. As a leading participant in the rise of graffiti-based art, Lady Pink's canvases have entered important art collections such as those of the Whitney Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum and the Groningen Museum of Holland. She has established herself in the fine arts world, and her paintings are highly prized by collectors.

Today, Lady Pink continues to create new paintings on canvas that express her unique personal vision. She also shares her 30 years of experience with teens by holding mural workshops and actively lecturing to college students throughout the world.

Learn more: http://www.ladypinknyc.com/

This mural is made possible by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and Council Members Rafael Salamanca, Jr. and Ruben Diaz, Sr., Con Edison and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, New York City Department of Youth & Community Development.

About Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education:

Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education is the first and oldest Latino 501(c)(3) charity in NYC, founded in 1934. The South Bronx-based community arts and educational organization presents diverse, contemporary visual and performing arts and education programming for all ages. Learn more: https://www.casitamaria.org/.

Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education and Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. are proud to present a new mural by The First Lady of Graffiti, Lady Pink. We are excited to announce that she will paint the next mural on the facade of Casita Maria, located at 928 Simpson Street, Bronx, NY! She'll be painting May 11, 12, and 19, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (contact Luis Pagan directly for rain dates).

Related link: https://www.casitamaria.org/

Second Annual Young Artist Showcase at Casita Maria in NYC: Bambula Re-remember

BRONX, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education is proud to present Bambula/Re-remember, our 2nd Annual Young Artist Showcase! This multidisciplinary exhibition will include art created by participants in Casita Maria's after-school arts education program during the 2018 - 2019 academic year.

Families and community members are invited to our Family/Community Celebration with food and music by DJ Delaceiba on Thursday, March 28, 2019; 5:45 - 7 p.m., celebrating the opening of the exhibition, which will be on view March 28 - May 10, 2019.

Register today at: https://www.casitamaria.org/events#event=24997167

For this exhibition, the Young Artists of Casita Maria tapped into their ancestral legacies, including traditions from The Americas and Caribbean. Throughout the year, they have focused on the process of remembering these cultures and people through their artmaking.

Our word for this process originated in the Kongo, a former African kingdom located in West Central Africa, and is still heard among many of these cultures: Bambula, or re-remembering. The Young Artists have been remembering forgotten cultures by studying myths and legends as well as tapping into their rich art history.

"Bambula is a rhythm and dance in Bomba, [a traditional Puerto Rican dance form]. It's also a word found throughout the Caribbean and Latin America as well as parts of the US. The word is Kongo and it means 'to re-remember.' It's the process of reconnecting with one's collective ancestral unconscious in order to re-remember who one is in order to find peace and balance," says Alex Lasalle, Community Educator, and Musician.

Latin America and the Caribbean students are bringing back the forgotten world by focusing on art, symbolism, and culture. To re-REMEMBER where we come from and remember who we are.

"Casita Maria...teaches our kids' values, about art, about music, about drawing...these activities keep kids away from trouble and teach them to know how much more they can do through art and music - they can speak out through painting, they can find a voice through writing poems, they can express themselves through art...I feel safe when [my child is] here. [When] I am at work I know she's in good hands," says a Casita Maria Parent of Program Participant.

"For my daughter to be able to express her whole self through drawing, through writing, through poems and now with the piano, it's priceless and beautiful! She is learning and enjoying everything she does here...In here, she finds herself!" says Casita Maria Parent of Program Participant

"This exhibition is a community celebration of youth voice and youth choice," says Gail Heidel, Director of Creative Arts Programs.

"Art is healing, art inspires us, art helps us to feel resilient and alive. In this exhibit, Casita Maria Young Artists get to share what they can authentically create," says Vanessa Tricoche, Director of Programs.

Supported by NYC Department of Youth, Community Development and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Inc.

About Casita Maria:

Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education is the first and oldest Latino 501(c)(3) charity in NYC, founded in 1934. The South Bronx-based community arts and educational organization presents diverse, contemporary visual and performing arts and education programming for all ages.

Learn more at: https://www.casitamaria.org/

Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education is proud to present Bambula/Re-remember, our 2nd Annual Young Artist Showcase! This multidisciplinary exhibition will include art created by participants in Casita Maria's after-school arts education program during the 2018 - 2019 academic year.

Related link: https://www.casitamaria.org/

College and Career Expo: Dream It and Be It!

BRONX, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education is proud to present College & Career Expo: Dream It & Be It!

Thursday, March 22, 2019, 1 - 5 p.m.
Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education
928 Simpson St.
Bronx, NY 10459

The College & Career Expo offers students a chance to learn about higher education and careers they might be interested in. Representatives from several colleges will be present. They are eager to share their knowledge regarding the admissions process, and the joys and challenges of the college experience.

Additionally, career professionals will be on hand to provide expert guidance on potential career paths.

Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education strives to provide young people with meaningful experiences that will enhance their college readiness, as well as the tools to shape their futures. We are happy to host this event for young people throughout the community.

To attend, register by Friday, March 15, 2019 for the College & Career Expo: Dream It & Be It! on our website: http://bit.ly/expo032219

Questions? Contact Santiago Grijalva, College Bound Coordinator, sgrijalva@casitamaria.org (718) 589-2230 ext. 6010

Supported by NYC Department of Youth and Community Development and The Charles Hayden Foundation.

Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education is the first and oldest Latino 501(c)(3) charity in NYC, founded in 1934. The South Bronx-based community arts and educational organization presents diverse, contemporary visual and performing arts and education programming for all ages. Learn more: https://www.casitamaria.org/

Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education is proud to present College & Career Expo: Dream It & Be It! The College & Career Expo offers students a chance to learn about higher education and careers they might be interested in.

Related link: https://www.casitamaria.org/

A Great Casita Maria Experience = 1 Workshop + 1 Performance in 1 Day!

BRONX, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education, in partnership with Pregones Theater, is proud to present "We Have Ire," a free excerpt performance of the multi-disciplinary theater project, on March 9, 2019, 2 - 2:45 p.m. The performance combines spoken word and theater produced by Cuban-American writer, performer, Doris Duke; Artist and San Francisco resident Paul S. Flores; with live jazz music from artist Yosvany Terry; modern dance from Ramon Ramos Alayo; video projection by Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi; and hip-hop beats from DJ Leydis. Directed by Rosalba Rolon.

All events are free and open to all ages.

Before the performance, the public is invited to join Paul S. Flores, Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi, Ramon Ramos Alayo, and Yosvany Terry for a storytelling workshop on March 9, 2019, 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Participants will first learn to tell a fun and important first-person story about a tradition in the Bronx they want to continue, or that they want to understand better. They will then learn to integrate live or recorded music, dance, or video into their performance to create a multimedia story about traditions in the Bronx.

March 9 is also the last day to see "We Have Ire: Afro-Cuban in the United States." This exhibition tells the story of Cuban and Cuban-American artists Flores, Terry, Alayo, and DJ Leydis, focusing on their influences and dreams through photography, video and cultural objects.

"The Casita Maria Gallery is a powerful teaching tool and welcoming space of cultural celebration for the Young Artists of Casita Maria, their parents and caregivers, and the community. Through We Have Ir e we are thrilled to share Afro-Cuban and Cuban-American stories through so many artistic disciplines," says Gail Heidel, Director of Creative Arts Programs, Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education.

Casita Maria Gallery, 928 Simpson St, 6 fl
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., (718) 589-2230

Artist Bios:
Paul S. Flores' deep dive into themes of transnationality and citizenship comes at a crucial time in contemporary history. Flores creates plays and oral narratives that spur and support societal movements that lead to change. Flores's last play, "On The Hill: I Am Alex Nieto" brought together San Francisco communities that had been divided by gentrification and police violence. Flores' ability to paint a vivid picture of bi-cultural Latino experience is shaped by his personal background and experience growing up near the Mexican border. He began presenting spoken word as a founding member of Youth Speaks and Los Delicados in 1996.

He performed for the first time in Cuba in 2001 while working at La PeÃ±a Cultural Center, and has since presented multiple times in Havana, Mexico and El Salvador. His comprehensive body of work touches on the immigrant story in all its complexities: from violent forced migration, gang life, war, incarceration and separated families-to zooming in on intergenerational relationships and the struggle of preserving important cultural values.

Paul Flores's newest play, "Pilgrim Street," premiered September 13-16, 2018 at Z Space Theater in San Francisco. His next play, "We Have Ire," about Afro-Cuban traditions, immigration and artists in the United States, premieres in 2019. He is an adjunct professor of theater at the University of San Francisco.

Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi is a graduate of UC Berkeley and received his MA degree from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Eli is an award-winning filmmaker and currently directs FistUp TV, a production company that documents people's stories from around the world as a way to expand community awareness around issues of social responsibility and cultural identity. His work has circulated through the National Broadcast: Free Speech TV, Teaching Channel and PBS. He is the co-founder of Defend Puerto Rico, a multimedia project designed to document and celebrate Puerto Rican creativity, resilience, and resistance. Eli is curating his ninth Annual Fist Up Film Festival in the Bay Area, California. His dedication to his craft is deeply connected to his commitment to social justice and the belief in the transformative power of film.

CASITA MARIA CENTER FOR ARTS & EDUCATION:
Casita Maria is the first and oldest Latino charity in NYC, founded in 1934. The South Bronx-based community arts and educational organization presents diverse, contemporary visual and performing arts and education programming for all ages.

Learn more at: https://www.casitamaria.org/

Pregones Theater:
Following years of enterprising activity on stage and in the community, Pregones Theater and Puerto Rican Traveling Theater recently merged into a single Latino arts organization with performance venues in The Bronx and Manhattan. The transformation builds upon congruence of mission, values, and programs, and sustained engagement of a growing network of diverse artists and audiences throughout and beyond New York City.

Moving forward, Pregones/PRTT champions a cultural legacy of broad impact through (1) creation and performance of original musical theater and plays rooted in Puerto Rican/Latino cultures, and (2) presentation of other artists who share our twin commitment to the arts and civic enrichment.
Supported by: NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and NYC Department of Youth and Community Development

VIDEO (FaceBook):
https://www.facebook.com/paul.s.flores/videos/10156877048513006/

Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education, in partnership with Pregones Theater, is proud to present "We Have Ire," a free excerpt performance of the multi-disciplinary theater project, on March 9, 2019, 2 - 2:45 p.m. The performance combines spoken word and theater produced by Cuban-American writer, performer, Doris Duke; Artist and San Francisco resident Paul S. Flores.

Related link: https://www.casitamaria.org/

Cuban Art Show in South Bronx Gallery – We Have Ire: Afro-Cuban in the United States

BRONX, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education in partnership with Pregones Theater are proud to present "We Have Ire: Afro-Cuban in the United States." This exhibition and multi-disciplinary theater project will be produced by Cuban-American writer, performer, Doris Duke Artist and San Francisco resident Paul S. Flores, with collaborating Puerto Rican filmmaker and photographer Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi. "We Have Ire" documents the stories of four Cuban artists, focusing on their influences and dreams.

The exhibition will be on view in the Casita Maria Gallery from December 13, 2018 to March 9, 2019. To kick it off, please join us for a Celebration and Artist Talk on December 13 from 5-8 p.m.

Our audience can also see a live performance of excerpts of the We Have Ire theater project on Saturday, March 9, 2019 from 2 - 2:45 p.m., in combination with a Family Storytelling Workshop from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Throughout the "We Have Ire exhibition," a companion exhibition of paintings created by Casita Maria Summer Campers, entitled "REACH!," will hang in The Young Artist Gallery. The young artists used imagery of astronauts exploring the cosmos as a powerful metaphor that there is no limit to success-- we can all reach for the stars and beyond!

All events are free and open to all ages.

"The Casita Maria Gallery is a powerful teaching tool and welcoming space of cultural celebration for the Young Artists of Casita Maria, their parents and caregivers, and the community. Through 'We Have Ire' we are thrilled to share Afro-Cuban and Cuban-American stories through so many artistic disciplines," said Gail Heidel, Director of Creative Arts Programs, Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education.

Casita Maria Gallery, 928 Simpson St, 6 fl.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., (718) 589-2230

Artist Bios:

Paul S. Flores' deep dive into themes of transnationality and citizenship comes at a crucial time in contemporary history. Flores creates plays and oral narratives that spur and support societal movements that lead to change. Flores's last play "On The Hill: I Am Alex Nieto" brought together San Francisco communities that had been divided by gentrification and police violence. Flores' ability to paint a vivid picture of bi-cultural Latino experience is shaped by his personal background and experience growing up near the Mexican border. He began presenting spoken word as a founding member of Youth Speaks and Los Delicados in 1996.

He performed for the first time in Cuba in 2001 while working at La Peña Cultural Center, and has since presented multiple times in Havana, Mexico and El Salvador. His comprehensive body of work touches on the immigrant story in all its complexities: from the violent-forced migration, gang life, war, incarceration and separated families-to zooming in on intergenerational relationships and the struggle of preserving important cultural values. Paul Flores's newest play "Pilgrim Street" premieres September 13-16, 2018 at Z Space Theater in San Francisco. His next play, "We Have Ire," about Afro-Cuban traditions, immigration and artists in the United States, premieres in 2019. He is an adjunct professor of theater at the University of San Francisco.

Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi is a graduate of UC Berkeley and received his MA degree from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Eli is an award-winning filmmaker and currently directs FistUp TV, a production company that documents people's stories from around the world as a way to expand community awareness around issues of social responsibility and cultural identity. His work has circulated through the National Broadcast: Free Speech TV, Teaching Channel and PBS. He is the co-founder of Defend Puerto Rico, a multimedia project designed to document and celebrate Puerto Rican creativity, resilience, and resistance. Eli is curating his ninth Annual Fist Up Film Festival in the Bay Area, California. His dedication to his craft is deeply connected to his commitment to social justice and the belief in the transformative power of film.

About Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education:

CASITA MARIA CENTER FOR ARTS & EDUCATION is the first and oldest Latino 501(c)(3) charity in NYC, founded in 1934. The South Bronx-based community arts and educational organization presents diverse, contemporary visual and performing arts and education programming for all ages. Learn more at: https://www.casitamaria.org/.

About Pregones Theater:

Following years of enterprising activity on stage and in the community, Pregones Theater and Puerto Rican Traveling Theater recently merged into a single Latino arts organization with performance venues in The Bronx and Manhattan. The transformation builds upon congruence of mission, values, and programs, and sustained engagement of a growing network of diverse artists and audiences throughout and beyond New York City. Moving forward, Pregones/PRTT champions a cultural legacy of broad impact through (1) creation and performance of original musical theater and plays rooted in Puerto Rican/Latino cultures, and (2) presentation of other artists who share our twin commitment to the arts and civic enrichment.

Supported by: NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and NYC Department of Youth and Community Development

Learn more about upcoming events at: https://www.casitamaria.org/events.

Follow on social media at: @casitamariabx

Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education in partnership with Pregones Theater are proud to present "We Have Ire: Afro-Cuban in the United States." This exhibition and multi-disciplinary theater project will be produced by Cuban-American writer, performer, Doris Duke Artist and San Francisco resident Paul S. Flores, with collaborating Puerto Rican filmmaker and photographer Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi.

Related link: https://www.casitamaria.org/

It’s a Femme-inist Future for the South Bronx!

BRONX, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education is proud to present Teen Leadership Summit: The Future is Femme-inist! The Future is NOW! Young women and femmes of color are leading the way as community culture workers. They are artists, activists, healers, and leaders. The Future is Femme-inist is a one-day Teen Summit celebrating young women and femmes of color across New York City, led by the SmART Leaders program at Casita Maria.

Join us Saturday, December 1, 2018, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education
928 Simpson St.
Bronx, NY 10459

The summit will provide a social justice oriented space and honor solidarity amongst and across all communities. If you identify as a young woman of color between the ages of 12-18, we invite you to register today and join us as we celebrate fierce sisterhood, participate in powerful workshops, and enjoy performances, singing, and dancing.

Keynote speech by Naiomy Guerrero and a live performance by Lah Tere!

FREE: Event, Workshops, SWAG and Food!

"The Future is Femme-inist Teen Summit encourages and develops our young people's sense of community, solidarity, and helps them understand their empowered place in the world," said Shakti Castro, Associate Director of Education Programs.

"The Summit gives our community the opportunity to witness the agency, creativity, and power our participants have," said Irisdelia Garcia, SmART Leaders Program Assistant.

ABOUT SMART LEADERS:

SmART Leaders is a year-long program for high-school aged young people who identify as young women of color. We are dedicated to building positive self-esteem and sisterhood among young women and non-binary femmes, specifically focusing on rediscovering our identities and social justice education through art-centered classes and workshops!

Whether you are interested in painting, photography, dance, music, or other art-based activities we provide you with a safe space to discuss topics that you are interested in learning about through artistic conversations and activities. SmART Leaders is dedicated to supporting you as you explore your power, raise your voice, increase your confidence, and grow your activism!

Supported by The New York Women's Foundation and Department of Youth and Community Development.

ABOUT CASITA MARIA CENTER FOR ARTS & EDUCATION:
Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education is the first and oldest Latino 501(c)(3) charity in NYC, founded in 1934. The South Bronx-based community arts and educational organization presents diverse, contemporary visual and performing arts and education programming for all ages.

Art by Sharon Lee De La Cruz
Graphic Design by Sarah Bernero

Register Today: https://www.casitamaria.org/events/

Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education is proud to present Teen Leadership Summit: The Future is Femme-inist! The Future is NOW! Young women and femmes of color are leading the way as community culture workers. They are artists, activists, healers, and leaders.

Related link: https://www.casitamaria.org/

South Bronx Gallery Exhibits Solo Show of Mexico City Artist Jorge Tellaeche

BRONX, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education, in partnership with The Consulate General of Mexico in New York, are proud to present "Forgotten" by Mexico City-based artist Jorge Tellaeche, on view September 13 - November 21, 2018.

Join us for a Celebration and Artist Talk on September 13 from 5-8 p.m. at the Casita Maria Gallery. The exhibition will include a collection of colorful small acrylic paintings on canvas, wooden sculpture, and an installation filled with organic forms that become totems, characters and alebrijes (mystical Mexican creatures) that reference pop culture and world social issues.

A companion exhibition of artwork created by Casita Maria Summer Campers titled, "Celebration of Nations" will hang in The Young Artist Gallery.

To learn more about Tellaeche's ideas and artistic process we invite young people aged 8-20 to Casita Maria on Saturday, September 15, 2015 from 10-11:30 a.m. for a free workshop titled EQUIPO, (Team in Spanish), where they will create their own alebrije.

This workshop is designed to empower young people through art making - reminding them they are unique and have the power to create.

The workshop is divided into four parts:
* Consciousness and Sharing
* Music and Individuality
* Decision Making
* Creativity and Problem Solving.

Through the exhibition and the workshop the artist will be exploring how as a people we have forgotten the importance of worth in our word and honor. Tellaeche feels that "becoming complacent with the times we have turned into a society of broken promises. In a time of apathetic fake news that pushes us to not care, we forget we are humans with rights and that we need each other. This show talks about the desire to reach abundance in love and apathy, remembering where we all come from."

"I can attest to Mexican artist Jorge Tellaeche´s creativity, talent and commitment to empower youth through art," said Diego Gomez Pickering, Consul General of Mexico in New York. "Therefore, it is an honor for the Consulate General of Mexico in New York to collaborate with Casita María Center for Arts & Education to present the exhibit "Forgotten" inviting us to reflect on who we truly are."

"We are all brought to this world to share our uniqueness," says Jorge Tellaeche. "Together as a community we are strong because in our diversity we create a rich picture full of colors and wonder. This collection of pieces are made to balance the conflicting times that we are living in where it seems ok to hate and oppress. It shows faces of different cultural backgrounds, even some made up (magical) to show that we are all the same. Also in this Utopia there are some creatures that in Mexico we call 'alebrijes,' they are a mixture of different animals that are meant to protect us and teach us about teamwork and consciousness."

Learn more about the show: https://www.casitamaria.org/programs/gallery/forgotten

About the Artist:
Jorge Tellaeche is a Mexico City-based artist whose work is honest and intimate. It touches on themes that are relevant to his surroundings, to evoke dialog and self-confrontation. His visual language includes painting, sculpture and murals. His murals have been commissioned by the likes of the Residence of the Ambassador in London, La Lomita in Valle de Guadalupe, and CUNY University in NY, as well as international brands like Adidas, W Hotel, and most recently, Lululemon.

Learn more about the artist: https://www.tellaeche.com/

About Casita Maria;
Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education is the first and oldest Latino 501(c)(3) charity in NYC, founded in 1934. The South Bronx-based community arts and educational organization presents diverse, contemporary visual and performing arts and education programming for all ages. Learn more at: https://www.casitamaria.org/.

About The Consulate General:
The Consulate General of Mexico in New York is the official representation of Mexico in the tri-state area. Its purpose is to protect, defend the rights and interests of, and seek the integration and empowerment of Mexican nationals living in the area. It provides various services such as: documentation (passports, consular ID's, birth certificates, dual nationality, marriage certificates, wills), protection for Mexican nationals, financial education. Information: https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/nuevayork/index.php/en/.

Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education, in partnership with The Consulate General of Mexico in New York, are proud to present "Forgotten" by Mexico City-based artist Jorge Tellaeche, on view Sept. 13 - Nov. 21, 2018.

Related link: https://www.casitamaria.org/

South Bronx Culture Trail Festival 2018: Somos Unidos, Experience the rich culture of the South Bronx

BRONX, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education and Bronx Music Heritage Center are proud to present the South Bronx Culture Trail Festival 2018: Somos Unidos. This fun, family-friendly festival celebrates the rich cultural contributions of the communities that make the South Bronx their home. In partnership with community based organizations, city agencies and charities, multiple events will be held throughout the South Bronx from May 31 through June 23, 2018 uniting communities, arts, culture, and wellness while promoting civic engagement.

Events will showcase both traditional roots and fusion art forms including music, dance, visual art, crafts, puppetry, theater and culinary arts that reflect the artistic ecosystem of the Bronx. In unity there is strength. All events are rain or shine.

The South Bronx Culture Trail Festival (SBCT) is a community arts and education initiative established in 2011 by Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education and Dancing in the Streets that celebrates and captures key moments in the cultural life of the South Bronx. Each year a cohort of partners are invited to contribute to this ever evolving and robust history to visualize a Trail through the neighborhoods of the South Bronx.

This year we welcome to the Trail: BAAD! Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance; Bronx Culture Collective; BronxWorks; Catholic Charities; The Consulate General of Mexico in New York; MAS Productions; the Mexican Cultural Institute; NYC Department of City Planning, Bronx Office; NYC Department of Health's Bronx Neighborhood Health Action Center; NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs; NYC Parks; New York Restoration Project; Partnership for Parks; Southern Boulevard BID; The POINT CDC; Third Avenue BID; and Urban Health Plan.

In addition to a cultural celebration, SBCT serves as an economic engine for the community through the hiring of local artists and the promotion of local businesses and tourism to the borough.

"Casita Maria is incredibly proud to lead the development of the South Bronx Culture Trail Festival 2018 in partnership with the Bronx Music Heritage Center, which celebrates the borough's rich and diverse culture with Latin jazz, bomba y plena, hip hop, and Garifuna music and so much more," says said Haydee Morales, Executive Director. "The Festival is a testament to the rich and plentiful talent in the Bronx, as well as an appreciation to the resilient community that continues to give birth to emerging cultural movements."

"The Bronx has an incredible legacy of art and music for its residents to be proud of and which we want to show off to everyone else. The South Bronx Culture Trail and all the participating organizations prove that the Bronx is indeed, RISING!" said Elena Martinez, Folklorist & Co-Artistic Director, Bronx Music Heritage Center.

Learn more at: https://www.casitamaria.org/.

About Casita Maria:

Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education is the first and oldest Latino 501(c)(3) charity in NYC, founded in 1934. The South Bronx-based community arts and educational organization presents diverse, contemporary visual and performing arts and education programming for all ages.

BRONX MUSIC HERITAGE CENTER (BMHC):
The BMBC was founded by the Women's Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco). The BMHC is committed to preserving and promoting Bronx music, cultivating Bronx artists, spurring neighborhood revival and providing free cultural programs for the community. More information: https://www.thisisbronxmusic.org/.

SOUTH BRONX CULTURE TRAIL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Bill Aguado, Argenis Apolinario, Alex Aponte*, Arthur Aviles, BG183* (Tats Cru), Benny Bonilla*, Richie Bonilla, Americo Casiano*, Henry Collins, Alvan Colon Lespier, Robert Crespo*, Simon Dove, Jason Dunchin, Elizabeth Figueroa, Ricky Flores*, Adam Green, Elizabeth Hamby, Bethany Hogan, Rolando Infante, Yianna Justo, Michael Kamber, Melissa Libran, John MacElwee, Elena MartÃnez, Kerry McLean, James Melendez, Edwin Pagan, Kathi Pavlik, Danny Peralta, Hatuey Ramos-FermÃn, Anita Reyes, Marta Rivera, Jose Rodriguez, Rosalba Rolon, Rafael Salamanca, Jr., Bobby Sanabria, Lisa A. Sorin and Grand Wizzard Theodore*.

HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBERS:
Antonio Sergio Bessa, Nancy Biberman, Marcos A. Crespo, Ruben DÃaz, Sr., Jorge Popmaster Fabel,* Al QuiÃ±ones, Tina Ramirez*, Angel Rodriguez*, Robert Sancho*, Eric Soto and Dave Valentin*.

*Casita Maria Alumni.

The South Bronx Culture Trail is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and Councilmember Rafael Salamanca, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and New York City Department of Youth and Community Development.

Special thanks to Digital Bodega for filming and post production work and Sal Gigante for the the use of the St. Athanasius Church Courtyard.

Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education and Bronx Music Heritage Center are proud to present the South Bronx Culture Trail Festival 2018: Somos Unidos. This fun, family-friendly festival celebrates the rich cultural contributions of the communities that make the South Bronx their home. In partnership with community based organizations, city agencies and charities, multiple events will be held throughout the South Bronx from May 31 through June 23, 2018 uniting communities, arts, culture, and wellness while promoting civic engagement.

Related link: https://www.casitamaria.org/

Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education produces the 1st Annual Young Artist Showcase ‘There’s No Place Like Home’

BRONX, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education is proud to present "There's No Place Like Home," the 1st annual Young Artist Showcase celebrating the greatness and self-expression found within all Casita Maria program participants. This multi-disciplinary exhibition will include over 200 artworks created during the 2017-2018 after school-year.

Enjoy video documentation of performances by Casita's Young Violinists, Musical Theater Makers and Choir plus Poetry Is Not A Luxury Teen Open Mic. Artwork explores self-expression, youth identity, culture, social justice, and activism.

Youth voice is a principle that Casita Maria embraces and practices, therefore program participants were invited to select the title for this year's showcase along with the artwork for the exhibition postcard. The young artists love that it has a direct connection to this year's youth musical based on the "Wizard of Oz"!

"This exhibition is a community celebration of youth voice and youth choice," said Gail Heidel, Associate Director of Creative Arts Programs.

According to a Casita Maria Parent: "Casita Maria ... teaches our kids values, about art, about music, about drawing...these activities keep kids away from trouble and teach them to know how much more they can do through art and music - they can speak out through painting, they can find a voice through writing poems, they can express themselves through art ... I feel safe when [my child is] here. [When] I am at work I know she's in good hands. For my daughter to be able to express her whole self through drawing, through writing, through poems and now with the piano it's priceless and beautiful! She is learning and enjoying everything she does here ... in here, she finds herself!"

"Art is healing, art inspires us; art helps us to feel resilient and alive. In this exhibit Casita Young Artists get to share what they can authentically create," said Vanessa Tricoche, Director of Programs.

Learn more at: https://www.casitamaria.org/.

About Casita Maria:

Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education is the first and oldest Latino 501(c)(3) charity in NYC, founded in 1934. The South Bronx-based community arts and educational organization presents diverse, contemporary visual and performing arts and education programming for all ages. It is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and Council Member Rafael Salamanca, New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, the Charles Hayden Foundation and the New York Women's Foundation, on behalf of The NYC Fund for Girls and Young Women of Color.

*Web Image caption: Samantha, 9th grade, Image credit: Argenis Apolinario.

Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education is proud to present "There's No Place Like Home," the 1st annual Young Artist Showcase celebrating the greatness and self-expression found within all Casita Maria program participants. This multi-disciplinary exhibition will include over 200 artworks created during the 2017-2018 after school-year.

Related link: https://www.casitamaria.org/