Article on Martorell Published in Exhibition Journal

I’m thrilled to have written an article for the current issue of Exhibition (Spring 2022), a journal of exhibition theory and practice for museum professionals published by the National Association for Museum Exhibition and the American Alliance of Museums.

My article “Visiting Puerto Rico, Martorell’s Exhibition Grounds,” is about Entretelas: Antonio Martorell y sus amigos (Interfaces: Antonio Martorell and His Friends) exhibition at Museo De Las Americas and was adapted from an article originally posted here on Travesía Artística (October 2021).

I have included some screen shots of the article below. To learn more about the journal, this issue, past issues, and how to subscribe, check out: https://www.name-aam.org/past-issues-online

Back in Puerto Rico, Martorell's Exhibit Grounds Me

Last week I had the opportunity to take a short trip to Puerto Rico with my friend, Marie. It was the first time I had been to the island since my trip with Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) to participate in the Community Arts University Without Walls (CAUWW) program in 2015. That's when I started this blog, Travesia Artistica, initially to document my amazing experiences in the two-week program that took us from the campus is InterAmerican University, to arts and cultural sites all over Puerto Rico. Now as the blog lives on six years later, it is only fitting that I write about my brief return to the island I love so much. 

CAUWW was a totally unique program which is no longer offered, so I was extremely lucky to have participated when I did, lead by the indomitable Dr.  Marta Moreno Vega, who has since retired. One of the incredible things my cohort experienced was a day trip to Ponce, in which we managed to do many things, including taking a private tour of renowned Puerto Rican artist Antonio Martorell's studio. It was a pleasure to meet him and have the opportunity to experience the work of a prolific multidisciplinary artist first hand. 

Coincidentally, upon my 2021 visit to Puerto Rico, I noticed that Museo de las Américas was about to open a new show: Entretelas - Antonio Martorell y sus amigos. In fact, Marie and I were able to go on opening day! I thought this was the perfect thing to post about here, as a full-circle moment, especially because so many events have taken place worldwide and particularly in Puerto Rico since the last time I was there. Martorell's work touches on it all, poetically.

While lovely to behold, Martorell's masterful body of work in Entretelas... reaches for a "state of grace" and recovery after four years of  tragedies caused by "misgovernment, seasonal hurricanes on the Atlantic... the multiplication and mutation of the pandemic virus, the tremors and the earthquakes [which have forced] changes in Puerto Rican daily life." 

The exhibit, starting with portraits painted onto heavy tapestries explores subject matter from family portraits, to those of historical figures, and those who were wrongfully reincarcerated throughout history. Although there are many paintings in the first salon, in typical Martorell style. he takes a left in the second salon presenting a variety of styles and materials, from colorful fibers to wood and even found fallen tree branches from Hurricane Maria's fallout, reminding us of the devastation experienced, and the friends and family members who have been lost.

I was lucky to be able to see Entretelas... first hand and even take some photos which I share with you here. 

Courtyard inside of Museo de las Americas 

On the second floor, facing into the courtyard

Didactic wall panel for Enretelas...

First room of the exhibition. Portraits painted on upholstery fabrics 

Self-portrait of Martorell 

The Mortal Wall

First photo credit by Marie, remainder by Lorie - you can find more photos of this and more exhibits on my IG @lorie.caval

Museo de las Américas is located at Cuartel de Ballajá, Second floor, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Looking There, From Here

I've been trying to come up with a way to write about this, but couldn't quite find the words. Being that this blog is about art, artists, the Puerto Rican diaspora - and my experience within the intersection of all of that - I feel it's only right for me to write an entry about what Puerto Rico is going through right now. I am referring to the devastation left by Hurricane Maria on the island, and the relief efforts.

I live in NYC, which obviously has a huge Puerto Rican presence, so from my perspective, I have seen an incredible effort on the part of people here - grassroots, union, community and artistic groups - coming together, doing fundraisers, collecting (and sometimes personally delivering) donations, and so on. However according to what I see in the news, the Administration's response has been deathly insufficient, leaving so many Puerto Ricans (still) in a state of emergency; without sufficient food, clean water, power or medical care. From what I've read in the news, the corporate opportunists and hedge fund vultures are circling overhead, scoping out their next Puerto Rican windfall (in an economy that was already in dire straights). From what I've read, a lot of stateside Americans do not know what Puerto Rico is, or that Puerto Ricans are Americans at all. On the upside (if you can call it that), so much about Puerto Rico of what was rarely talked about in the mainstream, has been the topic of much discussion and debate; such as the Jones Act and the fact that Puerto Rico is a US "commonwealth" in name, but a colony in practice. I imagine that in the months and years to come, there will be much restructuring and repositioning, for better or for worse.

When Maria hit, I felt a complicated mix of fear, worry and sadness for a land I have never lived on, but have always felt a part  of; or rather that it was a part of me. The land where my father was born and where he and our family farmed, lived and grew. A land whose culture I've learned primarily by way of New York City and Nuyoricans. When Maria hit, it was a few weeks before my birthday and I thought I would ask my friends who might have bought me gifts, to instead donate money to a worthy relief fund. I was lucky enough to quickly find that an organization, Defend Puerto Rico, had already started a fundraiser (because there was another hurricane, Irma, that had hit the island a couple of weeks prior). Little did they know that this fundraiser would end up also being for the second, harder hit of Maria, and that their efforts would have to become so grand. I've noticed a number of other people, groups and organizations that I know have also decided to donate funds to Defend Puerto Rico, so I feel good about the concentration of collective trust, good intentions, work and energy being directed here.

As I mentioned, in NYC there have been and continue to be many fundraising efforts (going to varios organizations), including many creative events; proving that music and art (and nightlife!) can make a difference. Some examples are Defend Puerto Rico's bomba party and art auction; A Party Called Rosie Perez with Casitas Wisdom at the Highline; Helping Hands for Puerto Rico house music dance party at Output; Arte for Puerto Rico Fundraiser at EL Museo del Barrio; AbrazARTE benefit with the Loisaida Center and Teatro LaTEA; Salsa Meets Jazz for Puerto Rico at Le Poisson Rouge; and the most plainly named, Sh*t's Fu*ked Up: Send Help art auction by the Con Artist Collective. These are all examples of creative grassroots organizing that makes a big impact - artivism, if you will. Of course, there are the major organizations contributing towards relief efforts too, and not to mention the various celebrities who have lent their time and talents toward helping raise funds - such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, J Lo & Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, Fat Joe, Jay Z, and Bethany Frankel (yes, even a RHONY!). Every little bit helps.

Thankfully, there are many more fundraisers popping up every day. And there are lots more people, like myself, wondering how we can help the island from afar. One great resource I have found is the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College. They have an e-newsletter called Centro Voices as well as a special newsletter to specifically address recovery efforts, Rebuild Puerto Rico . They have been hosting events, like the upcoming symposium, "Puerto Rico, Puerto Ricans" to address the complicated questions arising.

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In pictures: Hurricane Maria pummels Puerto Rico

From CNN.com 
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From CCCADI newsletter

We give a heartfelt acknowledgement to Defend PR, “a multimedia project designed to document and celebrate Puerto Rican creativity, resilience, and resistance,” for organizing our community around the Puerto Rican debt crisis and raising funds around Hurricane Relief. DefendPR has been working tirelessly from the diaspora and on the ground to ensure Puerto Rico is rebuilt by and for its people. They are a true example of the power of art and culture to transform society. Contribute to their Hurricane Relief Fund by clicking here.

I'm a CAUWW Ambassador!

As anyone following this blog knows, last summer, I took part in a program called Community Arts University Without Walls (CAUWW) with the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) at the Interamerican University in Puerto Rico. 

Well, CCCADI is gearing up for this year's 2016 summer program - and I am honored that they have chosen me as one of their Ambassadors! I will be at the first CAUWW 2016 Open House information session talking about my experience.

Anyone who's interested in studying aboard in Puerto Rico for two weeks and earning a certificate centered in arts and cultural advocacy should come to the open house: Wednesday, January 20th in New York City. 

For more information visit CCCADI's website - and to RSVP for the Open House, goto the Eventbrite page for free registration. 

Study Abroad with CCCADI's Certificate Program of Cultural Arts and Social Justice!

COMMUNITY ARTS UNIVERSITY WITHOUT WALLS (CAUWW)

Certificate Program of Cultural Arts and Social Justice

Summer 2016 Session Dates: June 12th to June 25th

Join us for the FIRST FREE OPEN HOUSE of CAUWW 2016!

Take this opportunity to learn about CAUWW and meet some of our graduates who will be sharing more information about how this program has impacted their careers and lives as cultural advocates.

RSVP is suggested.

WHEN: Wednesday, January 20th, 2016

TIME: 6PM to 8PM

WHERE: Inter American University's Centro De Reclutamiento De Estudiantes y Exalumnos 2196 3rd Ave New York, NY 10035 (Btw E.120th & E.119th Street)

Photo by Imani Nunez

(To see photos from my CAUWW experience in Puerto Rico, check out my Instagram @whippedhoney #CAUWW2015.)

From New York to Puerto Rico to New York…

Chalk artist creating outside of El Museo Del Barrio.

As per my original intention, this blog – Travesia Artistica – was meant to document my experience with the Community Arts University Without Walls (CAUWW) program in Puerto Rico, as well as any subsequent inspirations that came out of it. Since I’ve been home in New York City, I have been thinking a lot about what those “subsequent inspirations” and projects are/will be. Although it’s been a while since I actually posted here, so I figure I’d better do so ASAP.

First off, there’s my own personal painting project inspired by my CAUWW experience, which I have already started on (updates soon to come). Secondly there is my art exhibition/event project, which I plan to produce and will include a group of multi-disciplinary artists. The concept for the event was actually my CAUWW final project presentation, however, after getting home, I realized that I need more time to conceptualize and tighten up on my mission (I hope to have that done very soon) before I can start on the production. Besides these projects, I have continued to attend lots of art exhibits and events (if you know me, you know that this is a very regular occurrence), documenting and posting them through my Instagram account (with the appropriate hashtags, of course!) so that they can be shared far and wide. The addition in this case, is that now I have an eye out for the particular Puerto Rican, diasporic and/or Nuyorican connections  – and making said connections on my Instagram postings, and on this very blog. (All three of these things: the painting project, the exhibition event and the online publishing are interrelated, as I hope will be evident once they are all publicly presented.)

One such connecting-of-the-dots that I’ve made is to see the art exhibit that’s up right now: ¡Presente! The Young Lords in New York. It’s a three-pronged exhibit that’s taking place simultaneously at three NYC institutions: The Bronx Museum of the Arts, El Museo del Barrio, and Loisaida Inc.  It piqued my interest, especially after having met Panama Alba, a member of the Young Lords Party (he presented a passionate lecture on his first-hand experience and history of YLP for CAUWW). Two weeks ago I saw ¡Presente! at El Museo (during a block party, Uptown Bounce, in conjunction with the Museum of the City of New York), and last Wednesday I went to Loisaida Inc.

In addition to the exhibit, Loisaida Inc. provided some thoughtful public programming. First, Maximo Colon gave a gallery talk discussing his work as a world-renown photographer, and his involvement with the Struggle as documenting through powerful black and white photography (many which are included in this exhibition) during the time when the YLP was most active. Next, there was another talk: Presente in Absentia: Diasporic Responses to Puerto Rico’s Crisis. This was a brilliant in the part of Loisaida Inc. to make the connection between what was happening politically during the YLP’s heyday and what’s happening now – and offering the opportunity to create dialogue around it. The presenters were journalist Ed Morales, activist David Galarza Santa, leader of Puerto Rico's Working People’s Party, Rafael Bernabe (who Skyped in from Puerto Rico) and a last-minute addition, poet and activist Felipe Luciano. The presentation was well-attended and the conversation was lively (to put it mildly), offering much food for thought.

I haven’t been able to make it up to the Bronx Museum yet, but I hope to at some point soon. In the meantime, I will keep working on my paintings, pondering the art event project, and continue on this Travesia Artistica.

You can see more photos of ¡Presente! The Young Lords in New York and lots of other arts and cultural events on my Instagram: @whippedhoney

Gallery talk for ¡Presente! The Young Lords in New York at El Museo Del Barrio

Entrance of Loisaida Inc.

Photographer Maximo Colon's gallery talk at Loisaida Inc.

¡Presente! The Young Lords in New York at Loisaida Inc.

¡Presente! The Young Lords in New York at Loisaida Inc.

¡Presente! The Young Lords in New York at Loisaida Inc.

Talk "Presente in Absentia: Diasporic Responses to Puerto Rico’s Crisis" at Loisaida Inc.

Panelists and staff at Loisaida Inc.

CAUWW: The Lost (Classroom) Episodes

Photo: CAUWW class with Dr. Palmira Rios Gonzalez

I gave this entry the headline of "the lost episodes" because there were a number of CAUWW classes that I did not properly write about while I was in Puerto Rico. In my defense, (as I mentioned previously) I was a victim of weak WiFi at the Casa Carmona - and moreover, we were learning and doing so much, in such a short period of time, I was not able to synthesize everything immediately. I digress.

First and foremost, I would like to  mention Dr. Maria Elba Torres Muños, professor for the Advanced Studies of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. She met with us on the first day of class to give us an overview of the CAUWW course, along with Dr. Marta Moreno Vega (President and Founder of CCCADI). She gave us a good foundation about the relationship between art, culture and commerce in Puerto Rico. Dr. Maria Elba would meet with us again the following week (I will write more about her second presentation, towards the end of this article).

Dr. Palmira Rios Gonzalez, a sociologist, civil rights activist, writer and teacher (who was just named Dean of the University of Puerto Rico) also met with us on our first day of class. With a most thoughtful and warm manner, Dr. Rios gave us a vast breakdown of the political and economic history of the island. This information was invaluable to our understanding and giving context to what we would encounter later on in the course.

Visual artist Antonio Carrión Torruellas gave us a wonderful class in which he began by saying, "El arte es el vehículo del espíritu" (art is the vehicle of the spirit). He showed us some of his beautiful paintings, as well as some of his silkscreen posters. (We would hear various times throughout this trip, how integral the art of silkscreen was and is in Puerto Rico.) Mr. Carrión was one of the artists involved in DIVEDCO (Division of Community Education), a social experiment run by the US Department of Education between 1949-1989, employing all forms of artwork to educate people on the island on various social and health issues. Mr. Carrión is the only surviving member of the DIVEDCO collective and he is still painting, teaching students and passing on his knowledge and spirit.

Professor Victor Ortiz, a social activist and community organizer came in and made a presentation, Working Within Community - Issues to be Considered. With a dynamic and warm energy, he explained about the importante of eco-communities, community work development, economic community development, and economic solidarity among other things. Later on in the trip we had the opportunity to visit some of the communities that he had talked about: Cooperativa Piñones se Integra (COPI) and Centro Comunitario Península de Cantera. 

The same day, artist, designer ad educator María De Mater O'Neill from Rubberband PR Design Studio came in to present a workshop, Storytelling and Resilient Strategies for Creatives. This was a hands-on workshop in which she showed us how to use a Bounce & Design Toolbox that she created as a means for people to solve problems and thrive in challenging situations. 

Later, we had a visit from Panama Alba who was a member of the Young Lords making a presentation, the Young Lords Party - A Political and Cultural Movement. He filled us in on the history and significance of the YLP, and recounted some of the experiences he had with them living in New York City as a young man in the 1960/70's when group was most active. His passionate first-hand accounts about the conditions under which people of color in urban areas were living under at the time was extremely poignant and relevant to so many of the issues that we are still dealing with today. His perspective on activism was inspiring as a person who participated in some very challenging feats, such as the takeover of Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx in 1970 (which resulted in lasting policy changes).  

The day that we went to have class at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras, we were met first by Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro, writer, poet and cultural activist presenting on Engaging the Gender Narrative within a Traditional and Colonial Framework. She talked to us about a number of things, including the importance of self identity, culminating in her reading one of her beautiful poems to us (which made me shed a tear). Later we met with artist Pedro Lugo, who had participated in the major student strike at UPR in 2010. After his presentation, he took us for a tour of the campus to view murals made by students, some of them there since 2010 and some new. Last but not least, our CAUWW coordinator, Regina Bultron-Bengoa gave a presentation, Who's Wall is it Anyway?-Issues to Consider When Working With Public Art and Communities. Being a multi-media artist and native of Puerto Rico herself, she discussed the process in which she organized an interactive community mural project in the town of Rio Piedras for its 300-year anniversary (which we were able to go see for ourselves). 

After we had had a week out on the field, Dr. Maria Elba met with us again to give us a presentation on the Hidden Art History of Puerto Rico. She explained how the traditional canon of Puerto Rican art was created in the image of its ruling countries' (first Spain then the United States) images - and she brought to light a lesser-documented "Antillean," Caribbean or Afro-Boriqua aesthetic which also exists, but under the radar in many cases. Lucky for us, Dr. Maria Elba is the foremost art historian/critic on the latter, and she has an amazing collection of visuals that she was able to share with us. Some of the artists she mentioned were: Jose Campeche, Juan DePrey, Jose Torres Martino, Carlos Raquel Rivera, Jose Maduro, Rafael Tufino and Cecelia Orta.

Later that day (after a long, hot walk through the city of Santurce) we returned to the oh-so-cold classroom (Interamerican University is serious about their air conditioning!) to meet with artist Chemi Rosado and founders of the elTaller.de organization, Felix DePortu and Javier Carrosquillo. Chemi described himself as a socially-engaged artist, showing us slides of some of his amazing work (www.chemirosado-seijo.com) and explaining the concepts behind them. His projects are fascinating in that they seem to be at the intersection of visual art, happenings, social justice, community intervention and group participation. Javier and Felix of elTaller.de (which translates into, "the workshop of...") explained to us how their organization identifies needs in various communities throughout Puerto Rico and then goes in to work with them on creating art projects, bringing in the appropriate local visual artists for the particular project.

All in all I cannot fully explain how much we learned from these presentations by people who are experts in each of their respective fields. This is obviously just a brief summary - a whole article could be written about each one of them (and probably books on some of them too). 

The final two days of the CAUWW program in Puerto Rico...

Photo: Hallway at Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Puerto Rico (MAC)

I lost track of blogging about what we did during the last two days of the CAUWW program... Let me disclose now that during the whole time we were living on campus, we did not have a proper WiFi connection; so, I actually did all of the blogging (writing and photo uploading) through my iPhone. Kinda challenging!

On Thursday, June 2nd, we took a trip to the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Puerto Rico (MAC). We were met by artist, Lionel Cruet, who gave us a tour of the show Colonial Comfort. After seeing so many types and styles of art it was a nice finale to encounter a contemporary collection - especially of artists responding to the concept of colonialism (a theme which we have been discussing a lot on this trip to the commonwealth of PR, which some would argue is actually a US colony). Lionel showed us around and explained about the works (including his own piece) in this group show, put together by guest curator Lisa Ladner (el-status.com) and originally shown at the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts in Saint Croix.

From there we went back to campus to work on our final project presentations. For the culmination of the CAUWW program, each of us students were expected to take what we had learned and come up with a concept for individual projects, moving forward. Our presentations would take place the next morning, the last day of class. Back at the Casa Carmona guesthouse, for maybe the first time, there was no talking to be heard - only the clickity-clack of keyboards and the scribbling of pens to paper. On Friday morning, we took a few hours making our presentations and Dr. Vega gave us feedback and guidance. From there, she took us out to lunch, our last meal together as a group, to El Patio Sole in Santurce. Lunch was great, but I felt a little sad that the experience was coming to an end.

(To see more photos, go to my Instagram: @whippedhoney.)

Adal, "Operation Mind Scrub."

Janet Cook-Rutnik, "The House of Dreams."

Janet Cook-Rutnik, "The House of Dreams."

Liza Morelez-Ortis, "La Calle, Tendedero."

Lionel Cruet with his work, "On Related Circumstances."

El Patio de Sole restaurant in Santurce.

A day in Caguas

"Ancestral Africana," installation by Samuel Lind, at the Botanical Gardens in Caguas.

The thing about Puerto Rico that's so interesting to me is that it is such a small island, but each area and town are vastly different. Within an hour's drive in any direction, you might find yourself in a city, at the beach, in the mountains or some other atmosphere.

On Wednesday we traveled to the area of Caguas. Starting at the Caguas Tourism Office, we prepared for a museum walk, La Ruta del Corazón Criollo. Our friendly tour guide explained how Caguas is a center of arts and culture, with many museums, three of which we would see: Museo Del Artes Populares (folk art), Museo Del Tobaco and El Museo De Arte De Caguas. From there we took a short drive to the Botanical Gardens so see a sublime sculptural installation by Samuel Lind (whom we had the pleasure of meeting in his home studio last week). 

From there we drove high up into the mountains of Caguas, to the community of San Salvador. The landscape is one of the most beautiful one can find on earth (I regret not being able to take proper pictures). We were welcomed to the Community Museum of San Salvador for a presentation and a tour of their space. Their collection consists of various items collected from the community with the intention of preserving the culture and history of San Salvador.