Part of CCCADI’s CROSSROADS initiative focused on artists and cultural workers in the Caribbean, this lunch talk series symbolizes the nourishment necessary to navigate our day and, consequently, to sustain our roles as artists and cultural producers.
Inspired by the Afro tradition of communal eating, “La Fiambrera'' underscores the significance of sharing nourishment with one another as a reaffirmation of belonging and community.
This inaugural talk welcomes artists La Vaughn Belle (USVI), Ahisamar Antonia (PR), and moderator Dr. Ivette Chiclana as they delve into a discussion around the acquisition of spaces. The talk aims to tap into the experiences and knowledge of our featured speakers to offer other artists who are seeking to secure spaces a clearer vision of the process and potential strategies to navigate the system.
How to Watch:
On June 13, 2024 at Noon (EST) you can view the program on this webpage or join us via our Youtube and Facebook pages.
Meet Our Speakers:
Moderator:
Dr. Ivette Chiclana Miranda (She/Her) is Cangrejera. An Afro Descendant Boricua woman raised within el bonche communal spirit of the Barrio Obrero neighborhood in Santurce, Puerto Rico. She has a master's degree in ethnohistory and a doctorate in anthropology from the Institute of Anthropological Research at National Autonomous University of Mexico. Her research on the semiotics of culture counters the enclave of the Judeo-Christian and scientific meanings that sustain pervading racist mentalities. Currently, she works as an adjunct professor at the University of Puerto Rico and is conducting research on the significant roles Afro-descendants played during the 18th and 19th centuries in the development of the town of Rio Piedras.
Image by: Herminio Rodríguez
Guest Speaker:
La Vaughn Belle makes visible the unremembered. By exploring the material culture, looking for hidden stories and connections, Belle creates narratives from fragments. Working in a variety of disciplines her practice includes: painting, installation, photography, writing, video and public interventions. She has exhibited her work in the Caribbean, the USA and Europe in institutions such as the Museo del Barrio (NY), Casa de las Americas (Cuba), the Museum of the African Diaspora (CA) and Kunsthal Charlottenborg (DK). Her art is in the collections of the National Photography Museum and the Vestsjælland Museum in Denmark. She is the co-creator of I Am Queen Mary, the artist-led groundbreaking monument that confronted the Danish colonial amnesia while commemorating the legacies of resistance of the African people who were brought to the former Danish West Indies. The project was featured in over 100 media outlets around the world including the NY Times, Politiken, VICE, the BBC and Le Monde. Belle holds an MFA from the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Cuba and an MA and BA from Columbia University in NY. Her studio is based in the Virgin Islands.
Guest Speaker
Ahisamar Antonia "Toña" Rosario Romero, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, embraces her roots and artistic passion inspired by Afro aesthetics and antiracist activism. Her artwork, showcased in galleries such as the Francisco Oller Gallery (University of Puerto Rico, RP) and the Casa Escuté Museum, among others, has found a place in private collections worldwide, reflecting her commitment to celebrating Black culture and advocating against racial biases through her art.
Beyond her artistic endeavors, Ahisamar's interests extend to community development, historic buildings, construction, and the investigation of abandoned spaces. These passions guided her to collaborate with an organization committed to revitalizing deteriorating properties into assets for the community. Her dedication led her to assume the role of Regional Coordinator, where she spearheads various initiatives and programs.
All programs are subject to change.
CROSSROADS:
CROSSROADS is a CCCADI initiative designed to support the urgent needs of artists and cultural workers in the Caribbean, focusing on cultural sustainability, innovation, and self-reliance.
CROSSROADS embraces a decolonizing and holistic healing justice approach to develop a self-sustainable ecosystem through skills development, support for individuals, and sustaining their contributions to culture, economy and collective wellbeing.
You can support this work by making a donation to CCCADI. Help us advance Pan Caribbean connections so that together we may build a brighter future for our Diaspora.