Recent events:

 

 

 

The Good, the Evil, and the Funny: Ritual & Mask Dance of Latin America in the Down Jersey Folklife Center at WheatonArts, Millville, NJ

April 1 through December 31, 2023

This exhibition provides a comparative perspective of ritual and celebratory use of masks, their costumes, and dances, as well as an interpretation of symbolism and aesthetics associated with the cultural heritage of the Latin American communities in our region. The artworks on display visualize stories, legends, and beliefs. Therefore, their complex meanings can be truly understood only if viewed in a cultural context – as an integral part of living traditions in the respective countries of origin and in the United States. Carnivals, patron saints’ days, and other celebrations in Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, Honduras, Bolivia, and Peru create both ritual and festive contexts for the stories narrated by the mask dances. The context of their performances in the United States is different, and often a secondary narration is needed to relate their meanings to audiences of multiple cultural backgrounds. Presenting artworks in a cultural context informs both the content and the design of the exhibition.

The ritual masks of human heroes and villains, gods, angels and demons, animals and mythical creatures provide the Latin American communities with metaphorical means of visualizing the transcendent and the belief in a magical transformation by which humans can define elements of chaos and reconfirm order – the Good wins the battle with the Evil. Other masks are created to be funny and used to narrate everyday stories. Most displays of the exhibition are organized by mask dances. Many include more than one dance character, such as the Mexican “Dance of the Jaguar,” the Guatemalan “Deer Dance,” the Bolivian “Dance of the Devils,” the Honduran “Dance of the Hawk,” and the Peruvian “Chonguinada Dance.” Others are represented by one of the main dance characters, such as the Panamanian “Devil Tun Tun” and the “Dirty Devil,” the Guatemalan “Conquistador” and “Bull,” the Bolivian “Wise Man” and “Pepino,” and the Peruvian “Huacón” and “Jija Huanca.” Some are featured in miniature works that have their own ritual meanings. Specific other artworks are also selected to showcase the artistic evolution of technique, color, and materials, as is evident in the masks created by the internationally known artists Gustavo Boada from Peru and Rafael Jiménez from Mexico.

The exhibit stories and displays were developed in partnership with “Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas” and the following dance groups: the Mexican “Danza Tecuanis,” “GRUFOLPAWA” Panamanian dance, “Diablada Boliviana” dance group, “Ayelén Colombian Dance” group, “Raíces Hondureñas”; in addition to local private collectors, organizations, and artists, in the hope of encouraging dialogue and reflection in the exhibit space.

The Good, the Evil, and the Funny: Ritual & Mask Dance of Latin America is part of “Reflections & Expressions: Communities & Cultures of Central & South America,” a project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center. Additional project support is provided by the Cumberland County Cultural and Heritage Commission.

This Down Jersey Folklife Center project series edition was made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and from the National Endowment for the Arts.

https://www.wheatonarts.org/programs/down-jersey-folklife-program/good-evil-funny/

Residency of Mexican mask maker Rafael Jiménez – October 26 – November 25, 2023

Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas is pleased to bring Rafael Jiménez López, master Tecuanis Mask Maker from Acatlán, Puebla and the presentation of his masks in motion by the dance group Danza Tecuanis to Day of the Dead celebrations and beyond beginning 26 October to 25 November 2023. This is an opportunity to bring the masks alive for the audience in this traditional dance practiced in central Mexico during the year especially during the Day of the Dead. Danza Tecuanis groups are based in Washington, DC and New York City and their elaborate costumes add to the fantastic masks they wear created by Rafael Jiménez. Last year we very much enjoyed the school presentations and workshops that Raíces planned with the schools and community organizations. Teacher resources are available to facilitate lesson plans.

 

Feria del Barrio 2023, Sunday, September 10, 2023, N. 5th Street between Huntingdon and Somerset Streets, Philadelphia – main stage at N. 5th St. and Lehigh Ave. feriadelbarrio.org

Raíces Boricuas at Feria del Barrio 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raíces Tertulia Series “Honoring Our Past, Envisioning Our Future: Diego Castellanos: The Face of Latinos in Philadelphia,”  Friday, September 8, 2023 at 5:30 pm at Taller Puertorriqueño, 2600 N. 5th St, Philadelphia

Antojitos to snack on, a short presentation with open mic, networking, and music!