Events
The West Harlem Arts’ was founded in 2021 by José Ortiz, Lisandra Ramos, and The Children’s Art Carnival and Centro Civico Cultural Dominicano. To address the shifting scope and priorities in the art space during the 2020 Covid pandemic, focusing on the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. The New Normal Skills Development Online Workshop Series designed to provide local community board number 9 artists with an opportunity to gain the skills, information, advisory, and program assistance.
Memory + Healing + Sustainability:
West Harlem Arts Collaborative – 2nd Annual Exhibition Series
April 23- July 16, 2022
At CAC and CCCD Galleries
Afrofuturism is defined as “a cultural aesthetic and philosophy of science and history that explores the developing intersection of African diaspora culture with technology.” It projects the present into the future, while trying to reconcile a past that has yet to be resolved. The Exhibition will feature work by emerging West Harlem artists that explores the dramatic narratives generated at the intersections of race and technology and answers the question: how do you heal when memory is both prescient and present? How do you save the world and yourself and exist as a complete being when the world has torn you apart?
Opening Receptions at CAC and CCCD
Saturday, April 23rd 5 to 7pm
Closing Reception at CAC and CCCD
Saturday, July 16 5 to 7 pm
Memory+Healing+Sustainability:
Public Programs:
Reclining Liberty Project
Saturday, April 9th
Morningside Park – with Artist Yasuyo Tanaka and team. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we have been feeling the importance of health, peace, and freedom, more than ever. The “Reclining Liberty” statue by Zaq Landsburg, an oversized reclining statue of Liberty, with closed eyes, reminiscent of the Buddha’s Nirvana pose, has inspired many people. As this pandemic continues enjoy equally. Freedom lives in the parks. Artists will interact with visitors and residents to enjoy the work, enjoy freedom.
Memory+Healing+Sustainability:
Public Programs:
Car Free Day NYC
Saturday, April 23rd
Participating artists will join at Centro Civico Cultural Dominicano for community engagement at annual environmental event, a wake up call for ever-present impacts of air and environmental hazards and pollution affecting the communities of West Harlem.
Memory+Healing+Sustainability:
Public Programs:
Art in the Garden
Saturday, April 30th
This event will focus on the relationship between the arts and cultivating the natural world within our urban environment. Community members will be welcomed to enjoy the exhibition and visit with the artists participate in talk backs and participatory workshops held throughout the day in both in the CAC gallery and in its garden.
Artist Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper and young people representing, The Brotherhood Sister-Sol, a neighboring youth advancement organization, will unveil plans for the cultivation and redesign of CAC’s outdoor space.
Grow, NYC will partner with the collaborative to offer presentations participatory workshops focused on the importance of preserving and celebrating natural space in the urban environment.
Memory+Healing+Sustainability:
Public Programs:
The Black Arts Movement: Harlem, Roots, and Legacy
Event will feature special guest artist from the Movement to engage with participating artists and community members to discuss the Black Art Movement and its connection to the struggle for civil rights and social justice, the founding of independent Black and Latino arts and cultural organizations, the roots of afrofuturism and more.
- Artist presentation and panel discussion
- Yuko-Kudo and Friends, activists for social justice, will share presentation and discussion
Memory+Healing+Sustainability:
Public Programs:
Arts in West Harlem:
Our Sustainable Future
Artists and community members join in a discussion about the future and the role of the arts and culture in shaping it. Artists, led by the project curators will highlight the work of participating artists and facilitate artist community engagement.
- NYC Fairtrade Coalition representatives will present panel discussion on art and sustainability
- Art Installation by artist Isabel Varela