Puerto Rican Pride through Photographer’s Lenses
By Robert Waddell, June 4, 2009
 Iconography exists in religion, politics, business and culture. These are the symbols that contain weight and power telling us more about ourselves than the images themselves. An icon is only important because of what someone brings to the image being viewed. The most meaningful image for Puerto Ricans, of course, must the flag of La Isla.
In preparation for June Puerto Rican heritage celebrations, the apoptosis being the parade, poet and artist Mia Roman Hernandez has curated a photo exhibit titled “Visions of Puerto Rican Pride” at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center opening Friday June 12th, where photographers bring their unique visions of their Boricua culture and empowerment.
“Each photographer has a different take on what Puerto Rican pride is,” Roman Hernandez said. “The diversity of their vision is presented in a huge way.”
The show includes photographic works by Clarisel Gonzalez, Mia Roman Hernandez, Elena Marrero, Vivien Perez, Carissa Hernandez, Christopher Lopez, Susan Alvarez, Marcelino Pagan, Luis Cordero, Pepper Negron, Marie Paola Martinez, Gamalier Martinez, Gerardo Javier Melendez Silvagnoli, Marielly Martinez, Ismael Nunez, Pablo Colon, Eluid Martinez, Sebastian Perez and David Cabrera-Villafanas.
Roman Hernandez said she was proud to present photographers from New York, Puerto Rico and Florida. She said that this was another example of the geographic and how far reaching Puerto Rican pride extends across the country.
As part of this festival, Roman Hernandez has also organized a tribute to Latino poets on June 19th with Papoleto Melendez, Sandra Maria Esteves, Jose Angel Figueroa, Nancy Mercado, Mariposa, Myrna Nieves, Cery Colon, Tato Laviera and more.
Roman Hernandez described her own photos in the exhibition as highlighting Brooklyn, especially piragueros, store owners, children, the ocean and Taino images.
“At this time of year there are tons of flags on the streets and on the cars,” Roman Hernandez said.
 Photographer and filmmaker Pepper Negron presents 4 images of Vieques and the protests that lead to the Navy leaving the island.
“My photos show what the military was doing at that time,” Negron said. “…the sense of the people coming together and the involvement of activists”….translates for this photographer his sense of Puerto Rican pride.
Roman Hernandez’s intentions for organizing this exhibition come from her sense of pride and commitment, combined with a deep desire to show Boricua diversity and the strength of a collective artistic remembrance while and bringing honor to being Puerto Rican through photography. The show contains over 50 images.
“Even though I’m not Puerto Rican, I’m curious to see what’s going on in the culture,” said poet Yenny Love. “I’m expecting to see the similarities between Puerto Ricans (and Dominicans) like a worker cutting cana on a boro, and the beauty and essence of nature….real people and real things.”
Yenny Love’s expectations for Roman Hernandez’s photo exhibit are best illustrated by Jesus Colon in his essay “How to Know the Puerto Ricans” from his book “A Puerto Rican in New York.” Colon wrote, “Before you come to understand a person, to deserve a people’s love, you must know them. You must learn to appreciate their history, their culture, their values, their aspirations for human advancement and freedom.”
In essence, this is what Roman Hernandez seeks to bring forth within the collection of photos in “Visions of Puerto Rican Pride.”
“Visions of Puerto Rican Pride” opens on Friday June 12th, 7 p.m. at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center, 107 Suffolk Street, Manhattan. The show runs through June 28th. For more information contact Mia Roman Hernandez at artbymamamia@yahoo.com. Admission is free.
This story was developed through the Education Beat Writing Fellowship at the New York Community Alliance. |
