PRIDA (Puerto Rican Institute for the Development of the Arts)

Wow! It's been so long since I last posted. I am so sorry! I have been super busy with craft fairs, t-shirt orders and fabric stash busting. I will have a lot to show you soon.

I am part of a Puerto Rican artisan group called PRIDA (Puerto Rican Institute for the Development of the Arts). Our mission is to promote and provide support for the Puerto Rican arts and the artists that create it. We sell our crafts together in various parts of the city and beyond. I am so honored to be part of a community with such artistic, fun and intelligent people.  I definitely will dedicate posts to highlight the work of some of these incredible individuals.  

For now, here are some pic of my recent craft fairs where I sold my t-shirts and cuffs.

photo by Olga Ayala

April 26, Betances Community  Center for the Muevete Conference. It was such a nice and sunny day.

photo by Olga Ayala

Photo by Olga Ayala
On May 17,  I was at the Bronx Museum. It was quiet, but I got a chance to interact with my other PRIDA members

photo by Olga Ayala 
Eris Garriga is the author of various Puerto Rican cookbooks which have won awards. I have to get me one of these soon because, unfortunately, that is one of two things this Puerto Rican girl does not do well; cook and dance salsa! 

photo by Olga Ayala
Daniel Del Valle makes these wonderful masks from paper mache. He is also a graphic artist and children's book illustrator.

photo by Olga Ayala

On May 31, I was back at the Bronx Museum, it was so much fun that day.

photo by Olga Ayala

Here is Olga Ayala who is a Jill of all trades. She works with polymer clay, recycled materials, and crochets. I will definitely dedicate an entire post to this creative lady. 

I really love doing these fairs. It gives me a chance to participate in a vibrant, cultural artistic community and, more importantly,  it also gives me a break from the kids! lol.  

Stay tuned to more PRIDA events news.  

Comite Noviembre Puerto Rican Artisan Fair 2012

I had a wonderful time at the Comite Noviembre Puerto Rican Artisan Fair last Saturday. Thank you all who came out to support me and a special thanks to Luis Cordero Santoni for organizing this event year after year. Luis designed the image of Pedro Albizu Campos that I print on my designs. You can find more of his great designs at www.cafepress.com/galeriacemi

This year I unveiled my new Pelo Bueno t-shirt design inspired by my curly, kinky hair. It was a big hit and I sold many.

My beautiful friend Felicia helped me set up. She is also an amazing hair stylist. I don't let anyone else touch my hair, she manages to get the whole curly/straight dichotomy that is my hair life. I will blog about her and my hair soon.




Felicia, wearing my Pelo Bueno shirt.

  

I met this beautiful lady, Leeanda, and very talented artist, Luis Pagan on Saturday. They had the table next to mine. Leeanda is truly a creative soul, she makes interesting bottle cap earrings, oranments, and these amazing tostone sculptures! I was going to eat them, they look so real! We also share a love for sewing. Luis is a great abstract painter, you can see his work in the picture and you can also "like" his fan page on facebook (Artist Luis Pagan) to see more!

  



Leeandra (Little Red Cart) and Luis Pagan. I bought some of her yummy candles!

This is Nanette. Her table was also near mine. She makes wearable art inspired by Mother Earth. I enjoyed talking to her. We also share a love for sewing! Check her out at www.oldearthcreates.com.  

Nanette makes beautiful leather belts, earrings and Tainoshikis, among other great items!

Halfway through the crafts fair, there was a wonderful Bomba y Plena dance presenatation. Bomba y Plena is a traditional form of Puerto Rican music and dance, featuring the use of the drum, other percussion instruments, and an African-derived call and response vocal style. 

The next two ladies bought Nelesc Designs wear in the past and were a special treat for me. The first is Wilda Gonzalez, a wonderful artist. She came to my table to show me the Pedro Albizu Campos cuff she bought from me last year. As I was leaving, I spotted this beautiful activist woman that I met last year at an event celebrating  Puerto Rican women. Her name is Esperanza Martorell and she was wearing my Julia de Burgos shirt. I would love for part of my legacy to be that I dressed poets, artists and activists!  I am glad I am on my way!

Wilda Gonzalez is a multimedia artist and painter




Esperanza Martorell is an activist, educator, and community organizer born in Bayamon, PR



My friend Sheila (on left) helps me every year but couldn't this time because she had to work. However, she surprised me by showing up at the tail end of the event. What a great show of  love. Thank you Sheila! Nydia (on right) has always encouraged me on this creative cultural journey and came with her cousins. She also drove me home! Thank you Nydia! I am truly blessed with great friends.

Sheila, me, and Nydia

All in all, it was a great night. I always have to give a shout out to my hubby who lets me be me and happily takes care of my kids while I participate in these events. He is such a treasure in my life and I am so grateful for him.

Can't wait for next year!  

Puerto Rican Artisan Fair This Past Saturday

This past Saturday I participated in my very first craft fair. I was among the 40 or so artists who had a table at the 5th Annual Puerto Rican Artisans Fair at Hostos Community College. I came armed with my friend Sheila who helped me set up and eased my anxiousness with her fair business experience. She felt sick that day but I was so grateful she took the time to help me out.


Sheila at the table



Julia de Burgos and Pedro Albizu tops

Anyway, I had a super time. It felt so great to be part of such a talented pool of artists that were also Boricua (Puerto Rican). There were painters, photographers, wood workers, dollmakers, etc. There was such a great feeling of support and encouragement as we went around to each other's tables.  My table was between Jorge Gonzalez, an amazing painter who uses collage elements, and Ivelisse Pabon, and artist and dollmaker. Jorge comes from North Carolina every year for the fair and Yvelisse makes makes her way from Massachussetes.  I realized how prestigious it is to be accepted in this arena. Towards the end there was music, and dancing and it felt like a casual get together with people I have known a lifetime. I am always proud of being Puerto Rican but on Saturday, there was a special connection I felt to my people that I had not felt in a long time. I need to do this more often.

Want to know the best part? When I saw my mom, my sister Melissa and my nieces walk through the door. I have to say that I did shed some tears at their show of support. My mom whispered how proud she was of me and my sister also gleamed with excitement. That meant the world to me. I also have to thank my hubby who was home sick taking care of my boys. I can't do Nelesc Designs without him.

My mom and I

My sister Melissa and I

Finally, a big shout out to Luis Cordero who organized the fair and encouraged me to apply. Luis runs cemiundergound.com where you could find cool Pedro Albizu Campos gear amongst other Puerto Rican items. I will be doing a feature on him in a future post. Enjoy the pics! There's more on my facebook fanpage if you would like to join. Just search for Nelesc Designs. God Bless!

Puerto Rican Artisan Fair in the Bronx is Where I'll Be!

This is where I will be on Saturday selling my Puerto Rican items !!!!! The 5th Annual Comité Noviembre Puerto Rican Artisans Fair & Exhibit, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010, Hostos Community College – 450 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY, 11AM – 9PM.

I am super excited about participating and joining with 40 other Puerto Rican vendors. I plan to sell my tops, cuffs, and maybe some hats if I get to finish them in time! This is a great opportunity to meet my clients in person and get feedback on my work.

The Artisan Fair and Exhibit was established in 2006, in celebration of Comité Noviembre’s, 20th anniversary. Over 40 artesanos puertorriqueños from throughout the US and Puerto Rico participated and the event boasted an attendance of over 5000 people in this very first Fair. Last year’s Fair continued to exceed CN’s expectations with over 60 artisans participating and a steady 5000 people.

For the past four years, CN has transformed, Hunter College West Building and the Church of St. Paul the Apostle into a typical Puerto Rican plaza with a fountain, palm trees, piragua and coquito carts and artists, sculptors, vejigante mask makers promoting and selling their wares while musical and cultural acts entertained throughout the day. This year will be no different at Hostos. CN will also continue to conduct cultural workshops for children and adults, like mask making, the history of the three kings’ celebration, Taíno storytelling in order to make sure that our youth learn about our culture.

Workshops on prevention and screenings for diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol and other tests will also be conducted in Hostos’ state-of-the-arts Nursing Program facilities, and educational and preventative information will be distributed.

This FREE Fair will be advertised as an opportunity to kick-off the holiday shopping season by supporting our artesanos and at the same time kick-off the New Year healthy.

For more information visit us online at: http://ComiteNoviembre.org. If you are on Twitter, follow @comitenoviembre.