The Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture holds special events throughout the year, including visiting lectures, artist led workshops, concerts, arts festivals and movies. Mark your calendar and join us to experience Puerto Rican arts and culture in an exciting new way!
2nd Annual Navi-Jazz Concert
This December, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (IPRAC), will present the 2nd annual Navi-Jazz Concert featuring special musical guest Luis “Perico” Ortiz.
Navi-Jazz forms part of IPRAC’s efforts to promote one of the most important elements of Puerto Rican cultural life – particularly of Puerto Ricans in the Diaspora: the syncretism of the Puerto Rican and African American musical expressions. This concert should be seen against the backdrop of the fusion of Puerto Rican and African American musical elements which has as its historical foundation the intersection, at the beginning of the 20th century, of Puerto Ricans and African Americans in New York City, as well as in New Orleans. In addition to celebrating music, Navi-Jazz will help to promote a more meaningful dialogue between the African American and Puerto Rican communities of Chicago. It will serve a two fold purpose for IPRAC: one as a fundraising event for the Institue’s programing; and as a forum that will link the most demographic populations in the immediate Humboldt Park community.
Video: 1st Annual Navi-Jazz 2009.
Julia de Burgos Postal Stamp Unveiling
As part of the national celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Julia de Burgos, one of Puerto Rico’s most illustrious poets, was recognized by the US Postal Service and Chicago’s Puerto Rican community in a ceremony at the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture.
An award-winning writer, poet and journalist, Julia de Burgos takes her place among honorees in the Postal Service’s Literary Arts series along with several other distinguished Hispanic writers. The Postal Service honored Julia de Burgos as a revolutionary writer, thinker, and activist who wrote more than 200 poems probing issues of love, feminism, and political and personal freedom. Julia de Burgos’ groundbreaking works urged women, minorities and the poor to defy social conventions and find their own true selves.
Photo Gallery: Stamp Dedication Julia De Burgos
Noche Jibara
On Saturday, September 4, 2010, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC) hosted Noche Jibara, a gala celebration featuring some of Puerto Rico’s oldest and most cherished traditions.
Over 300 community leaders, residents and visitors from Puerto Rico enjoyed a night of music, customs and artistry from the featured town of Comerio, Puerto Rico. The town’s traditional musical repertoires delighted attendees as they savored exquisite Puerto Rican cuisine and admired stunning artistry. The evening included performances by some of the Island’s best troubadours, who interpreted “Decimas,” an improvised musical composition born of a tradition that dates back to Medieval Spain.
The Mayor of Comerio, the Honorable Josian Santiago was on hand and praised the event as the beginning of a new era in collaboration between the Puerto Rican communitites of Chicago and Comerio.
Misa Jibara
On the eve of the Fiesta Boricua celebratios on Division Street, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture hosted Misa Jibara. Catholic Mass infused with musical and cultural elements of Puerto Rico, Misa Jibara is a celebration of faith, inspiration and culture, combining the Spanish language, folk music and deeply rooted Puerto Rican traditions to produce a beautiful Catholic liturgy. Parishoners from both Comerio and Chicago witness a stunning service filled with music and customs where prayers were harmonized to the tune of Jibaro music and the priest improvised the sermon in song.
“Desde Lares”
A book signing and lecture from Puerto Rican political activist Carlos Gallisa. In September 2010, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture hosted a special book signing and lecture by renown Puerto Rican political activist, Carlos Gallisa. Gallisa reflected on his experience writing his book “Desde Lares”, a delineration of the political history of Puerto Rico for the past 142 years. His lecture described and criticized the political struggles and disappointments of the people of Puerto Rico from the Grito de Lares, 1868 to present, and raised the urgent need for a profound change in the current political structure of Puerto Rico. Over 100 community residents attended the lecture and had the opportunity to ask questions and receive signed copy of the book.
Photo Gallery: Desde Lares
Barrio Arts Fest
On August 15 and 16, 2010, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (IPRAC) hosted Barrio Arts Festival, a two-day community celebration featuring live performances by local musicians and poets, numerous art exhibits, workshops given by the exhibiting artists and authentic Puerto Rican cuisine. The festival was held in the courtyard and front lawn of the museum where hundereds of visitors had the opportunity to enjoy outdoor music with a “Ravina” feel in the front lawn of the museum featuring the best Latin Jazz, Salsa and Jibaro music and browse numerous art booths purchasing art from local Puerto Rican artists.
Youtube Video: 7th Annual Barrio Art Fest 2010 Video
Cinematography in a Community Context
In spring 2010, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture presented “Cinematography in a Community Context”, a lecture by Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican director Jorge “Fish” Rodriguez and Plastic Artist Richard Santiago. Santiago presented a brief excerpt of a documentary he is making with Rodríguez on Puerto Rico boxers and spoke about his experience documenting the rise of young boxing champion Mario Santiago. Rodríguez shared a myriad of projects he’s worked on past and present and focused his discussion on his experience directing the music video Atrevete by Puerto Rican artist Calle 13 which won a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video in 2006.
Community Colloquium on Puerto Rican Plena Music
In an effort to both honor and educate the community on the history and social significance of the Puerto Rico’s plena music, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture and the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center hosted a community colloquium on plena music on February 26, 2010, at the newly opened Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture.
The event offered several educational panels on the topic and culminated with a “plenazo,” a interactive musical session where several skilled plena musicians performed a medley of plena’s most recognized songs, with professional dancers and audience members bringing the rhythms to life.
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