Abstract
Puerto Ricans in north Philadelphia experience marginalization in the larger culture, but also incorporation into the multiple ethnicities that have historically made up Puerto Rican identity. Both of these experiences are reflected in the art of Taller Puertorriqueño, an arts education program for children and youth in the area. Taller permits social and cultural mobility as well as freedom of artistic expression by constantly pushing boundaries, allowing students to represent more authentic reflections of their values as a means of dealing with cultural ambiguity. In addition, they rewrite their oppressive history by leveraging human and cultural values embedded in their artistic language. Taller is a mission-oriented institution that uses art for social transformation in the community and for celebrating a fluid ethnic and social identity. Though not a religious institution, Taller’s art reflects the religious commitments of the Puerto Rican community, enacts the liturgy of art in ways that contribute to God’s transformative kingdom, and thereby helps to promote good stewardship throughout the community.
Highlights
Puerto Ricans in north Philadelphia experience marginalization in the larger culture, and incorporation into the multiple ethnicities that have historically made up Puerto Rican identity
Taller Puertorriqueño (Taller), a cultural arts center in the heart of the barrio, exploits the tension between beauty and pain by pushing the boundaries between folk art and fine art, opening up space and bringing attention to social issues and expectations of Latinos in North Philadelphia, permitting more authentic reflections of their values embedded in the artistic language of the community
Puerto Ricans migrated to different states in the U.S, but most established large communities throughout New York City (NYC) and Philadelphia, defining new cultural territory and expanding large bilingual neighborhoods such as in New York, where many Puerto Ricans self-identified as Nuyoricans
Summary
Puerto Ricans in north Philadelphia experience marginalization in the larger culture, and incorporation into the multiple ethnicities that have historically made up Puerto Rican identity. Taller Puertorriqueño (Taller), a cultural arts center in the heart of the barrio, exploits the tension between beauty and pain by pushing the boundaries between folk art and fine art, opening up space and bringing attention to social issues and expectations of Latinos in North Philadelphia, permitting more authentic reflections of their values embedded in the artistic language of the community As they attempt to rewrite their sometimes oppressive history, Latinos’ art can be seen as a part of their struggle toward self-realization and, a move toward reconciliation with God. In 1917, the U.S Congress declared all Puerto Ricans U.S Citizens, while labor recruitment increased migration and began to define the formation of Puerto Rican communities (Whalen and Vazquez-Hernandez 2005: 1). This strategy is used as a way to counter limited expectations and stereotypes about adolescents and young adults in Latino North Philadelphia and allows them to blur the lines, offering them a way to leverage the tension found between beauty and pain by re-writing their history
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