[Music]
[Music] you
mother island your bones your flesh that
mother island your bones your flesh that which is and always has been yours
which is and always has been yours
which is and always has been yours beyond the empires that lusted over you
beyond the empires that lusted over you
beyond the empires that lusted over you who possessed and trapped you resilience
who possessed and trapped you resilience
who possessed and trapped you resilience is now a concept defined by you
is now a concept defined by you
is now a concept defined by you we are embers from the bonfires in Playa
we are embers from the bonfires in Playa
we are embers from the bonfires in Playa combate family legacy culture these are
combate family legacy culture these are
combate family legacy culture these are motion how we must honor the spirits of
motion how we must honor the spirits of
motion how we must honor the spirits of our ancestors and lift up the ones who
our ancestors and lift up the ones who
our ancestors and lift up the ones who come next the walk children who tug on
come next the walk children who tug on
come next the walk children who tug on the abuela skirts family legacy culture
the abuela skirts family legacy culture
the abuela skirts family legacy culture this is the beginning of a poem called
this is the beginning of a poem called
this is the beginning of a poem called satellite to mother island in tribute to
satellite to mother island in tribute to
satellite to mother island in tribute to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico I’m che Rivera from Puerto Rico to
I’m che Rivera from Puerto Rico to
I’m che Rivera from Puerto Rico to Providence Rhode Island two very
Providence Rhode Island two very
Providence Rhode Island two very distinct landscapes defined by their
distinct landscapes defined by their
distinct landscapes defined by their closeness to water I live between
closeness to water I live between
closeness to water I live between geographies between languages between
geographies between languages between
geographies between languages between genders and cultures that is a reality
genders and cultures that is a reality
genders and cultures that is a reality of many people that live in this country
of many people that live in this country
of many people that live in this country so as an artist I often get asked oh do
so as an artist I often get asked oh do
so as an artist I often get asked oh do you draw do you paint
you draw do you paint
you draw do you paint nice shrugs I say no I make things and I
nice shrugs I say no I make things and I
nice shrugs I say no I make things and I create experiences with other people
create experiences with other people
create experiences with other people I like when I’m asked though because it
I like when I’m asked though because it
I like when I’m asked though because it puts me in the awkward situation of
puts me in the awkward situation of
puts me in the awkward situation of having to explain what I do you know but
having to explain what I do you know but
having to explain what I do you know but why do I think art and creativity are so
why do I think art and creativity are so
why do I think art and creativity are so important you see to me and to many of
important you see to me and to many of
important you see to me and to many of us creativity and art or voice they are
us creativity and art or voice they are
us creativity and art or voice they are presence they are hope and vision our
presence they are hope and vision our
presence they are hope and vision our and creativity are the ways in which we
and creativity are the ways in which we
and creativity are the ways in which we can lift up the stories that were left
can lift up the stories that were left
can lift up the stories that were left untold we could talk about our
untold we could talk about our
untold we could talk about our day-to-day struggles we could talk about
day-to-day struggles we could talk about
day-to-day struggles we could talk about and celebrate all right
and celebrate all right
and celebrate all right and I’m going to share with you a few
and I’m going to share with you a few
and I’m going to share with you a few examples of how I’ve told my story and
examples of how I’ve told my story and
examples of how I’ve told my story and helped and collaborated with others to
helped and collaborated with others to
helped and collaborated with others to tell theirs so the first example is
tell theirs so the first example is
tell theirs so the first example is share with you is called Luna Luba yeah
share with you is called Luna Luba yeah
share with you is called Luna Luba yeah I hear that so Luna Lola is a
I hear that so Luna Lola is a
I hear that so Luna Lola is a performance circle artists of all
performance circle artists of all
performance circle artists of all mediums of all experiences and
mediums of all experiences and
mediums of all experiences and identities come together and make and
identities come together and make and
identities come together and make and create work brought together by a prompt
create work brought together by a prompt
create work brought together by a prompt that connects us and we can talk about
that connects us and we can talk about
that connects us and we can talk about what transformation means what new
what transformation means what new
what transformation means what new beginnings mean how do we commune and
beginnings mean how do we commune and
beginnings mean how do we commune and create work together this has become a
create work together this has become a
create work together this has become a very safe and brave and important space
very safe and brave and important space
very safe and brave and important space for many people to come and create why
for many people to come and create why
for many people to come and create why is that important to me performance
is that important to me performance
is that important to me performance artists and performance and live arts
artists and performance and live arts
artists and performance and live arts have something to teach us you know
have something to teach us you know
have something to teach us you know sometimes we live too much in our heads
sometimes we live too much in our heads
sometimes we live too much in our heads and get trapped in our intellect but
and get trapped in our intellect but
and get trapped in our intellect but we’re more than that we’re more than the
we’re more than that we’re more than the
we’re more than that we’re more than the mind we are a body we are ancestors we
mind we are a body we are ancestors we
mind we are a body we are ancestors we are roots we are knowledge there is so
are roots we are knowledge there is so
are roots we are knowledge there is so much in every one of ourselves and we
much in every one of ourselves and we
much in every one of ourselves and we oftentimes often it’s helpful to be
oftentimes often it’s helpful to be
oftentimes often it’s helpful to be present and experience that people learn
present and experience that people learn
present and experience that people learn differently people express differently
differently people express differently
differently people express differently people feel differently and these
people feel differently and these
people feel differently and these circles that bring us together in our
circles that bring us together in our
circles that bring us together in our differences I feel just allow us to
differences I feel just allow us to
differences I feel just allow us to connect in such meaningful ways
a second example I share with you is
a second example I share with you is more of a community forum situation so
more of a community forum situation so
more of a community forum situation so as a creative empath trying to make
as a creative empath trying to make
as a creative empath trying to make sense of the world my place in this
sense of the world my place in this
sense of the world my place in this country all the things that have
country all the things that have
country all the things that have happened the environmental disasters so
happened the environmental disasters so
happened the environmental disasters so many things I did what anyone would do I
many things I did what anyone would do I
many things I did what anyone would do I posted on social media went crazy I
posted on social media went crazy I
posted on social media went crazy I posted about immigration about
posted about immigration about
posted about immigration about Americanization about climate change
Americanization about climate change
Americanization about climate change about gender and all of a sudden my
about gender and all of a sudden my
about gender and all of a sudden my social media feed just went crazy
social media feed just went crazy
social media feed just went crazy everybody was commenting there was
everybody was commenting there was
everybody was commenting there was dialog there was exchange there’s a lot
dialog there was exchange there’s a lot
dialog there was exchange there’s a lot of tension people fighting with each
of tension people fighting with each
of tension people fighting with each other and it made me think you know
other and it made me think you know
other and it made me think you know there are so many things that we’re
there are so many things that we’re
there are so many things that we’re going through right now so many big
going through right now so many big
going through right now so many big issues that weigh on us and we often
issues that weigh on us and we often
issues that weigh on us and we often don’t have the time to share that space
don’t have the time to share that space
don’t have the time to share that space with other people and talk through them
with other people and talk through them
with other people and talk through them and process but also we’re not
and process but also we’re not
and process but also we’re not necessarily engaging with people who
necessarily engaging with people who
necessarily engaging with people who have a different perspective than ours
have a different perspective than ours
have a different perspective than ours so then I started to think you know we
so then I started to think you know we
so then I started to think you know we all work so hard every day we have
all work so hard every day we have
all work so hard every day we have families we have so many things to do
families we have so many things to do
families we have so many things to do but how about we just carved that space
but how about we just carved that space
but how about we just carved that space so I respond it and I wrote hey y’all
so I respond it and I wrote hey y’all
so I respond it and I wrote hey y’all it’s so great that this is happening
it’s so great that this is happening
it’s so great that this is happening that we’re talking about all these
that we’re talking about all these
that we’re talking about all these things how about we take it offline how
things how about we take it offline how
things how about we take it offline how about we come together have coffee and
about we come together have coffee and
about we come together have coffee and pastries we decided on a date at is 2:20
pastries we decided on a date at is 2:20
pastries we decided on a date at is 2:20 where I am a part of and the response
where I am a part of and the response
where I am a part of and the response was huge so many people responded yes we
was huge so many people responded yes we
was huge so many people responded yes we want that space we want to come together
want that space we want to come together
want that space we want to come together and talk and the day came and a
and talk and the day came and a
and talk and the day came and a community of people showed up we made a
community of people showed up we made a
community of people showed up we made a promise to respect each other to not
promise to respect each other to not
promise to respect each other to not assume that we will all have the same
assume that we will all have the same
assume that we will all have the same point of view and to be listened to
point of view and to be listened to
point of view and to be listened to and to share the things that have been
and to share the things that have been
and to share the things that have been weighing on us and ask our partners and
weighing on us and ask our partners and
weighing on us and ask our partners and our friends what they thought about
our friends what they thought about
our friends what they thought about these issues and did they experience
these issues and did they experience
these issues and did they experience them in the same way that was truly
them in the same way that was truly
them in the same way that was truly powerful and I feel like offline is
powerful and I feel like offline is
powerful and I feel like offline is something so simple and so important and
something so simple and so important and
something so simple and so important and it doesn’t have to happen in a cultural
it doesn’t have to happen in a cultural
it doesn’t have to happen in a cultural center it can happen in your home in
center it can happen in your home in
center it can happen in your home in your school in your bed with your
your school in your bed with your
your school in your bed with your partner it can happen anywhere but it’s
partner it can happen anywhere but it’s
partner it can happen anywhere but it’s so important to carve
so important to carve
so important to carve space of empathy and creation of
space of empathy and creation of
space of empathy and creation of co-creation and dialogue with people
so a third project I want to share with
so a third project I want to share with you it’s called fantasy island and
you it’s called fantasy island and
you it’s called fantasy island and fantasy island became a very special
fantasy island became a very special
fantasy island became a very special project to me personally as an artist
project to me personally as an artist
project to me personally as an artist and a person from Puerto Rican roots and
and a person from Puerto Rican roots and
and a person from Puerto Rican roots and ancestry living the Diaspora now with
ancestry living the Diaspora now with
ancestry living the Diaspora now with everything happened the fiscal crisis
everything happened the fiscal crisis
everything happened the fiscal crisis the environmental issues so many big big
the environmental issues so many big big
the environmental issues so many big big issues impacting a full community and
issues impacting a full community and
issues impacting a full community and nation of people the question was what
nation of people the question was what
nation of people the question was what can I do to help I feel so small and I
can I do to help I feel so small and I
can I do to help I feel so small and I figured well I’m an artist I can
figured well I’m an artist I can
figured well I’m an artist I can communicate I can create let’s just put
communicate I can create let’s just put
communicate I can create let’s just put that to the test and Fantasy Island was
that to the test and Fantasy Island was
that to the test and Fantasy Island was birth and it became this experience that
birth and it became this experience that
birth and it became this experience that was not just an immersive installation
was not just an immersive installation
was not just an immersive installation it was community forums
it was community forums
it was community forums it was panel discussions it was
it was panel discussions it was
it was panel discussions it was collaborative exhibits it was digital
collaborative exhibits it was digital
collaborative exhibits it was digital media it was so many different pieces
media it was so many different pieces
media it was so many different pieces brought together by not just me but a
brought together by not just me but a
brought together by not just me but a whole community and network of artists
whole community and network of artists
whole community and network of artists collaborations with art activists with
collaborations with art activists with
collaborations with art activists with artists and other organizations that
artists and other organizations that
artists and other organizations that were doing work not only in the island
were doing work not only in the island
were doing work not only in the island but also outside in the Diaspora and
but also outside in the Diaspora and
but also outside in the Diaspora and allies as well
allies as well
allies as well this was really meaningful to me and to
this was really meaningful to me and to
this was really meaningful to me and to many people and I feel like that is one
many people and I feel like that is one
many people and I feel like that is one of the best examples of my work becoming
of the best examples of my work becoming
of the best examples of my work becoming responsive to a social cause I feel like
responsive to a social cause I feel like
responsive to a social cause I feel like that’s a really great way to weave what
that’s a really great way to weave what
that’s a really great way to weave what Luna loba and offline we’re doing you
Luna loba and offline we’re doing you
Luna loba and offline we’re doing you know creating space for people to heal
know creating space for people to heal
know creating space for people to heal and make and create together but also
and make and create together but also
and make and create together but also having conversations and not treating
having conversations and not treating
having conversations and not treating art as if it’s something inaccessible
art as if it’s something inaccessible
art as if it’s something inaccessible something you can’t touch something
something you can’t touch something
something you can’t touch something you’re not a part of no art is part of
you’re not a part of no art is part of
you’re not a part of no art is part of our stories our stories are art and we
our stories our stories are art and we
our stories our stories are art and we use the tools that we have to elevate
use the tools that we have to elevate
use the tools that we have to elevate that
so in thinking about this I often think
so in thinking about this I often think about our in collaboration with so many
about our in collaboration with so many
about our in collaboration with so many people to me co-creation is radical
people to me co-creation is radical
people to me co-creation is radical it is a space when we could come
it is a space when we could come
it is a space when we could come together in our humanities and learn
together in our humanities and learn
together in our humanities and learn about each other I learn about my
about each other I learn about my
about each other I learn about my stories about my ancestors my roots I
stories about my ancestors my roots I
stories about my ancestors my roots I learned about your stories your journeys
learned about your stories your journeys
learned about your stories your journeys and we start exploring how we intersect
and we start exploring how we intersect
and we start exploring how we intersect we create friendship we create empathy
we create friendship we create empathy
we create friendship we create empathy and we get to know each other in ways
and we get to know each other in ways
and we get to know each other in ways that are very different so that we can
that are very different so that we can
that are very different so that we can create just and equitable communities
create just and equitable communities
create just and equitable communities and cities artists voice voices when we
and cities artists voice voices when we
and cities artists voice voices when we plant the flag if we feel comfortable
plant the flag if we feel comfortable
plant the flag if we feel comfortable and we say I am here other people say I
and we say I am here other people say I
and we say I am here other people say I am here too I’m like oh you’re here too
am here too I’m like oh you’re here too
am here too I’m like oh you’re here too I’ll be with you we come together in
I’ll be with you we come together in
I’ll be with you we come together in community it becomes signifier it
community it becomes signifier it
community it becomes signifier it becomes symbol we exist in this city we
becomes symbol we exist in this city we
becomes symbol we exist in this city we are visible that becomes pride that
are visible that becomes pride that
are visible that becomes pride that becomes ownership that becomes
becomes ownership that becomes
becomes ownership that becomes investment in the collective betterment
investment in the collective betterment
investment in the collective betterment of all of us and that leads to things
of all of us and that leads to things
of all of us and that leads to things like thank you
it’s so meaningful but those are the
it’s so meaningful but those are the things that really truly lead to civic
things that really truly lead to civic
things that really truly lead to civic engagement and things like economic
engagement and things like economic
engagement and things like economic development we really need spaces to be
development we really need spaces to be
development we really need spaces to be heard to be listened to and to celebrate
heard to be listened to and to celebrate
heard to be listened to and to celebrate who we are and that’s why co-creation is
who we are and that’s why co-creation is
who we are and that’s why co-creation is radical thank you so much thank you
radical thank you so much thank you
radical thank you so much thank you Shane
Shane
Shane [Applause]
[Music] you
mother island your bones your flesh that
mother island your bones your flesh that which is and always has been yours
which is and always has been yours
which is and always has been yours beyond the empires that lusted over you
beyond the empires that lusted over you
beyond the empires that lusted over you who possessed and trapped you resilience
who possessed and trapped you resilience
who possessed and trapped you resilience is now a concept defined by you
is now a concept defined by you
is now a concept defined by you we are embers from the bonfires in Playa
we are embers from the bonfires in Playa
we are embers from the bonfires in Playa combate family legacy culture these are
combate family legacy culture these are
combate family legacy culture these are motion how we must honor the spirits of
motion how we must honor the spirits of
motion how we must honor the spirits of our ancestors and lift up the ones who
our ancestors and lift up the ones who
our ancestors and lift up the ones who come next the walk children who tug on
come next the walk children who tug on
come next the walk children who tug on the abuela skirts family legacy culture
the abuela skirts family legacy culture
the abuela skirts family legacy culture this is the beginning of a poem called
this is the beginning of a poem called
this is the beginning of a poem called satellite to mother island in tribute to
satellite to mother island in tribute to
satellite to mother island in tribute to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico I’m che Rivera from Puerto Rico to
I’m che Rivera from Puerto Rico to
I’m che Rivera from Puerto Rico to Providence Rhode Island two very
Providence Rhode Island two very
Providence Rhode Island two very distinct landscapes defined by their
distinct landscapes defined by their
distinct landscapes defined by their closeness to water I live between
closeness to water I live between
closeness to water I live between geographies between languages between
geographies between languages between
geographies between languages between genders and cultures that is a reality
genders and cultures that is a reality
genders and cultures that is a reality of many people that live in this country
of many people that live in this country
of many people that live in this country so as an artist I often get asked oh do
so as an artist I often get asked oh do
so as an artist I often get asked oh do you draw do you paint
you draw do you paint
you draw do you paint nice shrugs I say no I make things and I
nice shrugs I say no I make things and I
nice shrugs I say no I make things and I create experiences with other people
create experiences with other people
create experiences with other people I like when I’m asked though because it
I like when I’m asked though because it
I like when I’m asked though because it puts me in the awkward situation of
puts me in the awkward situation of
puts me in the awkward situation of having to explain what I do you know but
having to explain what I do you know but
having to explain what I do you know but why do I think art and creativity are so
why do I think art and creativity are so
why do I think art and creativity are so important you see to me and to many of
important you see to me and to many of
important you see to me and to many of us creativity and art or voice they are
us creativity and art or voice they are
us creativity and art or voice they are presence they are hope and vision our
presence they are hope and vision our
presence they are hope and vision our and creativity are the ways in which we
and creativity are the ways in which we
and creativity are the ways in which we can lift up the stories that were left
can lift up the stories that were left
can lift up the stories that were left untold we could talk about our
untold we could talk about our
untold we could talk about our day-to-day struggles we could talk about
day-to-day struggles we could talk about
day-to-day struggles we could talk about and celebrate all right
and celebrate all right
and celebrate all right and I’m going to share with you a few
and I’m going to share with you a few
and I’m going to share with you a few examples of how I’ve told my story and
examples of how I’ve told my story and
examples of how I’ve told my story and helped and collaborated with others to
helped and collaborated with others to
helped and collaborated with others to tell theirs so the first example is
tell theirs so the first example is
tell theirs so the first example is share with you is called Luna Luba yeah
share with you is called Luna Luba yeah
share with you is called Luna Luba yeah I hear that so Luna Lola is a
I hear that so Luna Lola is a
I hear that so Luna Lola is a performance circle artists of all
performance circle artists of all
performance circle artists of all mediums of all experiences and
mediums of all experiences and
mediums of all experiences and identities come together and make and
identities come together and make and
identities come together and make and create work brought together by a prompt
create work brought together by a prompt
create work brought together by a prompt that connects us and we can talk about
that connects us and we can talk about
that connects us and we can talk about what transformation means what new
what transformation means what new
what transformation means what new beginnings mean how do we commune and
beginnings mean how do we commune and
beginnings mean how do we commune and create work together this has become a
create work together this has become a
create work together this has become a very safe and brave and important space
very safe and brave and important space
very safe and brave and important space for many people to come and create why
for many people to come and create why
for many people to come and create why is that important to me performance
is that important to me performance
is that important to me performance artists and performance and live arts
artists and performance and live arts
artists and performance and live arts have something to teach us you know
have something to teach us you know
have something to teach us you know sometimes we live too much in our heads
sometimes we live too much in our heads
sometimes we live too much in our heads and get trapped in our intellect but
and get trapped in our intellect but
and get trapped in our intellect but we’re more than that we’re more than the
we’re more than that we’re more than the
we’re more than that we’re more than the mind we are a body we are ancestors we
mind we are a body we are ancestors we
mind we are a body we are ancestors we are roots we are knowledge there is so
are roots we are knowledge there is so
are roots we are knowledge there is so much in every one of ourselves and we
much in every one of ourselves and we
much in every one of ourselves and we oftentimes often it’s helpful to be
oftentimes often it’s helpful to be
oftentimes often it’s helpful to be present and experience that people learn
present and experience that people learn
present and experience that people learn differently people express differently
differently people express differently
differently people express differently people feel differently and these
people feel differently and these
people feel differently and these circles that bring us together in our
circles that bring us together in our
circles that bring us together in our differences I feel just allow us to
differences I feel just allow us to
differences I feel just allow us to connect in such meaningful ways
a second example I share with you is
a second example I share with you is more of a community forum situation so
more of a community forum situation so
more of a community forum situation so as a creative empath trying to make
as a creative empath trying to make
as a creative empath trying to make sense of the world my place in this
sense of the world my place in this
sense of the world my place in this country all the things that have
country all the things that have
country all the things that have happened the environmental disasters so
happened the environmental disasters so
happened the environmental disasters so many things I did what anyone would do I
many things I did what anyone would do I
many things I did what anyone would do I posted on social media went crazy I
posted on social media went crazy I
posted on social media went crazy I posted about immigration about
posted about immigration about
posted about immigration about Americanization about climate change
Americanization about climate change
Americanization about climate change about gender and all of a sudden my
about gender and all of a sudden my
about gender and all of a sudden my social media feed just went crazy
social media feed just went crazy
social media feed just went crazy everybody was commenting there was
everybody was commenting there was
everybody was commenting there was dialog there was exchange there’s a lot
dialog there was exchange there’s a lot
dialog there was exchange there’s a lot of tension people fighting with each
of tension people fighting with each
of tension people fighting with each other and it made me think you know
other and it made me think you know
other and it made me think you know there are so many things that we’re
there are so many things that we’re
there are so many things that we’re going through right now so many big
going through right now so many big
going through right now so many big issues that weigh on us and we often
issues that weigh on us and we often
issues that weigh on us and we often don’t have the time to share that space
don’t have the time to share that space
don’t have the time to share that space with other people and talk through them
with other people and talk through them
with other people and talk through them and process but also we’re not
and process but also we’re not
and process but also we’re not necessarily engaging with people who
necessarily engaging with people who
necessarily engaging with people who have a different perspective than ours
have a different perspective than ours
have a different perspective than ours so then I started to think you know we
so then I started to think you know we
so then I started to think you know we all work so hard every day we have
all work so hard every day we have
all work so hard every day we have families we have so many things to do
families we have so many things to do
families we have so many things to do but how about we just carved that space
but how about we just carved that space
but how about we just carved that space so I respond it and I wrote hey y’all
so I respond it and I wrote hey y’all
so I respond it and I wrote hey y’all it’s so great that this is happening
it’s so great that this is happening
it’s so great that this is happening that we’re talking about all these
that we’re talking about all these
that we’re talking about all these things how about we take it offline how
things how about we take it offline how
things how about we take it offline how about we come together have coffee and
about we come together have coffee and
about we come together have coffee and pastries we decided on a date at is 2:20
pastries we decided on a date at is 2:20
pastries we decided on a date at is 2:20 where I am a part of and the response
where I am a part of and the response
where I am a part of and the response was huge so many people responded yes we
was huge so many people responded yes we
was huge so many people responded yes we want that space we want to come together
want that space we want to come together
want that space we want to come together and talk and the day came and a
and talk and the day came and a
and talk and the day came and a community of people showed up we made a
community of people showed up we made a
community of people showed up we made a promise to respect each other to not
promise to respect each other to not
promise to respect each other to not assume that we will all have the same
assume that we will all have the same
assume that we will all have the same point of view and to be listened to
point of view and to be listened to
point of view and to be listened to and to share the things that have been
and to share the things that have been
and to share the things that have been weighing on us and ask our partners and
weighing on us and ask our partners and
weighing on us and ask our partners and our friends what they thought about
our friends what they thought about
our friends what they thought about these issues and did they experience
these issues and did they experience
these issues and did they experience them in the same way that was truly
them in the same way that was truly
them in the same way that was truly powerful and I feel like offline is
powerful and I feel like offline is
powerful and I feel like offline is something so simple and so important and
something so simple and so important and
something so simple and so important and it doesn’t have to happen in a cultural
it doesn’t have to happen in a cultural
it doesn’t have to happen in a cultural center it can happen in your home in
center it can happen in your home in
center it can happen in your home in your school in your bed with your
your school in your bed with your
your school in your bed with your partner it can happen anywhere but it’s
partner it can happen anywhere but it’s
partner it can happen anywhere but it’s so important to carve
so important to carve
so important to carve space of empathy and creation of
space of empathy and creation of
space of empathy and creation of co-creation and dialogue with people
so a third project I want to share with
so a third project I want to share with you it’s called fantasy island and
you it’s called fantasy island and
you it’s called fantasy island and fantasy island became a very special
fantasy island became a very special
fantasy island became a very special project to me personally as an artist
project to me personally as an artist
project to me personally as an artist and a person from Puerto Rican roots and
and a person from Puerto Rican roots and
and a person from Puerto Rican roots and ancestry living the Diaspora now with
ancestry living the Diaspora now with
ancestry living the Diaspora now with everything happened the fiscal crisis
everything happened the fiscal crisis
everything happened the fiscal crisis the environmental issues so many big big
the environmental issues so many big big
the environmental issues so many big big issues impacting a full community and
issues impacting a full community and
issues impacting a full community and nation of people the question was what
nation of people the question was what
nation of people the question was what can I do to help I feel so small and I
can I do to help I feel so small and I
can I do to help I feel so small and I figured well I’m an artist I can
figured well I’m an artist I can
figured well I’m an artist I can communicate I can create let’s just put
communicate I can create let’s just put
communicate I can create let’s just put that to the test and Fantasy Island was
that to the test and Fantasy Island was
that to the test and Fantasy Island was birth and it became this experience that
birth and it became this experience that
birth and it became this experience that was not just an immersive installation
was not just an immersive installation
was not just an immersive installation it was community forums
it was community forums
it was community forums it was panel discussions it was
it was panel discussions it was
it was panel discussions it was collaborative exhibits it was digital
collaborative exhibits it was digital
collaborative exhibits it was digital media it was so many different pieces
media it was so many different pieces
media it was so many different pieces brought together by not just me but a
brought together by not just me but a
brought together by not just me but a whole community and network of artists
whole community and network of artists
whole community and network of artists collaborations with art activists with
collaborations with art activists with
collaborations with art activists with artists and other organizations that
artists and other organizations that
artists and other organizations that were doing work not only in the island
were doing work not only in the island
were doing work not only in the island but also outside in the Diaspora and
but also outside in the Diaspora and
but also outside in the Diaspora and allies as well
allies as well
allies as well this was really meaningful to me and to
this was really meaningful to me and to
this was really meaningful to me and to many people and I feel like that is one
many people and I feel like that is one
many people and I feel like that is one of the best examples of my work becoming
of the best examples of my work becoming
of the best examples of my work becoming responsive to a social cause I feel like
responsive to a social cause I feel like
responsive to a social cause I feel like that’s a really great way to weave what
that’s a really great way to weave what
that’s a really great way to weave what Luna loba and offline we’re doing you
Luna loba and offline we’re doing you
Luna loba and offline we’re doing you know creating space for people to heal
know creating space for people to heal
know creating space for people to heal and make and create together but also
and make and create together but also
and make and create together but also having conversations and not treating
having conversations and not treating
having conversations and not treating art as if it’s something inaccessible
art as if it’s something inaccessible
art as if it’s something inaccessible something you can’t touch something
something you can’t touch something
something you can’t touch something you’re not a part of no art is part of
you’re not a part of no art is part of
you’re not a part of no art is part of our stories our stories are art and we
our stories our stories are art and we
our stories our stories are art and we use the tools that we have to elevate
use the tools that we have to elevate
use the tools that we have to elevate that
so in thinking about this I often think
so in thinking about this I often think about our in collaboration with so many
about our in collaboration with so many
about our in collaboration with so many people to me co-creation is radical
people to me co-creation is radical
people to me co-creation is radical it is a space when we could come
it is a space when we could come
it is a space when we could come together in our humanities and learn
together in our humanities and learn
together in our humanities and learn about each other I learn about my
about each other I learn about my
about each other I learn about my stories about my ancestors my roots I
stories about my ancestors my roots I
stories about my ancestors my roots I learned about your stories your journeys
learned about your stories your journeys
learned about your stories your journeys and we start exploring how we intersect
and we start exploring how we intersect
and we start exploring how we intersect we create friendship we create empathy
we create friendship we create empathy
we create friendship we create empathy and we get to know each other in ways
and we get to know each other in ways
and we get to know each other in ways that are very different so that we can
that are very different so that we can
that are very different so that we can create just and equitable communities
create just and equitable communities
create just and equitable communities and cities artists voice voices when we
and cities artists voice voices when we
and cities artists voice voices when we plant the flag if we feel comfortable
plant the flag if we feel comfortable
plant the flag if we feel comfortable and we say I am here other people say I
and we say I am here other people say I
and we say I am here other people say I am here too I’m like oh you’re here too
am here too I’m like oh you’re here too
am here too I’m like oh you’re here too I’ll be with you we come together in
I’ll be with you we come together in
I’ll be with you we come together in community it becomes signifier it
community it becomes signifier it
community it becomes signifier it becomes symbol we exist in this city we
becomes symbol we exist in this city we
becomes symbol we exist in this city we are visible that becomes pride that
are visible that becomes pride that
are visible that becomes pride that becomes ownership that becomes
becomes ownership that becomes
becomes ownership that becomes investment in the collective betterment
investment in the collective betterment
investment in the collective betterment of all of us and that leads to things
of all of us and that leads to things
of all of us and that leads to things like thank you
it’s so meaningful but those are the
it’s so meaningful but those are the things that really truly lead to civic
things that really truly lead to civic
things that really truly lead to civic engagement and things like economic
engagement and things like economic
engagement and things like economic development we really need spaces to be
development we really need spaces to be
development we really need spaces to be heard to be listened to and to celebrate
heard to be listened to and to celebrate
heard to be listened to and to celebrate who we are and that’s why co-creation is
who we are and that’s why co-creation is
who we are and that’s why co-creation is radical thank you so much thank you
radical thank you so much thank you
radical thank you so much thank you Shane
Shane
Shane [Applause]
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