Third Puerto Rican Artisan Fair to be held in New York

New York, New York (UCTP Taino News) - The 3rd Annual “Comite Noviembre Artisan Fair and Exhibition" will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2008 in New York City from 11am – 6pm at 405 West 59th St. In keeping with its mission to promote Puerto Rican culture and art as well as to commemorate its 21st anniversary, the Comité has invited Puerto Rican artisans from Puerto Rico and the United States to participate in this event being held at the Church of ST. Paul the Apostle.

Of particular note is the participation of the artist company “Taino Spirit” featuring Aguilar Marrero and Reina Sipainaru Miranda. The works of the duo have been receiving increased attention with their exhibitions and displays being featured at the United Nations, the American Museum of Natural History, and other prestigious venues. Taino Spirit was recently acknowledged by Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion for their dedication to promoting Taino and Caribbean cultural awareness. Artist Aguilar Marrero received an additional distinction with one of his works being selected for the Comite Noviembre’s featured art poster for this year’s event. Marrero will be signing copies of these limited edition Comite Noviembre posters for visitors.

The Comite Noviembre seeks to create a “festive atmosphere” similar to the “fiesta patronales” that takes place in each town of Puerto Rico. The plan is to transform the event venue into a typical Puerto Rican plaza with artists, sculptors, vejigante mask makers etc. promoting and selling their wares while typical Puerto Rican food is sold from kiosks and musical acts entertain throughout the day. Workshops for children are planned such as mask making, the history of the three kings’ celebration, and other activities.

UCTPTN 11.18.2008

Taino TV Updated

UCTP Taino News – Taino TV, the internet video television channel of the United Confederation of Taino People has been updated with several video shorts featuring the Cacibajagua Taino Cultural Society. The videos were taken by Taino artist Reina Miranda at the November 2007 celebration of Puerto heritage at Hunter College in New York City hosted by the Comite Noviembre.

The footage featuring the recent presentation of Cacibajagua adds to the increasing collection of Taino-related media available at the Taino TV channel site. Videos shorts of cultural presentations, interviews, lectures and more can be found in the “Favorites” as well as the “Playlist” sections of the Taino TV channel internet page.

Taino TV is available free to the general public and viewers can visit and subscribe to the channel at http://www.youtube.com/Tainotv.

Photo (by Mamarazzi): Members of the Cacibajagua Taino Cultural Society

Second Annual Puerto Rican Artisans Fair Highlights Taino Culture

New York, NY (UCTP Taino News) - On Saturday, November 17, 2007, Comite Noviembre is sponsoring its second annual Puerto Rican Artisans Exhibition and Fair at Hunter College in New York City. Held in recognition of Puerto Rican Heritage Month, the event will transform Hunter College’s West Building into a “typical Puerto Rican Plaza” with artists, sculptors, and food venders from 11am – 5pm. This year, Taino culture will feature prominently in the celebration with a Taino opening blessing, and a special presentation of Taino music and song with members of the Cacibajagua Taino Cultural Society at 3:30pm.

A family workshop on “Taino history and music” will take place at 11:30am (Rm. W217) and a “Taino Petroglyph Pendant” workshop for children will be held at 12:35pm. All day several prominent Taino artists will be featured in the celebration’s exhibition including Aguilar Marrero, Reina Miranda, and Esperanza Martell.

Established in 1987, Comité Noviembre is the only collaboration of its kind in the United States that brings together the collective talents and resources of the some of oldest and most prestigious Puerto Rican organizations in existence.

Taino Artists Continue to Gain Recognition

Taino Artists Aguilar Marrero and Reina Miranda
exhibiting their works at the 106 Street Festival
in Spanish Harlem, New York

New York (UCTP Taino News) - Taino artists, Aguilar Marrero and Reina Miranda, are continuing to gain recognition for their work and the Taino culture. The two have been busy not only with their collective art exhibitions but with informative presentations as well. They recently represented indigenous Caribbean culture at the Roosevelt Island "Falls for Arts Festival", the HealthPlus "Hispanic Heritage Month" celebration, and various Art Fairs around Manhattan.

Their selected art works were part of an exhibition held earlier this year at the United Nations in conjunction with the 2007 session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Both Marrero and Miranda maintain a website at Cafepress (http://www.cafepress.com/aguilar) where prints works dedicated to promoting the Taino culture can be obtained. The next New York area appearance for these popular Taino artists will be at the Second Annual Comite Noviembre Puerto Rican Artisans Exhibition and Fair, November 17, 2007. The event will take place at the Hunter College West Building from 11am-5pm.