Transmutación Colectiva:
the artwork of Héctor Rafael

May 2019  |  PRAA Center Gallery 

The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance (PRAA) is proud to bring to Chicago the new artwork of Hector Rafael in an exhibition titled “Transmutación Colectiva” (Collective Transmutation). Hector Rafael is an artist from the mountains of Cidra, Puerto Rico that has exhibited nationally, the Caribbean and in Europe. Using oil painting over canvas, Hector Rafael explores how views of gender and sexuality are changing in society. In Transmutacion Colectiva, Hector Rafael focus on the male figure questioning masculinity as a social construct while confronting the viewer with homoerotic compositions.

Colonial Portraits, Inc.

August 2018  |  Michigan Avenue Gallery – 
Chicago Cultural Center 

SAP teens made a selection of historical portraits marking important moments in the history of Puerto Rican art. Portraits by Puerto Rican masters and contemporary artists who painted not just a portrait but captured a significant moment in the development of a Puerto Rican national identity. The exhibition is an experimental painting installation taking visitors through the chronological colonial turmoil that shaped the face/identity of Puerto Ricans in history and today.

The Studio Arts Program (SAP) enrolls 105 teens in after-school and summer Studio Arts programs in residency at two locations, the Humboldt Park Field House’s Studio and, a Mural Apprenticeship program at Roberto Clemente Community Academy.

Artists-Instructors: Mara Ayala and Jennessa Martínez. Program Director/ Curator: Jorge Félix

Angel “The Journey Man” Morales:
A Photojournalist’s View of Puerto Rican Chicago

April 2017

The history of Puerto Ricans in Chicago is long, diverse, and full of memorable moments that display love for their culture and each other. This small selection of pictures of Angel Morales, known also as “The Journey Man,” capture the spirit of the Puerto Rican community as it engages in socio-cultural, political events and personal moments.

El Archivo: The Puerto Rican Experience in the Midwest

December 2014

An archive is an accumulation of historical records. Archives contain primary source documents that have been accumulated over the course of a lifetime. Archives consist of records that have been selected for permanent or long-term preservation because of their enduring cultural or historical value.

El Archivo Project, Spanish for “The Archive Project,” is the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance's legacy project. Recognizing the need to document and preserve the history of Puerto Ricans in the Midwest, PRAA has embarked on the creation of a digital archive. El Archivo Project will serve as a depository of photographs and oral histories that will document the history of migration, the life experience and contributions of Puerto Ricans in the Midwest.

The Project is overseen by the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance El Archivo Advisory Committee, a diverse group of community members that meets monthly, providing support and expertise to the project. The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance welcomes community participation through the sharing of unique family photographs and oral stories, or by volunteering time at the El Archivo office. Once established El Archivo Project will be available to anyone who wants to learn about the history and contributions of Puerto Ricans in the Midwest.

Carnivals of Puerto Rico:
Hatillo in Chicago

April 2014

Puerto Rico is a beautiful country with a rich, fascinating cultural heritage. Just about every town and village has a festival or tradition that makes it unique. There is a tradition taking place each year on the 28th of December in the town of Hatillo, Puerto Rico which is known as the ‘El Festival de Máscaras de Hatillo’ (Hatillo Masquerade Festival). This Tradition dates to 1823 when the town of Hatillo was founded. This tradition was born with the first settlers of Hatillo that came from the Canary Islands. The meaning of this tradition is the Holy Innocents (‘Santos Inocentes’) – the first martyrs of Christian faith from Matthew's story in which small children were killed by Herod in an unsuccessful attempt to kill Jesus. It is an incredibly special day with lots of fun and a large meeting of ‘máscaras.’ Today men and women of all ages wear costumes and masks influenced and inspired by the traditional meeting of ‘máscaras’. The festival includes a day long parade through nearby towns and neighborhoods, making jokes and having fun ending at the center of the Hatillo town. It is a dynamic experience for everyone in Hatillo.

Las Máscaras Festivities in its origins was a celebration brought in by Canary Island immigrants that settled between the borders of the towns of Hatillo, Arecibo and Camuy where Canary Island immigrants arrived, mainly in the 1800s. Many of the native people of Hatillo, Camuy, Arecibo, and several nearby towns are proud to call themselves ‘isleños’, a term used to describe people descendant from the Canary Island's immigrants. The original immigrants from the Canary Island dressed up and wore masks in the same fashion of their counterpart in Spain. The families would visit each other’s homes on horseback riding, which is still a tradition by some today. Some families would use a highly decorated buggy/horseback carriage to match their costumes and later appeared the ‘carroza’ (a homemade long cart with a long crankshaft and wheel) equally decorated.

The ‘máscaras’ tradition evolved significantly back in the 1970’s when it was adopted by the municipality of Hatillo in an effort to bring attention to the local industries and tourism. This is how the festival became an urban celebration that is far removed from its origins. Now groups of riders that count from a few dozen to groups of 100+ march all around town with sophisticated and brightly decorated ‘carrozas’, jeeps and four-tracks equipped with loud speakers, air horns, bright lights and loud music playing. They make frequent stops at homes and stores making pranks and asking for ‘offerings’ – usually food, drinks or money. Usually around mid-day the groups of riders head themselves to the center of the town for a parade and an award ceremony for best outfit, best sound, best ‘carroza’ and others.

Carnivals of Puerto Rico:
Ponce in Chicago

April 2013

The Ponce Carnival is Puerto Rico’s biggest annual celebration held in the historic town of Ponce, the largest city in the southern Caribbean coast of Puerto Rico. The Ponce Carnival is one of the oldest carnivals of the Western Hemisphere dating back to 1858. The Ponce Carnival is filled with the sounds of traditional ‘bomba’ and ‘plena’ music, flavorful food and colorful masks and costumes. The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance (PRAA) presented the exhibit Ponce in Chicago, showcasing the characteristics of Ponce carnival masks and costumes, and photographs telling the story of this beautiful Caribbean town full of majestic buildings and history. Ponce in Chicago was presented at PRAA Center.

Carnivals of Puerto Rico:
Loiza in Chicago

April 2012