Willimantic, Conn. - The Julian Akus Gallery at Eastern Connecticut State
University kicks off a statewide celebration of Caribbean and Latino art and culture in
August that will also include events
in Willimantic, New London,
Norwalk, New Haven, Bridgeport
and Waterbury. The celebration
begins on Aug. 20 when the Akus
Gallery presents "La Lucha Por La
Identidad: Puerto Rican Artists
Struggle for Identity," The Akus
Gallery is located in the lower level
of Shafer Hall at the corner
ofWindham and Valley Streets in
Willimantic. Gallery hours are 11
a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and
Wednesdays, 1 to 7 p.m. on Thursday
and2 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and
Sundays. The public is
invited. Admission is free. For more information regarding this and other exhibitions at
Akus Gallery, please call (860) 465-4659 or visit www.easternct.edu/akusgallery. a
survey exhibit of more than 50 Puerto Rican artists, including the work of José Alicia,
Myrna Baez, Antonio Martorell, Rafael Rivera Rosa and Rafael Tufiño, just to name a
few. The exhibition runs through Oct. 4. An opening reception takes place on Sept. 10
from 4 to 7 p.m. in the gallery. The public is invited. Admission is free.
The exhibition draws from several prominent collections of Puerto Rican art
including Benjamin Ortiz, Nilda Morales, Eastern Professor of Art Imma Arroyo, the
Ortiz Oilvera Collection and Eastern's permanent collection.
On Sept. 23, from 3 to 4 p.m. in Eastern's Shafer Auditorium, world-renowned
percussionist Carlos "Go Go" Gomez will explore the interweaving of creativity and
Puerto Rican identity as he and four members of his band perform with cuatro, guitar,
bajo and percussion as part of Eastern's University Hour. Gomez, a musician of Puerto
Rican and Cuban descent, has played and recorded with a long list of artists such as
Eartha Kitt, Mariah Carey, Tito Puente, Sade, Airto/Flora Purim, Charlie Palmieri, Gypsy
Kings, Gato Barbieri, Arturo Sandoval, Jose Feliciano, Manhattan Transfer, Mickey Hart,
Pharaoh Sanders and Grupo Afro-Cuba de Matanzas.
Exhibits and Events in Norwalk
Beginning Sept. 8 and running through Oct. 31, Yolanda Vasquez Petrocelli's "30
Years of Self-portraits 1979 to 2009" will be on display at Norwalk Community
College in Norwalk at 188 Richards Ave. An opening reception and artist talk will be
held Sept. 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The public is invited. Admission is free. For
more information, call Susan Hardesty at (203) 857-7000 or e-mail
shardesty@ncc.commnet.edu.
Also in Norwalk, starting Sept. 24 and running through Nov. 7, "Creative
Dialogues: Latin American Printmakers," will be on display at the Center for
Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk at 2299 West Ave. These exhibits will showcase
the works of Imna Arroyo, Antonio Marerro and Antonio Frasconi, as well as Cuban
artists and others fromLatin America. The opening reception begins at 5:30 p.m. on Sept.
24. The public is invited. Admission is free. For more information, call (203) 899-7999.
Exhibits and Events in Bridgeport
Starting Sept. 9 and running through Oct. 16, "Transplanting Roots/
Transplantando Raices: Caribbean, Latin American and Latino Artists Living and
Creating in Connecticut," will be on view from 5 to 8 p.m. daily at the City Lights
Gallery and Frame Shop in Bridgeport at 37 Maple Court. The opening reception is on
Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. The public is invited. Admission is free. For more information, call
Suzanne Kachmar, at (203) 334-7748 or e-mail citygallerybpt@yahoo.com.
Eastern Professors Arroyo and Gelburd Featured in New London
From Sept. 12, 2009 to Feb 10, 2010, "Ajiaco: Stirrings of the Cuban Soul," will
be on display at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum inNew London at 625 Williams
Street. Eastern Professor of Visual Arts Gail Gelburd will speak on Oct. 22 at 6
p.m. about the stories behind the art and the artists in the exhibition. The lecture is $5 for
members and $10 for non-members. The opening reception will start at 1 p.m. on Sept.
12 and is free and open to the public. For more information, call (860) 443-2545 or
visit www.lymanallyn.org.
Also beginning on Sept. 12, 2009, and running through Feb. 21, 2010, "Imna
Arroyo, Ancestral Passage," will be on view at the LymanAllyn Art Museum in New
London at 625 Williams Street. Arroyo, professor of art printmaking at Eastern, will
discuss her work, heritage and art on Feb. 7 at 2:30 p.m. The event and lecture are free
and open to the public. For more information, call (860) 443-2545 or visit
www.lymannallyn.org.
Exhibits and Events in New Haven
From Sept. 18 to Oct. 23, "Through the Architect's Eye: New Haven and the
World" will be at City Hall in New Haven at 165 Church Street. This exhibit presents
photographs from around the world through the eyes of Latin American architects.
An opening reception on Sept. 18 begins at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited. Admission
is free. The event is sponsored by ARTE, INC. For more information, call Daniel Diaz
and David Greco at (203) 469-4536.
Also in New Haven, beginning Sept. 27 and running through Oct. 23, "Through
the Eyes of a Child Photography Exhibit" will be showcased from noon to 5 p.m. in the
Arte Gallery at 19 Grand Ave. inNew Haven. The public is invited. Admission is
free. The opening reception begins Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. and the cost is $30. Advanced
ticket purchases includes dinner, drinks and entertainment. For more information,
contact David Diaz and David Greco at (203) 469-4536.
Exhibits and Events in Willimantic and Waterbury
Starting Sept. 25, 2009, and continuing through Feb. 7, 2010, "F. Luis Mora and
the Expression of Beauty at the Mattatuck Museum," will be on display each day
from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mattatuck Museum Arts
and History Center in Waterbury at 144 West Main Street. The opening reception will be
on Sept. 25 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The public is invited. Admission is free. For more
information, call (203) 753-0381, or visit www.mattatuckmuseum.org
On Sept. 26, The Eighth Anniversary Celebration of the Julia de Burgos Park will
take place at the Poets Corner, 319 Jackson Street in Willimantic, beginning at 1
p.m. The celebration will showcase live music, poetry readings and Latin food. The
public is invited. Admission is free. For more information, contact
Colectivo.mestizal@snet.net.