American ethnic parades as forms of cultural performance......

The opening reception for the multi-media exhibit titled "Puerto Rican Day Parade, Remixed" was a festive happening.  Many of the artworks on display expressed a sense of color, history and created an alternative sense of  occasion for a Puerto Rican Day of the future.  The people in attendance represented a cross section of artists, art and Puerto Rican culture lovers.  The atmosphere was one of celebration as it payed tribute to its alternative cultural heroes and benefactors. 

Some have said that American ethnic parades represent aspects of culture as "performance".  These performances are designed to be shows of pride in one’s ethnic roots, but they also represent a dance that heralds a group’s "arrival" and  ritualized "joining" with the greater American cultural mosaic.  Parades celebrate ethnic pride in cultural and political accomplishments that reflect on a group’s sense of identity and projected "political" empowerment.

At a time when America finds itself undergoing a process of "Latin-ization" previously unknown, the mass media coverage of the the Cinco De Mayo celebrations and Puerto Rican Day Parades have become events of national and international significance,especially in the Americas.

On the 50th aniversary of Puerto Rican Day Parade (PRDP), a group of diverse artists and activists led by art historian, Dr. Yasmin Ramirez, and artist Luis Carle have taken it upon themselves to examine and critique some qualitative aspects of cultural performance represented in recent Puerto Rican Day Parades. They are co-curators of a multimedia art gallery exhibit titled: "Puerto Rican Day Parade, Remixed". This exhibit is showing June 6th through July 8th, 2007 at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center in downtown Manhattan.

For more photos and information see:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/artedelares/sets/72157600331421667/