NYC's First Latinx Print Media Fair: A Celebration of Art, Culture, and Community

A Unique Space for Latinx Art and Culture in NYC

Last weekend, New York City saw the inaugural La Feria, a Latinx print media fair hosted by NYU’s Latinx Project. This vibrant event brought together over 30 artists showcasing a diverse range of artwork, books, posters, stickers, and more.

The atmosphere was electric, with music like Selena's “Amor Prohibido” and Shakira and Prince Royce's “Deja Vu” setting the mood. This diverse soundtrack reflected the rich cultural tapestry of the artists present, spanning from the Dominican Republic to Mexico, Colombia, and the United States.

A Bodega of Artistic Treasures

The fair offered a unique mix of art, with prices ranging from affordable $1 prints from the Mobile Print Power collective to more expensive pieces like Gabriel García Román's Queer Icon prints priced over $100.

One artist, Nicoletta Daríta de la Brown, aptly described the atmosphere as a bodega, a place where everyone is welcome to browse and take something home. Her booth, titled “Botánica Bodega,” featured large mesh bags with the message: “I learned how to love and heal in my Abuelita’s kitchen,” inspired by her memories of shopping with her grandmother.

Art as a Bridge for Healing

Social worker Christian Casas exhibited ceramic tiles, highlighting the therapeutic power of art. Casas, who started making art while in graduate school, uses it to help children resettling in the US after crossing the border, providing them a space for meditation and self-expression.

Capturing the Essence of the South Bronx

Les Lopez and Inuer Pichardo, childhood friends from the South Bronx, reunited to capture the changing landscape of their neighborhood through photography. Their work reflects the impact of housing developments and gentrification, aiming to preserve the memories of their community.

DACA Documentation as Art

Francisco Donoso presented prints manipulated from his DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) legal documents. He's creating a large-scale painting based on these documents, but at La Feria, he wanted to share their significance through the format of a book.

Honoring Trans Activism

Oscar Diaz showcased photographs of the late Cecilia Gentili, a prominent Argentinian-American trans activist. Diaz captured Gentili in a “baptism shoot” months before her passing, highlighting her impact on the LGBTQ+ community, especially in Brooklyn. Gentili's legacy is even more powerful considering she became the first transgender person to receive a funeral mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan.

Connecting Through Shared Experiences

The fair provided a welcoming space for artists to connect and share their experiences. Jessica Elena Aquino sold prints from carved school erasers and cyanotypes of her hometown, Santa Ana, California, emphasizing the importance of cultural identity. The fair fostered an environment where artists could freely switch between Spanish and English, creating a space where they felt comfortable and empowered to be themselves.

La Feria was a truly unique and inspiring event that highlighted the richness and diversity of Latinx art and culture in New York City. It provided a platform for artists to share their work, connect with each other, and engage with the community.