YUCA ROOTS

YUCA staff and students gather for a pose.

Some of you may be wondering what YUCA has been up to over the past year. Aside from our regular, weekly classes, we’ve been extremely busy providing art workshops to youth in a number of Bronx neighborhoods. Here is a recap of some of the events we launched, wonderful venues which gave our students an opportunity to show off their talents!

Schyler proudly points to his entry wearing
 a YUCA t-shirt saying Educate, Inspire, and Defend.

Last May YUCA took part in the second annual Highbridge Community Fair. Aside from helping to organize the event alongside the Public Library and various CBOs, YUCA collaborated with Bridge Builders, and focused most of its attention on sponsoring a citywide skateboard design contest. The event was a tremendous success! Youth from as far out as Brooklyn submitted skate decks; some pieces were elaborately hand painted, while others were less complicated designs. 1st, 2^nd, and 3^rd prizes were awarded to the most outstanding entries, and no one walked away empty-handed. Certificates and YUCA T-shirts were handed out to all who participated. Local artists helped judge the competition. After the winning contestants were announced, there was much talk among those who were in attendance to hold the contest again this coming Spring. 

Sisters, Mina and Marybeth get busy painting the mural.

One of the most exciting YUCA venture to date has to be the mural project we initiated this past summer. Staff and students spent well over 10 weeks at a community garden in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx creating a 20’ x 30’ foot mural honoring local community activist Joe Perez. 

Mural at Bronx garden on 146th St & Willis Ave.

The idea was born out of a real need to honor one of our own, a community organizer who gave so much to the neighborhood he obviously loved. Joe played an instrumental role fighting for environmental justice in the South Bronx, not to mention advocating on behalf the city's youth. If it had something to do with righting wrongs, you’d find him in the front lines ready to lead the way. The mural was our small way of giving back to someone we came to respect, love, and admire. YUCA also felt the project would be a great way to connect with local residents by getting them involved in a worth while initiative, get more youth involved in YUCA art classes, and celebrate the community Joe spent most of his life fighting to protect. 

YUCA students and volunteers work side by side.

The mural also offered our students a chance to develop new skills. Youth spent a couple of weeks working with artisan Henry Peña who guided them on how to properly construct a wall; they got a kick out of using power tools to complete the wooden structure before the painting actually began. The remaining time was spent designing, sketching and painting the final piece. When it was all done, we invited many of Joe’s friends and family members to dedicate the mural and participate in a community wide, traditional style barbecue celebration. We even roasted a large pig!

Muralists take a break to re-energize and strike a pose!

The entire project would not have been possible without the tremendous support YUCA received from our partners. It was a collaboration involving Community Connections for Youth, Inc. (CCFY) and the New York Restorative Project (NYRP). In fact, it was through NYRP’s efforts, we were able to identify the Willis Avenue community garden as the location where the mural would eventually reside. Be sure to check out the mural once the garden reopens in May.

Talent show poster inviting the community to participate.

Tony Pantoja shares his poetry.

YUCA students receive certificates.

Another huge success was the “Mix on 146,” a multi-discipline, art talent show YUCA spearheaded last December. The event took place at the Mott Haven Reformed Church, thanks to Senior Pastor, Patricia Sealy who was super gung ho about the idea since its inception. She volunteered to allow area youth to use her church as the venue for showcasing the broad spectrum of talent. Musicians, Poets, Graphic Artists, Painters and Graf artists, all came out, performed, and lent their support to what turned out to be an all day extravaganza. In addition to the great performances, art vendors were permitted to sell their crafts, artists exhibited work, and plenty of food and refreshments were provided. We look forward to being able to have a similar event later in the year.

Youth were encouraged to share their art!

If you feel a bit left out, don’t despair! We currently have a YUCA workshop for you that is bound to get your artistic juices flowing … “Not Your Grandma’s Quilt” workshop got underway two weeks ago and has already drawn much praise form its participants. The workshop shows novice and expert quilters alike new ways of planning, designing, and constructing a contemporary quilt. 

But that’s not all … once designed, the quilt pieces will then be sent to Gandia, Spain to be constructed by Art I Mes club de Patchwork, a group of women quilters who come together each week and share their experiences with the community. Once these master craftspeople finish sewing the quilt, the piece will exhibit in Spain before heading back to the Bronx. YUCA staff members are already making arrangements with local galleries and museums about providing a venue for exhibiting the quilt once it arrives. So don't miss out on the fun ... get involved! For more information about participating in this project, please call 646.573.4461, or download an event flyer from our website at yucaarts.org. Interested students will be required to register for the class. Registration forms are also available on the website. Artists are also welcomed to participate.