BRONX TIMES REPORTER, O 40 CTOBER 11-17, 2019 BTR
Artists After
Maria exhibit
Photographer Jonathan
Lessuck and wife,
novelist, Dahlma Llanos
Figueroa have partnered
to launch an exhibition
entitled, Artists
After Maria at the Bx-
Arts Factory. The photography
and narrative
exhibition runs from
Monday, November 4, to
Friday, December 6, and
highlights 10 artists and
one community service
provider from Puerto
Rico whose lives and
work have been affected
by Hurricane Maria.
It is important to share stories. We
are excited to collaborate for the
fi rst time on such a m eaningful
project. We are grateful our
exhibition is in the skilled hands of
the Bxrts Factory’s curating team.
Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa
“We wanted to shed
some light on the areas
of Puerto Rico that were
not being covered in the
press. The heart of the
project began in Loíza,
and as we met the artists
they continued to
recommend other artists,”
stated Jonathan.
“While Dahlma’s vision
is to bring this exhibition
throughout different
neighborhoods in
the Bronx, we would
love the opportunity to
bring it to other neighborhoods
and cities as
well. We look forward
to seeing how this will
evolve and will continue
to highlight how artists
are moving forward creatively
after Maria.”
The photographic
works of Jonathan each
includes a narrative
description written by
Dahlma, based on interview
sessions they had
with each individual.
The artists from Puerto
Rico featured in the exhibition
include painters
Ramón Bulerín (Canóvanas),
Carmelo Fontánez
Cortijo (Río Piedras),
Samuel García (Arecibo),
Martín García Rivera
(Río Piedras), and
Rafael Trelles (Santurce);
painter/sculptor
Samuel Lind (Loíza); artisan/
doll designer Teresa
Meléndez Padilla
(Río Piedras); muralist
Raysa Rodríguez García
(Carolina); poet/short
story writer Anahí
González Cantini (Carolina);
poet/novelist
Mayra Santos Febres
(Santurce), and community
organizer Maricruz
Rivera Clemente (Piñones).
“It is important to
share their stories. We
are excited to collaborate
for the fi rst time
on such a meaningful
project, stated Dahlma.
“We are grateful our exhibition
is in the skilled
hands of the BxArts Factory’s
curating team.”
The opening reception
for Artists After
Maria will take place
on Thursday, November
7, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the
BxArts Factory studio,
located at 240 East 153rd
Street. Two workshops
will be included during
the run of the exhibition.
Dahlma will host a Creative
Writing Workshop
on Thursday, November
14, from 6 to 9 p.m.;
and Jonathan will host a
Photography Workshop
on Thursday, December
5, from 6 to 9 p.m.
The exhibition is accompanied
by the catalogue
Artists After
Maria, featuring the
photographic works of
Jonathan Lessuck each
photograph includes a
narrative description
by Dahlma. The catalog
is not for sale.
MAX