May
2005
Art
for Change at Carlitos Café y Galeriá
By Sangamithra Iyer
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Growing up in Bolivia, Eliana
Godoy’s early
childhood was filled with confusion in a country of violent dictatorships.
She recollects, “Priests were murdered, journalists tortured,
students were disappearing. My elementary school would get tear-gassed.
I was an angry and bitter child and felt I was born on the wrong planet.” It
was only through art that she was able to envision a better life for
herself. As a small child, Eliana would memorize poems and created
a theater group amongst her little cousins. She would spend her summers
at her grandparents’ place where her grandfather, Carlitos, would
often entertain guests with performances and music. Eliana would also
perform for them and receive a little money, which she saved to attend
a theater academy. Eliana believes that this academy saved her life,
offering her a way to get the anger out of her body and imagine different
possibilities for her future. Art changed her life and that is essentially
what she would like to extend to other people—“to also
have that option of transforming their life positively.”
In 1999, Eliana with other artists and activists in New York pursued this goal
and founded Art for Change, a community based non profit whose vision is to use
art as a tool for a more just and fair world. They believe that art is a major
component in building communities and they use it to bring people together, people
who might not otherwise congregate in the same space. One of the big issues they
address is the accessibility of art. “Art is still not something that reaches
out to everybody even though art is something that obviously belongs to everybody.” A
couple of years ago, Art for Change got a home of its own at Carlitos Café y
Galeriá, cozy bar and neighborhood joint in Spanish Harlem.
Just a few blocks east of museum mile, Carlitos Café provides an exhibition
space as well as a unique forum for artistic exchange. Some nights you’ll
enjoy live music. On Monday nights you might catch socially and politically conscious
films on women’s issues, the environment, globalization, or democracy.
Café Con Leche, a neighborhood women’s discussion group congregates
on Tuesday evenings. Wednesday is a great night to practice Spanish with other
language learners and experienced native speakers. And on Tuesday nights, just
like at Eliana’s grandparents’ home, Carlitos hosts an open mic project
where you can watch or perform anything from rap to opera, belly dancing to comedy,
in a very warm and welcoming environment. A strong sense of community is evident
in all their programs. “It’s like Cheers, everyone knows your name,” remarks
Eliana.
Art for Change is a grassroots and volunteer based organization and they train
community members in organizing events and exhibitions and doing outreach. The
power of human contact has been very effective in getting the community involved
in the arts. There is a large participation in the educational programs that
usually accompany the art exhibition. April’s exhibit featured photography
by Olivia Portillo Galicia capturing Aztec dancing that had survived centuries
of conquest and was accompanied by artist dialogues and dance performances. A
majority of their programs are for the immigrant community of East Harlem. According
to Eliana, “It’s important to maintain traditions and art is a big
part of that.”
The programs Art for Change offers are overwhelming and impressive and Carlitos
Café constantly bustles with warmth and energy. More is on the way. Future
projects include the development of an anti-violence video to use as an advocacy
tool. Eliana hopes to get more artists involved in projects with youth and skills
development and possibly also working with small local businesses in the area.
When asked what she is most proud of, Eliana replied, “It’s really
difficult for most cultural art institutions to really have a community interact.
But here we have been able to do that.” She’s also inspired by the
volunteers and “knowing that a lot of people are interested in being part
of a changed world”
Carlitos Café y Galeriá is located at 1701 Lexington Avenue
between 106th and 107th Streets. For more information and to get involved, contact
(212)
348-7044 or www.artforchange.org.
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