Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture…A Museum In The Park

IPRAC: A Museum in the Park Mission

The Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture is devoted to the promotion, integration and advancement of Puerto Rican arts and culture by presenting exhibitions and programming created to enhance the visibility and importance of the rich Puerto Rican arts tradition.

Vision: A Cultural Center for All People

IPRAC is about the past, present and future. It provides a one-of-a-kind showcase for the vast array of traditional and contemporary Puerto Rican arts. It tells the story of the contributions of people from Puerto Rico in the making of this city and of this nation. It is a cultural center for all people.

By virtue of its location, in the heart of Chicago’s Humboldt Park, IPRAC offers a unique insight into the Puerto Rican experience in Chicago that is not offered by any other institution; a facility that is dedicated to merging major art, historic and anthropological exhibitions with authentic community participation, including in lectures and workshops.

ABOUT IPRAC

Located in Humboldt Park, in the heart of Chicago’s Puerto Rican community, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (IPRAC) is the only self-standing cultural institution in the nation devoted to showcasing Puerto Rican arts and historic exhibitions year-round.

About IPRAC About IPRACLocated in Humboldt Park, in the heart of Chicago’s Puerto Rican community, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (IPRAC)

is the only self-standing cultural institution in the nation devoted to showcasing Puerto Rican arts and historic exhibitions year-round.

Founded in 2001 by members of Chicago’s Puerto Rican community and local supporters of arts and culture, IPRAC serves as a one-of-a-kind institution that celebrates the best of Puerto Rico’s identity and heritage. Since its inception, IPRAC has offered a variety of  quality community arts and cultural programming, including visual art exhibitions, hands-on community arts workshops, films in the park and an annual outdoor fine arts and crafts festival.

Through a long-term lease with the City of Chicago, the community secured the historic Humboldt Park Stables and receptory as the home for IPRAC, a building culturally significant to Chicago and embraced by the many people of Puerto Rican descent who have settled in the Humboldt Park community.

Visitors to the museum enter through the dramatic brick archway of the original carriage receptory into a magnificent brick courtyard adorned with mosaic artwork depicting the island of Puerto Rico and many of its cultural elements. The courtyard is surrounded on all sides by the unique Queen Anne architectural features of the former stables. Each room in the stables has been transformed into part of a fully functional museum. IPRAC currently houses two galleries, performance spaces, arts classrooms and curatorial and administrative offices. A second phase of internal renovations is underway and will include a cafe, gift shop and a main gallery. The courtyard serves as the ideal space for art festivals, outdoor performances and rentals for private events.

IPRAC gives people from all walks of life an opportunity to be inspired by the power of artistic tradition, allowing guests to explore and appreciate the incredible beauty, intensity and tradition of Puerto Rican art and culture.

BuildingThe Humboldt Park Stables, home to the Institute of Puerto Rican

Arts & Culture, is truly a historic and architectural treasure. Designed by architects Fromman & Jebsen and constructed in 1895–1896, the Humboldt Park Stables feature handiwork and materials rarely seen today: red pressed brick, timber cornices and gables, glazed corner tiles, dramatic turrets and archways, and a long sloping red tile roof. In December of 1895, Danish immigrant and master landscape architect Jens Jensen was named Superintendent of Humboldt Park and, later, of Chicago’s West Park System. Jensen’s office was located on the first-floor turret overlooking the park.

The stable building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. At that time, the Chicago Park District began efforts to restore the building. Unfortunately, fire destroyed more that 40 percent of the roof and the second floor in 1992. Undeterred, the Park District and community leaders worked tirelessly to renovate the building and transform it into the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture.

Renovations of the exterior of the building were completed in 1998. The interior has undergone significant renewal with the building of several galleries and classrooms and the expected addition of a cafe, gift shop and a main gallery by December of 2010.

The restoration and thoughtful reuse of this extraordinary space is a tremendous gift to the community and to the City of Chicago.

The key to the success and sustainability of arts and culture in Chicago is the creation of institutions that celebrate diverse cultural traditions and nurture their contributions to the arts and culture of our city. The Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture does just this – preserving and expressing the vibrancy of Puerto Rican culture and telling the story of the important role of Puerto Ricans in developing the proud artistic tradition of Chicago and the nation.

Learn

Learn Learn with IPRACThe key to the success and sustainability of arts and culture in Chicago

is the creation of institutions that celebrate diverse cultural traditions and nurture their contributions to the arts and culture of our city. The Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture does just this – preserving and expressing the vibrancy of Puerto Rican culture and telling the story of the important role of Puerto Ricans in developing the proud artistic tradition of Chicago and the nation.

By providing a one-of-a-kind showcase for the vast array of traditional and contemporary Puerto Rican art, IPRAC serves as a cultural center for all people including residents of Chicago and visitors from across the world — presenting competent visual arts and programming that furthers Puerto Rican history and artistic traditions.

Through quality programming and art education the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture provides visitors an opportunity to truly learn about our history and traditions, broadening their understandings, enriching their lives and encouraging the celebration of diversity.

Field TripsThe Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture offers a content-rich learning experience for

students year-round. Tours of the museum are tailored for any age group and can be given in both English or Spanish. Tours will focus on Puerto Rican and Latino culture, the art presentations currently exhibiting in the museum and the the historical and architectural elements of the building itself.

The Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture offers a wide variety of art exhibits throughout the year featuring original works by local, regional, and national Puerto Rican and Latino artists. By displaying an assortment of art forms and styles, IPRAC seeks to stimulate the creation and understanding of Puerto Rican art and culture.

Exhibits 2010 - 2011

Exhibitions Everyone MattersThe Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture

presents the “Everyone Matters” Art Exhibit opening in October. Everyone Matters showcases artwork by over 50 Humboldt Park community residents sharing personal messages of resilience and positive life choices. The exhibit reflects personal journeys towards healing where art becomes a tool for personal empowerment. Everyone Matters brings together seven community organizations, art therapists and teaching artists to disseminate stories of personal growth relevant to the Chicago Latino community. Everyone Matters is presented by the Behavioral Health Task Force of the Greater Humboldt Park Community of Wellness.

Lo Mejor de Nuestros PueblosA photographic journey through the town of Comerio. On the eve of Noche Jibara, which

this year celebrated the music and art of the Puerto Rican town of Comerio, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture debuted their latest exhibit “Lo Mejor de Nuestros Pueblos” – A photographic journey through the town of Comerio. The exhibit, which featured numerous awe-inspiring photographs of the landmarks, scenery and people of Comerio, truly captured the essence of the beautiful mountain town.

RETRO/INTRO/SPECTIVES by Elizam EscobarIn the summer of 2010, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture presented the work of

former Puerto Rican political prisoner and renown artist Elizam Escobar with an exhibit titled “RETRO/INTRO/SPECTIVES.” The exhibit began from a series of drawings of jail bars transmuting into sculptures, which Escobar did in prison. From there, constructions, mixed media and three-dimensional works emerged. The theme of jail bars and the prison experience are prominent throughout this exhibit and impose an autobiographical and political atmosphere through the symbolism of art as an exchange between the spectators and the work.

Uteros by Richard SantiagoThe Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture welcomed 2010 with an exciting exhibit from

acclaimed Puerto Rican plastic artist, Richard Santiago (b. 1971). Santiago’s work took over both exhibit halls with more than 20 pieces from his new production, “Úteros,” and numerous trajectory pieces including the awe-inspiring “Cristo de Boriken.”

“Úteros” (uterus) is a traveling solo exhibition. Contrasting retrospective work with his most recent, experimental paintings,  this show’s selection of 20-plus pieces explores three interconnected sources of creation / gestation: the human body, art and the universe.

A Hero Comes Home: A celebration of the legacy of Danny Sotomayor

In the decades that Chicago has grappled with the AIDS pandemic, we have been blessed with a wealth of activists. Standing tall among these luminaries was Humboldt Park’s own Daniel Sotomayor. A Chicago native, from both Puerto Rican and Mexican descent, Sotomayor established himself as the first nationally syndicated, openly gay political cartoonist. A vibrant, angry young man, Sotomayor used his activism and considerable artistic talent to strip away the rhetoric that too often concealed woefully misguided policies.

During his career, Sotomayor created more than 200 cartoons that brought public awareness to the issues of suffering, discrimination and government inaction associated with the AIDS epidemic.  Tragically, Sotomayor lost his battle with AIDS on February 5, 1992. On the 18th anniversary of his death, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture hosted an opening reception for an exhibit on Sotomayor’s life and work displaying hundreds of his most famous cartoons and showing the rarely seen Sotomayor documentary “Short Fuse: Portrait of an AIDS Activist.”

Romantic Political Affair by Osvaldo Budet

On the eve of the most Puerto Rican of holidays, Three Kings Day, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (IPRAC) hosted the opening of a new art exhibit by world renown Puerto Rican artist, Osvaldo Budet.

Through his political art, Osvaldo Budet has truly captured the transformative relationship between figures of authority and the powerless. His art has been exhibited in numerous galleries throughout Puerto Rico, the United States and Europe, where he has received numerous prestigious awards.

Current Exhibit 2011

Lo Que Trajo el Barco by Miguel Luciano, Josue Pellot, Ramon MirandaEmerging Puerto Rican artists from N.Y.-Chicago-Puerto Rico

Kicking off the year long exhibit “Un año de Martorell en Chicago”, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC) is proud to present “Lo Que Trajo el Barco”, an exciting exhibit featuring the art of Josue Pellot from Chicago, Miguel Luciano from New York and Ramon Miranda from Puerto Rico. These three exceptional artists representing three Puerto Rican enclaves and three distinct artistic expressions have come together as one in a tribute to “el Maestro”, Antonio Martorell.

Un Año de MARTORELL by Antonio Martorell

Del Arbol Caido…

is a mixed media, floor installation that takes off from the tradition of Persian rugs. In this case, the graphic art piece was made of paper glued on canvass where two trees branch out and provide words from newspapers and advertising headlines that relate to everyday concerns regarding the Puerto Rican people.

Gestuario 1 & Gestuario 2…

... is a graphic catalogue of gestures recorded in woodcut printed on paper. These gestures I have observed and cut on wood in order to reflect on the body language I perceive as somewhat characteristic of Caribbean and particularly Puerto Rican people. Ironic or playful, lyric or dramatic, the esthetics as well as the ethnic rhythms of these silhouettes are meaningful to me and maybe to the spectator. Defiance and pleasure, relaxation and embellishment, the attitudes portrayed provide a questioning mirror, more than a passing glance.

The Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture offers a diverse array of cultural programming. Visitors to the museum can enjoy year-round exhibition programming, showcasing multiple exhibits at any given time, an ongoing lecture series, educational arts workshops, a film series and an annual fine arts and crafts festival. IPRAC is committed to housing the work of artists who reflect the varied identity of the Puerto Rican community through creative achievement and artistic expressions.

PROGRAMING

Art ExhibitionsThe Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture offers a wide variety of art exhibits

throughout the year featuring original works by local, regional, and national Puerto Rican and Latino artists. By displaying an assortment of art forms and styles, IPRAC seeks to stimulate the creation and understanding of Puerto Rican art and culture.

Arts WorkshopsThe Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture has offered a variety of arts workshops in

music, film, painting, sculpting and other visual arts. These workshops are taught by successful Puerto Rican artists, many who have exhibited in our museum and are designed for members of the community and both beginning and advanced art students.

The Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture holds special events throughout the year, including visiting lectures, artist led workshops, concerts, arts festivals and movies. Mark your calendar and join us to experience Puerto Rican arts and culture in an exciting new way!

Annual Cultural Events

Navi-Jazz ConcertNavi-Jazz forms part of IPRAC’s efforts to promote one

of the most important elements of Puerto Rican cultural life – particularly of Puerto Ricans in the Diaspora: the syncretism of the Puerto Rican and African American musical expressions. This concert should be seen against the backdrop of the fusion of Puerto Rican and African American musical elements which has as its historical foundation the intersection, at the beginning of the 20th century, of Puerto Ricans and African Americans in New York City, as well as in New Orleans. In addition to celebrating music, Navi-Jazz will help to promote a more meaningful dialogue between the African American and Puerto Rican communities of Chicago. It will serve a two fold purpose for IPRAC: one as a fundraising event for the Institute’s programing; and as a forum that will link the most demographic populations in the immediate Humboldt Park community.

Barrio Arts FestWith the goal of supporting local artists by providing a quality venue for them to display

and sell their art, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture hosts the annual Barrio Arts Festival, a two-day community celebration featuring live performances by local musicians and poets, numerous art exhibits, workshops given by the exhibiting artists and authentic Puerto Rican cuisine. Barrio Arts Fest provides a family-friendly environment designed to capture the creativity and imagination of the entire community.

Puerto Rican Film Series

For several years the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture has sponsored an annual Film Series. Every summer several hundred families lie their blankets and lawn chairs on the museum’s front lawn where we showcase the best of Puerto Rican cinema. The Puerto Rican Film Series incorporates an educational component to all films that includes discussions preceding the films to encourage community dialogue and participation.

The Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture holds special events throughout the year, including visiting lectures, artist led workshops, concerts, arts festivals and movies.

Past Events

Julia de Burgos Postal Stamp Unveiling

As part of the national celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Julia de Burgos, one of Puerto Rico’s most illustrious poets, was recognized by the US Postal Service and Chicago’s Puerto Rican community in a ceremony at the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture.

An award-winning writer, poet and journalist, Julia de Burgos takes her place among honorees in the Postal Service’s Literary Arts series along with several other distinguished Hispanic writers. The Postal Service honored Julia de Burgos as a revolutionary writer, thinker, and activist who wrote more than 200 poems probing issues of love, feminism, and political and personal freedom. Julia de Burgos’ groundbreaking works urged women, minorities and the poor to defy social conventions and find their own true selves.

Cinematography in a Community Context

In spring 2010, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture presented “Cinematography in a Community Context”, a lecture by Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican director Jorge “Fish” Rodriguez and Plastic Artist Richard Santiago. Santiago presented a brief excerpt of a documentary he is making with Rodríguez on Puerto Rico boxers and spoke about his experience documenting the rise of young boxing champion Mario Santiago. Rodríguez shared a myriad of projects he’s worked on past and present and focused his discussion on his experience directing the music video Atrévete by Puerto Rican artist Calle 13 which won a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video in 2006.

Community Colloquium on Puerto Rican Plena Music

In an effort to both honor and educate the community on the history and social significance of the Puerto Rico’s plena music, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture and the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center hosted a community colloquium on plena music on February 26, 2010, at the newly opened Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture.

The event offered several educational panels on the topic and culminated with a “plenazo,” a interactive musical session where several skilled plena musicians performed a medley of plena’s most recognized songs, with professional dancers and audience members bringing the rhythms to life.

IPRAC Board of Directors

Board of Directors OfficersPresident

Ray Vázquez, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago

Vice PresidentPablo Medina, Segundo Ruiz Belviz Cultural Center

TreasurerDavid Hernández, Community Resident

SecretaryJaime Moctezuma, Norwegian American Hospital

Members At Large- Carmen H. Lonstein, Baker & McKenzie LLP- Paul Roldán, Hispanic Housing Development Corp.- Jonathan Rivera Lizardi, Project Director La Voz - Juan Calderón, Program Director Vida/SIDA - Luis Martinez, Chicago City Colleges- Miguel Palacio, Association House

Staff

-Elijah Gonzalez, Program Manager

- Luis Padial, Resource Development Director

Executive Director

José López, Executive Director Puerto Rican Cultural Center

Social Media

Website: www.iprac.org Facebook.com/iprac Flickr.com/iprachicago Twitter.com/iprachicago Youtube.com/iprachicago