Boricua by Marriage

Boricua by Marriage Profiled in Washington Jewish Week!

boricuabymarriage — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:09:36 +0000

Check out today’s Washington Jewish Week for a profile about my Artomatic exhibit, how I got into photography and the cultural implications of making a Jewish-Puerto Rican home.

Boricua by Marriage on Telemundo D.C. News at 6 & 11 TONIGHT!

boricuabymarriage — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:58:33 +0000

Good morning and happy Friday! Tonight at 6 & 11 Eastern, please tune in to Telemundo D.C. to see my first TV interview. It’s also my first interview entirely in Spanish, during which I discuss my Boricua by Marriage exhibit at Artomatic 2009 . Here’s how to watch it:

- Available on the Internet: http://washington.holaciudad.com/contenidos/home.html
- In Maryland: Comcast, Channel7; Verizon FiOS, Channel 20
- In Virginia: Comcast, Channel 16; Verizon FiOS, Channel 20; Cox, Channel 88
- In D.C.: Comcast, Channel 16
- Through the analog or digital TV antenna: Channel 64

The show runs through July 5 at 55 M Street, SE. My exhibit is located on the 6th Floor, a big, red wall near the windows facing Nats Park. I hope you get to visit and see all of the beautiful artwork created by hundreds of Washingtonians.

Abrazos,
Stacey

Meet the Artist on Saturday, June 13

boricuabymarriage — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:20:05 +0000

This Saturday, come meet me and my Boricua husband, ask us questions, and sample a Puerto Rican treat at Artomatic’s Meet the Artists night! I’m making pasteles de guayaba to give gallery guests a taste of the Isla del Encanto while checking out my photography.

From 7 to 9 p.m., come to the 6th floor at 55 M Street, SE, at the Navy Yard Metro Station. My wall is BIG, RED and near the windows that overlook the baseball stadium.

I hope you join us for this exciting event! Abrazos.

Opening Night Success!

boricuabymarriage — Sat, 30 May 2009 14:06:23 +0000

Thanks to all who came for opening night! Those pasteles de guayaba went quickly! More news to follow about “Meet the Artist” night, for which I plan to make many more Puerto Rican treats.

Abrazos!

I know you’re comin’ so I baked some cookies!

boricuabymarriage — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:19:28 +0000

Tomorrow night, Friday, May 29, I hope you’re comin’ to my show at Artomatic because I baked a bunch of pasteles de guayaba – guava paste cookies – just for YOU!

Come to 55 M Street, SE, the building above the Navy Yard Metro Station Ballpark exit, get on up to the 6th floor, and check out my “Boricua by Marriage” show. My wall is RED and is located near the windows facing the stadium.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Abrazos!

Viernes Gigante!

boricuabymarriage — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:14:13 +0000

The pasteles de guayaba are baked, the photos are hung, the postcards are out…now we just need you to attend! Let me know if you’d like to receive one of these postcards in the mail. Hope to see you Friday, May 29th at Artomatic! Abrazos!

Artomatic Opens Friday Night, May 29th!

boricuabymarriage — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:06:19 +0000

On Friday night at 55 M Street, SE, come to the 6th floor to see my photography show dedicated to the people of Puerto Rico and enjoy an authentic Boricua dessert!

Exit Navy Yard Metro at the Ballpark, enter the building that sits on top of it and come visit my big, RED wall on the 6th floor. And then walk around the rest of Artomatic – it’s an amazing display of D.C.’s artistic talent.

Leave a comment and let me know if you’re planning to attend!

Abrazos!

Boricua by Marriage – Artist’s Statement in English

boricuabymarriage — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:56:07 +0000

Growing up in suburban Maryland, particularly in the Jewish community, certain things are expected of a young Jewish woman. Marrying a non-Jewish man from Puerto Rico is not necessarily one of them. Falling in love with the right person is fun and effortless. The easiest decision I ever made in my life was to marry Luis Viera. But how do people from two diverging backgrounds – and their families – learn to understand each other? More than that: how do we learn to overcome our preconceived notions and embrace the other’s culture?

Years ago, before I learned the language, riding on the Metro and listening to someone speak Spanish made me wonder if they were talking about me. I had the same thought the first time I visited my husband’s family before we got engaged. Their rapid conversations in Spanish were a mystery. They tried to translate so that I could also follow the discussion, but it was difficult. The most frustrating moments were those when I had questions for Luis’ then-95-year-old grandfather, yet had no way to communicate with him on my own.

That had to change.

When I returned to D.C., I started Spanish lessons. After Luis and I married in October 2005, I began preparing traditional Puerto Rican recipes. We visit the island as often as we can every year, each time exploring more of the main island, Vieques and Culebra with my family.

I’m not sure when I started referring to traveling to Puerto Rico as “going home,” but that is how I feel when I am there. And that is how I feel when I am among Puerto Ricans in Washington. I am grateful to have two homes and to show one of them to you through this series of photographs.

I am profoundly grateful to my family in the States and in Puerto Rico for welcoming Luis into our family and me into theirs. I am also grateful to the Spanish-speaking community in Washington. Thank you to the innumerable individuals I meet – at fiestas, in the grocery store, at school – who listen, smile and help correct my grammar as I sometimes stumble through a sentence.

It is the warmth, kindness and pride that has helped me better understand and embrace Puerto Rican culture. I present to you this collection of photographs and dedicate them to my family, the people of Puerto Rico and above all, my husband, Luis.

Boricua by Marriage – Artist’s Statement in Spanish

boricuabymarriage — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:00:29 +0000

Para una joven judía criada en Maryland, especialmente dentro de la comunidad judía, existen ciertas expectativas. Casarse con un hombre puertorriqueño que no es judío no es necesariamente una de ellas. Enamorarse de la persona correcta es divertido y natural. La decisión más fácil que he tomado en mi vida fue casarme con Luis Viera. Pero, ¿cómo es que dos personas provenientes de dos trasfondos, y familias, divergentes aprenden a entenderse? Más aún, ¿cómo aprendemos a superar nuestras ideas preconcebidas y aceptar la cultura del otro?

Hace años, antes de que aprendiera el idioma, escuchaba a alguien hablar español en el tren y me preguntaba si es que estaban hablando de mí. Se me ocurrió lo mismo la primera vez que fui a visitar a la familia de mi esposo antes de que nos comprometiéramos. Sus conversaciones rápidas en español eran un misterio. Aunque trataban de traducir para que yo no me perdiera lo que estaban diciendo, era difícil. Lo más frustrante era cuando quería hacerle preguntas al abuelo de Luis, que en aquel entonces tenía 95 años, pero no tenía manera de comunicarme con él por mi cuenta.

Eso tenía que cambiar.

Cuando regresé a Washington D.C., comencé a asistir a un curso de español. Al casarme con Luis en octubre de 2005, empecé a preparar recetas puertorriqueñas tradicionales. Solemos visitar la isla siempre que podamos anualmente y cada vez exploramos con mi familia más de la isla principal, Vieques y Culebra.

No estoy segura cuándo fue que empecé a considerar el viaje a Puerto Rico como “ir a casa”, pero eso es lo que siento cuando estoy allí. Y es lo que siento cuando estoy con los puertorriqueños en Washington. Me siento agradecida de tener dos hogares y poder mostrarles uno de ellos por medio de esta serie de fotografías.

Le agradezco profundamente a mi familia en los Estados Unidos y en Puerto Rico por aceptar a Luis como parte de nuestra familia y a mí como parte de la suya. También le agradezco a la comunidad hispana en Washington. Gracias al sinnúmero de individuos que he conocido— en las fiestas, en el supermercado, en la escuela— que me escuchan, sonríen y me ayudan a corregir la gramática cuando a veces paso trabajo formando una oración.

Es la gentileza, la amabilidad y el orgullo lo que me ha ayudado a comprender mejor y a adoptar la cultura puertorriqueña. Les presento esta colección de fotos y se la dedico a mi familia, a la gente de Puerto Rico y sobre todo, a mi esposo, Luis.