El Barrio Remembers Piri Thomas: Down These Mean Streets, 45 Years Later

Feb. 17, 2012 - PRLog -- GDS Arts and The New Audience Project, in collaboration with El Museo del Barrio present El Barrio Remembers Piri: Down These Mean Streets, 45 Years Later.  

This catalytic event will mark the kick-off of a community-wide effort campaign to rename a street of Piri Thomas’ adolescence in his honor by 2013.  The producers are committed to annual and/or bi-annual celebrations and remembrances of Piri Thomas’ life and work.  A community of producers and artists have joined forces to honor one of Spanish Harlem’s literary sons through a stage tribute in and for the neighborhood he made famous through his work as part of El Museo del Barrio “Speak Up” series.  The sold out event takes place at El Museo del Barrio’s Heckscher Theater from 7pm - 9pm on Saturday, February 18, 2012.

Down These Mean Streets is a break-through autobiographical “coming of age story” novel recounting personal growth and struggle in NYC’s Spanish Harlem, a distinct neighborhood referred to by Puerto Rican and Caribbean populations as "El Barrio".  For over four decades this seminal work continues to inspire generations of youth locally and nationally. It’s been hailed by The New York Times Book Review as “A linguistic event”.

"Our combined objective of GDS Arts and The New Audience Project is to raise awareness among intergenerational audiences, and the El Barrio community about the legacy and writing of Piri Thomas," says executive producer Gary Santana.  The groundbreaking novel, Down These Mean Streets, has been a “must-read” for over 45 years and continues to inspire generations of writers and storytellers.  It is largely hailed for its authenticity in cementing a distinctive Nuyorican experience in the collective conscious of thousands.

"Piri Thomas, author and poet, shed light on the struggles of nuestra gente with his book, Down These Mean Streets," says Diana Diaz of The New Audience Project.  "My parents lived and met in El Barrio before both families moved to the Lower East Side.  Reading Down These Mean Streets helped me understand and appreciate the unique struggles and triumphs of their generation, especially in terms of what my father had experienced. It didn't just tell me a story, if gave me my history as a Nuyorican."  

The evening will be hosted by Dr. Marta Moreno Vega and Felipe Luciano, and curated by Rich Villar. Scheduled to perform celebrated poets and authors: Martín Espada, Jesus Papoleto Melendez, Junot Díaz, Willie Perdomo, Mayda del Valle, Emanuel Xavier, Lemon Andersen, Gloria Vando Hickok and Nancy Mercado.  There will also be a panel discussion  and a musical performance by Tato Torres and his Yerbabuena Band.  Suzie Dod Thomas, Piri's wife and life partner, will be present and will speak a few words.

Event sponsors include El Museo del Barrio, HBO Latino, La Unidad Latina (Lambda Upsilon Lambda), Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Inc. and La Maquina.com.  Guests of the event can enjoy free entrance after the show at, Camaradas Restaurant, 2241 First Avenue, at 115th Street, NYC where Tato Torres will again be performing.  

Get more Event Details and full bios from each poet here: http://www.eventdetailsnyc.com/PiriThomas.html

About GDS Arts
Executive Producer, GDS Arts is a production company led by founder Gary D. Santana focusing on cultural event productions and photography whose mission is to shed light on our unsung cultural heroes through multidisciplinary art.  In 2003, in connection with Jonathan Robinson's documentary, "Every Child is Born a Poet," Gary Santana produced a tribute to Piri within a month’s time. In addition, for the past 10 years Gary Santana has produced a series of cultural programs independently and for the New York International Latino Film Festival.  Programs which include a special screening of Raquel Cepeda’s documentary, BLING! A Planet Rock (director’s cut,) photography and art exhibitions of famed hip hop photographer, Joe Conzo and portrait photographer Shirley Rodriguez, a theatrical one-person show, “Puerto Rican for the Day,” panel discussions and an AIDS fundraiser. http://www.gdsarts.com/

About The New Audience Project
Producers, The New Audience Project (TNAP), is an independent network of arts consultants and producers.  The collective seeks to train micro-entrepreneurs to become stakeholders and participants in the cultural economy.  As an outcome of the pilot year, the collaborative has determined to translate their professional experience and passion in support of arts organizations, artists and emerging businesses.  TNAP consultants help organizations with strategic business assessments and plans in areas such as: imaging and branding; program development; marketing, sales and communications; financial and office systems, and more. In addition, the team of consultants work as a “pop up” office providing initial staffing, capacity and training to new organizations.  Founder, Neyda Martinez has over 15 of experience in the arts.   In 2009, the pilot launch of The New Audience Project, conceived along with AJ Muhammad, received a Rockefeller Cultural Innovation Fund grant awarded to Teatro Circulo. Neyda has led departments and/or initiatives for El Museo del Barrio, the Chicago International Art Expo, PBS’ documentary series, POV, The Takeaway for National Public Radio, NYC Mayor’s Office for Adult Education, among others.  She currently sits on committees for The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Uprose and Impact Broadway. Writer and Producer, Diana Diaz also has over 15 years of experience in the fields of arts and education.  She has worked in development for Cinema Seven Productions, Neederlander Films, and Laurel Entertainment, among others.   She served as editor for the Caribbean Voice Newspaper and has been published in several regional and online journals, and is a featured writer in the anthology A Cup of Comfort for Mothers To Be.  Her recent work is currently featured in the Rough & Ready reading series in NYC.

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