Arte en la Placita took place this past Thursday, September 15th at its traditional spot, la Placita de Chardón. By midmorning, the placita was already full of stand-up shops and stations where local artists and entrepreneurs, some current and former colegiales, sold handmade jewelry and clothes, while others sold books and food. Additionally, there was a tarot card reading booth and henna tattoo station to the far left of la placita. Natalia, the henna artist at the marketplace, stained a mandala on my hand with her special 100% natural and organic handmade henna mixture . She also told me she hoped to start giving henna workshops soon so follow her and stay tuned! Nevertheless, the centerpiece of Arte en la Placita is its performances, so there was an open mic where volunteer performers recited poetry, played music, or just expressed their ideas.
The marketplace also provided a space for community activists and outreach; there were politically-oriented information booths, zines for sale, and a new organization on campus called Camions of Care, a wonderful initiative first founded in Oregon and coming to Puerto Rico for the first time. Their purpose is providing feminine hygiene products to girls and women of low incomes and resources.
All of this combined to create an artistic atmosphere perfect for the creative mind looking for a unique experience.
Early in the activity, I made a beeline for the tarot reading, since I had just taken an exam that morning and was looking for a little divination to hint at the future of my GPA.
Later, as I walked through I found art stands from Colegio artists like sophomore Valeria Banch displaying their amazing talent!
A big theme on the open mic revolved around the current political turmoil of the island as elections inch closer every day. In one act, the performer even ventured to burn the “colony”, represented by a crumbled piece of newspaper, by placing it in a pot and literally setting it on fire.
All images by Ana C. Marrero.