Participating students, artists, activists, community members. Photo by vanessa.serra@gfrmedia.com

Platos Ilustres was created and produced along with artist Omar A. Torres Calvo, and in partnership with the San Juan Estuary Bay through its Artist Residency Program. The Platos Ilustres concept was implemented in two locations, the communities of Caimito in San Juan, and Loíza Aldea, both in Puerto Rico. These projects involved oral history documentation from local elders, gathered by high school students, on the theme of traditional food and agriculture of the community. With the gathered information the students developed a mural concept depicting the community’s nutritional and agricultural identity, based on the anecdotes of the elders.

In Caimito, San Juan, The mural included a favorite recipe, that was revived from near-extinction thanks to the collaboration of local Chef Eliel Reyes from La Cabaña del Chef Eliel. The ancestral recipe is called “POM” and is a bread-like dessert that consists of root vegetables, fresh coconut milk, and spices, and its depicted in the center of the mural. The artwork is located in the Inés María Mendoza Public School. In Loíza, the artwork is located in the Antiguo Ancón de Loíza.

The projects were featured in the local newspaper, El Nuevo Día: http://www.pordentro.pr/bienestar/nota/conciencia-creativa-por-el-agua/, although I have to say I don’t support the way the article presents me as “the wife of”, as if my merit in this project has to be linked to my social status, or as if my success has to be defined in relation to a man. It is extremely sad that on the 21st-century social violence such as sexism and invisibilisation are still socially accepted behaviors.