Arte Congo: Artists' Journey on the Congo Coast of Panamá - Film Screening and Discussion
Join us for an inspiring evening at the Dweck Auditorium of the Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Branch on October 9 at 6 PM for a special film screening of "Arte Congo: Artists' Journey on the Congo Coast of Panamá," followed by an engaging conversation with distinguished guests.
About the Film: "Arte Congo: Artists' Journey on the Congo Coast of Panamá" is a one-hour documentary film that chronicles the journeys of seven artists on a mission to research, preserve, and promote Congo culture in the Republic of Panama through works of art. The Congos of Panama are descendants of Africans who escaped enslavement during the colonial period. The film centers on the arte congo movement, a new Afrocentric Panamanian art movement that reveals the beauty, strength, and resilience of Congo culture. In 2018, UNESCO designated Congo culture in Panama as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The documentary honors the artists of Taller Portobelo - the Portobelo Workshop - by providing them with a platform to speak about their lives, their art, and their culture. Taller Portobelo is now part of the Fundación Bahía de Portobelo. The film also pays tribute to the Portobelo community, the people of Panama, and the African diaspora. An important objective of this documentary is to reveal aesthetic links between Congo culture in Panama, Africa, and the African diaspora, thereby elevating Congo culture, art, and artists to a status of greater international recognition. Taller Portobelo was founded in the mid-1990s by the celebrated photographer Sandra Eleta, Virgilio "Yaneca" Esquina, an elder in the Congo community of Portobelo, and artist/cultural investigator/educator Arturo Lindsay. The story is narrated by writer, producer, and director Dr. Arturo Lindsay.
Special Guests: We are honored to have Laurie Cumbo, Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs, join us to moderate the discussion. The screening will be followed by a thought-provoking conversation featuring the film's creator, Arturo Lindsay, and esteemed guest Dr. Leticia Thomas.
About Dr. Leticia Thomas: Dr. Leticia Thomas is a renowned sociolinguist, educator, school administrator, university professor, community activist, and cultural advocate. Born in Panama City and raised in Parque Lefevre, Dr. Thomas is the daughter of Dr. Leslie E. Thomas (RIP) and Mrs. Leonora Claudia Bullen de Thomas. After completing high school at the Justo Arosemena Institute in Panama, she pursued her studies in linguistics and modern languages in Canada, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University in Montreal in 1975. She has since settled in Brooklyn, New York, where she has dedicated her career to teaching and advocating for immigrants in the New York City Public Schools.
This event is a unique opportunity to gain insights into the Congolese art scene and participate in a meaningful dialogue about cultural preservation and expression. Don't miss this chance to engage with our special guests and the community.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Join us for an inspiring evening at the Dweck Auditorium of the Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Branch on October 9 at 6 PM for a special film screening of "Arte Congo: Artists' Journey on the Congo Coast of Panamá," followed by an engaging conversation with distinguished guests.
About the Film: "Arte Congo: Artists' Journey on the Congo Coast of Panamá" is a one-hour documentary film that chronicles the journeys of seven artists on a mission to research, preserve, and promote Congo culture in the Republic of Panama through works of art. The Congos of Panama are descendants of Africans who escaped enslavement during the colonial period. The film centers on the arte congo movement, a new Afrocentric Panamanian art movement that reveals the beauty, strength, and resilience of Congo culture. In 2018, UNESCO designated Congo culture in Panama as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The documentary honors the artists of Taller Portobelo - the Portobelo Workshop - by providing them with a platform to speak about their lives, their art, and their culture. Taller Portobelo is now part of the Fundación Bahía de Portobelo. The film also pays tribute to the Portobelo community, the people of Panama, and the African diaspora. An important objective of this documentary is to reveal aesthetic links between Congo culture in Panama, Africa, and the African diaspora, thereby elevating Congo culture, art, and artists to a status of greater international recognition. Taller Portobelo was founded in the mid-1990s by the celebrated photographer Sandra Eleta, Virgilio "Yaneca" Esquina, an elder in the Congo community of Portobelo, and artist/cultural investigator/educator Arturo Lindsay. The story is narrated by writer, producer, and director Dr. Arturo Lindsay.
Special Guests: We are honored to have Laurie Cumbo, Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs, join us to moderate the discussion. The screening will be followed by a thought-provoking conversation featuring the film's creator, Arturo Lindsay, and esteemed guest Dr. Leticia Thomas.
About Dr. Leticia Thomas: Dr. Leticia Thomas is a renowned sociolinguist, educator, school administrator, university professor, community activist, and cultural advocate. Born in Panama City and raised in Parque Lefevre, Dr. Thomas is the daughter of Dr. Leslie E. Thomas (RIP) and Mrs. Leonora Claudia Bullen de Thomas. After completing high school at the Justo Arosemena Institute in Panama, she pursued her studies in linguistics and modern languages in Canada, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University in Montreal in 1975. She has since settled in Brooklyn, New York, where she has dedicated her career to teaching and advocating for immigrants in the New York City Public Schools.
This event is a unique opportunity to gain insights into the Congolese art scene and participate in a meaningful dialogue about cultural preservation and expression. Don't miss this chance to engage with our special guests and the community.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Brooklyn Public Library - Central Library, Dweck Center MM/DD/YYYY 60