In the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s, a fusion of Cuban rhythms, New York energy, and musical talent — largely Puerto Rican, but also African American, Jewish, and Italian — produced some of the world’s most dance-able and popular musical styles. Son (aka rhumba), mambo, cha-cha-cha, and charanga exploded in popularity, each transforming into a distinct New York Latin music sound and later blending with its close musical relatives under the label salsa in the late 1960s. The sound is fast, with intense percussion and dense orchestral arrangements.
One of the most powerful images that will always stay with me is the graffitti art. For years these artistis within the UK have been hounded out as vandals yet here is one project that actively encourages the art form and provides large corporations such as Nike with a huge bowl of talent to select from.
Much of the graffitti art can be found at http://www.tatscru.com along with description of team that makes the art.
Such talent can easily be replicated into t-shirts, hoodies, sweats etc and the LFF are hoping to broker some direct links with retailers and designers to evolve this concept further.
Without doubt music plays an intregal part in the history of Bronx. Places central to this story are the Park Palace in East Harlem; the Palladium in Midtown where the three mambo kings — Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, and Machito — hold court; and the southern Bronx, at literally dozens of local dance halls, clubs, and theaters. In Hunts Point, Longwood, and Mott Haven — neighborhoods once Jewish, Italian and Irish, but by the 1950s increasingly Puerto Rican, and later African American as well — hundreds of Latino musicians, singers, bandleaders and composers live, rehearse, jam, and play. Some Bronx music venues are elegant and glamorous, others are humble and homey. People come from all over the city to listen and dance to the greatest names in Latin music. The “Burning of the Bronx” in the early 1970s overshadows this earlier era, but all through the years of devastation, Bronx residents continue to create. Hip hop, too, is made in the Bronx. Many of these places are now gone or have turned to other uses. Casa Amadeo record store, est. 1941 as Casa Hernandez, still sells the best in Latin music. Newer places, such as The Point CDC, Casita Rincon Criollo, and P.S. Park 52, keep traditions alive through concerts and music lessons. Jimmy’s Bronx Cafe, the Wild Palm Club, Willie’s Steak House, and Tito Puente’s Restaurant on City Island are vibrant parts of the city’s nightlife.
Joseph Mcelroy explained “THE POINT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION is a non-profit organization dedicated to youth development and the cultural and economic revitalization of the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx. We work with our neighbors to celebrate the life and art of our community, an area traditionally defined solely in terms of its poverty, crime rate, poor schools, and sub-standard housing. We believe the area’s residents, their talents and aspirations, are The Point’s greatest assets. Our mission is to encourage the arts, local enterprise, responsible ecology, and self-investment in the Hunts Point community. http://www.thepoint.org
THE TECHNOLOGY, ARTS, MOVIE, AND MICRO-BUSINESS INCUBATOR (TAMMI) with offices located in The POINT CDC is dedicated to promoting arts, culture, science and technology in social and economic development in the South Bronx and other economically depressed areas of New York City; nurturing creativity and innovation; stimulating creative enterprises; and celebrating the diverse heritage of the Bronx. http://www.thetammi.org ”
FashionCapital will be previewing some of the designers work and profiles over the forthcoming weeks.
Jenny Holloway
Industry Advisor
