El Bembé Celebration

Join us for El Bembé! A gathering of friends to celebrate our community-based Augmented and Virtual Reality art project, “Places of Power: Las Parcelas and Villa Africana Colobó Garden.” A project of Termite TV Collective & Norris Square Neighborhood Project. Presented by the Philadelphia Latino Arts and Film Festival and Mural Arts Philadelphia

Come and experience AR/VR installations in two community gardens celebrating African heritage and the West African diaspora in Puerto Rican culture. Project directors Iris Brown of Grupo Motivos / Norris Square Neighborhood Project and Anula Shetty and Michael Kuetemeyer of Termite TV Collective have been facilitating workshops with long-term residents to share the memories and stories of this Latine neighborhood in Norris Square. This year, workshop participants created a collective colcha – a traditional Puerto Rican bedspread/quilt, and shared stories about sewing.

The event also features

• An introductory activation of Norris Square Neighborhood Projectʻs community archive.

• From 2:30PM until 3:15PM CAICU, Mural Arts Philadelphia, and the Norris Square Neighborhood Project will offer a tour focusing on the Norris Square Neighborhood’s beautifully tended gardens and artworks merging Boricua and local histories. The tour is free of charge. Limited to 12 guests.

• Music by Raíces Boricuas – Johnny & Aida Cruz

Date: Saturday November 1st from 2-6pm

Location: Las Parcelas and Villa Africana Colobó & Las Parcelas Gardens, 2263 Palethorp St.

“Places of Power” is funded in part by Independence Public Media Foundation, Leeway Foundation, Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and Temple University

Community Partners: Philadelphia Latino Arts and Film Festival, Scribe Video Center, PhillyCAM, Mural Arts, and People’s Media Record