Abuela’s Kitchen Exhibition at Snug Harbor
/The concept of a grandmother conjures many thoughts. She is a matriarch who has made a long journey and a woman who carries her hopes and worries for her loved ones on their own journeys. With this perspective, social justice activist Kelly Vilar presents the multimedia exhibition Abuela's Kitchen at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden. The exhibition transports the viewer to the kitchen of the symbolic Abuela (grandmother) as she tells the story of social and environmental justice in the context of communities of color in New York City.
Vilar, the curator of the showcase, is the founder and CEO of the Staten Island Urban Center. The Center seeks to inspire and educate a diverse population to build their own healthy neighborhoods and help to elevate community voices. It hopes to accomplish this through activism, social justice arts, publications, and youth development.
In founding the Center, Vilar brought a Master's Degree in Science-Urban Policy and Planning from the New School for Social Research and over twenty years in the financial field, where she taught people how to become more empowered. She has always been passionate about helping others become socially and economically conscious and activists in their own lives—thus living and sharing her mantra: community development through community involvement.
Abuela's Kitchen is an extension of these efforts. Vilar told SIlive.com, "These events and activities contextualize the work of Staten Island Urban Center's message of community development through community involvement using our village as the catalyst for finding hope and solutions using food, space (kitchen, park, market) and community conversations."
When curating the exhibit, Vilar selected from her own art collection along with the works of fellow artists and activists. It also includes art created by the youth of the Staten Island Urban Center. In all, the exposition features work by Britney Carles, Debbie Ann Paige, Ernest Paige, Everet, Gabrielle Diaz, Gena Mimozo, John Kilcullen, Justin Clouden, Justin Wood, Katie McCarthy, Kwynn Hogan, Lucia Carmen Daniel, Nadette Stasa, Nataki Hewling, Nisha Agrawal, Olga Ayala, Shani Mitchell, Tracy Vilar Daniel, Virginia Allen, and Yolanda Matias.
As part of the programming for this show, Sarah Blas of Staten Island Therapeutic Gardens and Jamillah LaSalle of Bait Ul Jamaat House of Community will host Abuelita Masala on January 11 at 2 p.m. on the first floor of Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Building G. Those in attendance will hear from several grandmas of different ethnicities as they share their best dishes. You can enjoy a tasting while learning about the origins of food recipes and preparations.
The collection of works at Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art — Gallery G (galleries 1 and 2) at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden is on display through January 12. Gallery Hours are Friday and Saturday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Broadway Stages deeply respects the message of finding hope and solutions. We are proud to support our neighbors and work for a better City for us all. Let the works of Abuela's Kitchen inspire you to become involved in developing your own community. We encourage you to visit the exhibition, and when you get there, be sure to tell them Broadway Stages sent you!
