Spanish Harlem, El Barrio, Gantry State Park, Five Pointz

Today we explore Spanish Harlem or "El Barrio" the literal translation of which means the neighborhood.This is the area east of Park Ave. and north of 96th St. which has a large Puerto Rican and Latino population (BB, p 437).
It is a hot summer day and school is closed. We walk past an elementary school which has graffiti walls. This is legitimized because of permits and acceptance for the cultural backrounds of the students. The concept is to incorporate ethnic traditions into the educational lives of students. However, it is legal and sanctioned because one cannot randomly do graffiti on these walls. They have to go through a permit process. As we continue we are greeted by colorful Latino murals painted by Manny Vega, a local artist. His murals depict a tale with images from African and Latin folklore. These colorful murals are painted on sides of buildings and echo vibrant stories. They are bold and spontaneous adding vivid Carribean folk art to the neighborhood. There are eclectic shops and one is a remedy store with an interesting proprietor. He has a long tradition of providing the community with folk treatments and a wide selection of ritualistic herbs and assorted items.

     We have an interesting tour guide who is also a performing artist. His poetry speaks about ethnic struggles and coping with violence. There is a gang related history here. It is poignant that Julia De Burgos Latino Cultural Center has photographs which show the tragedy of gang related crime. Families and small children are shown in the midst of gang related violence. There is a boulevard named after Julia deBurgos and she is considered to be the greatest poet from Puerto Rico. She died nameless in the streets of East Harlem at the age of 39 http://www.tallerboricua.org/ 

     El Museo Del Barrio is a very interesting city museum devoted to Puerto Rican, Caribbean and Latin American culture (BB , p. 376). There is a permanent collection of traditional Caribbean and Latin American Arts. The collection was enjoyable and extensive. There were paintings, prints, wood carvings and cultural artifacts. Additionally, the museum holds community outreach programs and special events. El Museo Del Barrio is located at 1230 Fifth Ave. (104th) St.

     After eating at a local Dominican restaurant and trying oxtails we walked to The Museum of the City of New York.There is an extensive collection of the history of the city of New York from it's time as a Dutch colony to present (BB p.376). Had the city not been such an important port it probably would never developed to the point it did. Explorers found a connection from the ocean side to the great Hudson River to go very far inland. Later canals were built to connect the Hudson inland to the Great Lakes thus furthering commerce. A documentary film gives an overview of the city's growth. Many of the same issues repeat themselves in modern times. An example of this is the presence of the poor and housing needs. An important exhibit was about The Greatest Grid: The Master Plan of Manhattan, 1811-2011 http://www.mcny.org/.

This detailed the milestone history of city planning which was a great civic enterprise. It reorganized the countryside to the north into a rectangular street system stretching all the way to 155th St. This invented an urban system which was the basis for side by side buildings and walkable streets. It was logical and easy to 

navigate.  

     We enter a small garden and repose within a community site and it has a beautiful mural of two great female personas who symbolize unity within the differing Latino groups who reside in east Harlem. There is a painted "heart connection" between them which symbolizes the importance of commonality over differences. An interesting mosaic fountain is also in the garden.It has anatomical representations of female and male anatomy possibly symbolizing birth? Not really sure what to make of it. Overall, the garden was a beautiful, peaceful spot which provided tranquility  and repose.

     As we leave East Harlem we decide take the train to Queens for a visit  to The Gantry State Park and Five Pointz Graffiti Park. The Gantry waterfront provided a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline and was very interesting. The boardwalk under the historic gantry was new and clean with jazz musicians et al.

I was happy to see Long Island City built up in this way. The old gantry was once used to offload cargo from vessels to overland vehicles. It is now a center piece around which the decking is built. Behind us are pricey apartment buildings for commuters into Manhattan. Clearly, this area has been gentrified.

     At Five Pointz there is a very unconventional site. The old warehouse has been converted into a graffitti artist's paradise. The walls are totally covered in legal graffiti and inside are large artists studios. Again, there is a process whereby artists mat participate. 

     What a nice way to end the adventure today!