Azulejos y Son Jarocho

Nuestra Casa Family and Community Arts Day at the Audubon Terrace

Join us for an afternoon of live music and art for all ages inspired by the exhibition Nuestra Casa: Rediscovering the Treasures of the Hispanic Society Museum & Library. Enjoy the sounds of Son Jarocho by Son Pecadores and decorate ceramic tiles with local artist, Andrea Arroyo.

This program is presented in collaboration with Mano a Mano: Mexican Culture Without Borders.

About Tile painting

Decorated tiles were introduced to the Americas by the Spanish and Portuguese in the 16th century. In many regions of Latin America, there are exceptional tile traditions, such as Talavera in Mexico. Local artist, Andrea Arroyo, will lead this workshop, where participants will decorate ceramic tiles inspired by the Nuestra Casa exhibition.

About Son Jarocho

Son Jarocho is a regional folk musical style of Mexican Son (sound) from Veracruz, a Mexican state along the Gulf of Mexico. It represents a fusion of indigenous, Spanish, and African musical elements, reflecting the population that evolved in the region from Spanish colonial times. Son Jarocho is played on jaranas, a small guitar-like instrument, and sung in a style where several singers exchange verses, sometimes improvising humorous or topical content.

The most widely known Son Jarocho song is "La Bamba." Fandangos are at the heart of son jarocho. They're a kind of community celebration where participants gather to play, sing and dance around a wooden platform called a tarima.

Music by Son Pecadores

Son Pecadores is a collective of jarana players and dancers dedicated to learning about and promoting the musical tradition of Son Jarocho in New York.

About Andrea Arroyo

Andrea Arroyo is an award-winning artist working in a wide range of media including painting, artists books, mixed media, digital art, public art, and site-specific installation.

About the Hispanic Society Museum and Library

The Hispanic Society of America was founded in 1904 by Archer Milton Huntington (1870-1955) with the object of establishing a free, public museum and reference library for the study of the art and culture of Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and the Philippines. HSM&L houses a vast collection of paintings, watercolors, drawings, prints and photographs, as well as sculpture and decorative objects dating from the first millennium BCE to the 20th century. As HSM&L continues comprehensive renovation of the Museum’s Main Building, it has maintained public and educational programs both in virtual platforms and in person, including concerts, public lectures, and temporary exhibitions. They have also reactivated the outdoor space with exhibitions and public programs on Audubon Terrace in partnership with several local artists and community arts organizations.

About Nuestra Casa: Rediscovering the Treasures of the Hispanic Society Museum & Library

The Nuestra Casa exhibition, organized by guest curator, Dr. Madeleine Haddon, showcases many of the Spanish highlights from the museum’s collection as well as masterpieces by Latin American artists who have yet to receive prominent recognition, such as José Agustín Arrieta and José Campeche y Jordán. Artworks originate from Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Peru, and Columbia.

Note: Music and Art Making program is an outdoor event. All visitors to the indoor gallery space (aged 5 and older), must show proof of vaccination and wear a mask.

About Mano a Mano Mexican Culture Without Borders

Mano a Mano: Mexican Culture Without Borders (MexCulture) is a New York-based 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization dedicated to celebrating Mexican culture.

Thank you to our supporters

Azulejos y Son Jarocho is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Mano a Mano Mexican Culture Without Borders programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.