So if there was an art festival and a book festival going on simultaneously, and you love both, which one do you attend? It would be very hard to choose which to go to, so if there is a festival that offers both, then problem solved. This was the case fore the 18th Annual Puerto Rican Artisans Fair and Exhibit and Second Annual Puerto Rican Authors Book Expo held at Hostos Community College in Bronx, New York.
Divided into two floors, the festival had designated sections for the arts and the books. The artists that showcased their work included Evelyn Ray, Munecas De Las Mercedes (Dolls of Mercedes), PMJ-Jewelry and many more. Items that were sold by the artists were masks, paintings, jewelry, t-shirts, and cookbooks, among unique items. Music accompanied the artist section provided by DJ Carlito Boricua.
The authors featured in the books section of the expo included Tamara G. Saliva, Manuel A. Melendez, Christopher “Chilo” Cajigas, Annette Perez, Maria Aponte, Theresa Varela and many others. The authors sold their books, gave a small presentation and offered promotional material for it. Some guests had read the books from their favorite authors and were able to meet and praise them for their work. Additionally, the books were sold at various prices and the authors signed personal copies. Author had an opportunity to read from their work in an open mic style and presented in both Spanish and English.
As with every festival, there were workshops being offered for both children and adults throughout the expo. The workshops offered interactive topics including creating a journal, Puerto Rican cooking, Taino Storytelling, Boomba Drumming and Dancing and Vejirgante Mask Making.
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