The Park Avenue Armory is a big stage and producer of large-scale events such as art fairs, fashion shows, and immersive dance, music, and theatre in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. It’s really big!
Latin Culture at The Park Avenue Armory
OCTOBER
Costa Rican Performance Art Music
Dorian Wood, the Costa Rican American singer and performance artist, performs “Canto de Todes / Song for All,” a 12-hour performance and musical installation of Central and South American music inspired by beloved Chilean folklorist Violeta Parra. It’s at The Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan’s Upper East Side; on Saturday, October 19, 2024; from 11am – 11pm. armoryonpark.org @dorianwoodmusic 🇨🇷 🇨🇱
We haven’t spoken with Dorian, but “Canto de Todes / Song for All” may be a reference to the famous Walt Whitman poem “Song of Myself.” The iconic poet of New York City wrote:
“I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.”
Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself” (1892)
There are similar sentiments in the Bible and other sacred literature that contextualize the individual within the community. Since the Renaissance, we European culture has been on a path towards individualism. But in the extreme, it has left us very alone which is not healthy for humans being. The African concept of Ubuntu teaches that “I am because we are.” When you learn to embrace all people, your world grows exponentially.
Yo soy, porque nosotros somos (I am because we are).
Violeta Parra, the Chilean folklorist and first Latin American woman to be exhibited in the Louvre Museum, is loved for making folkloric traditions cool. She promoted the Peña, community cultural gatherings with activist leanings. Latin culture is about bringing families and friends together, and we have many problems that we can only solve together. That’s what’s so great about the Peña.
Migration Makes America Strong ~ The Americas are mostly Indigenous with African and European influences. In Indigenous tradition, the land doesn’t belong to anyone. It belongs to all of us. National borders are a European construct. Ironically, the European Diaspora stole the land, and wants to keep the natives out. Climate change and narco gang violence are forcing people from their homes. Locals get upset about the newcomers, but migrants have no choice because there is hope ahead, but only death behind. If it happened to your family, you would migrate too. Migration keeps America young and our economy strong. Without it, we will enter a demographic and economic decline like Japan and lately China, and Russia. The arts are meant to bring people together. That’s what this is about. Come sing the song for all, because it is your song too!
Park Avenue Armory Tickets
Park Avenue Armory
643 Park Ave
(between 66th & 67th St)
Upper East Side, Manhattan
You can purchase tickets to Armory productions on their website. Tickets to rental events are sold through event producers.
About The Park Avenue Armory
The Wade Thompson Drill Hall is a giant 55,000 square foot space that looks like an airplane or blimp hangar. It is so big.
If the event allows, go upstairs. The balcony has great views of the Hall. In the upstairs rooms, you will see ghosts of beautiful old New York. If walls could talk…
Social Media
X @ParkAveArmory
Facebook @ParkAvenueArmory
Instagram @parkavenuearmory
YouTube @theparkavenuearmory
Latin Artists and Events
The Art Show
Salon Art + Design
Winter Show
Recent Latin Programming
MAY
Fine Art Antiques Fair
TEFAF New York 2024, the American edition of Europe’s leading fine art antiques fair, brings almost 90 international fine art, design, and antiques galleries from 15 countries; to the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan’s Upper East Side; from Friday-Tuesday, May 10-14, 2024. From $55. 🇧🇷 🇨🇴 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸