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One Response to “Mujer: Dominicana en NY”

• narmer on August 20, 2008 2:39 pm

  ‘Mujer:’ Portrait of 127 Dominican women

  By María Vega

  Wednesday, August 20th 2008, 4:00 AM

  A Washington Heights vendor of habichuelas dulces (sweet beans), a livery cab driver, an attorney and a college president are among 127 Dominican women whose portraits are being shown now at City College.

  “What they have in common is that each of these people have had a positive impact in her surroundings,” says Giovanna Bonnelly, co-host of a popular Dominican daily TV show, who conceived the open-air exhibit named “Mujer” with photographer Nicole Sánchez.

  “This is a celebration of women, of Dominicanness,” says Sánchez.

  Their goal is to raise awareness about domestic violence, a serious problem in many Dominican homes.

  The exhibit was first shown for the International Women’s Month 2007 at the Dominican capital’s Parque de la Independencia, with poster-size photos of 100 Quisqueyanas.

  “Women went with their neighbors to have their photos taken there,” Sánchez says. “People were shouting, ‘¡Así se hace patria!’ [You’re making your country proud!]”

  The exhibition made more headlines when someone vandalized it, ripping the portrait of Haitian immigrants-rights activist Sonia Pierre.

  “The photo was broken twice and both times we copied and installed it again,” says Bonnelly. The vandals were never caught.

  The exhibit proved to be popular enough to bring it to New York. In the course of three trips to the city, Sánchez and Bonnelly found 27 New Yorkers of Dominican heritage to add to the original set of 100 women.

  The result is “as diverse as the women themselves are,” says Bonnelly.

  A livery cab driver, Clara Peña, was photographed against the backdrop of a bright blue New York City sky.

  The janitor at the Dominican Consulate, Cruz Rosario, is shown surrounded by the Times Square lights.

  Actress Josefina Báez chose Central Park, where she was photographed dressed in white, holding a lamp, as if meditating.

  Although there’s no way to know if the exhibition has managed to reach the heart of any potential abuser, the authors are pleased with their statement.

  “We can’t be on the streets all the time daring men to fight,” jokes librarian Sarah Aponte of CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, who’s overseeing the installation at Amsterdam Plaza, W. 138th St. and Amsterdam Ave. (through Sept. 30, free admission).

  Even before the formal opening, Sánchez and Bonnelly were getting some positive early reviews.

  “It’s just the powerful faces,” said Marie Nazon, a college counselor. “There’s dignity. There’s pride and a sense of respect.

  “I’m Haitian; it’s not even about race,” added Nazon. “It’s about being a woman.”

  vega792@gmail.com

  Source: nydailynews.com