Tradition, Oh My Love - Art Therapy at El Borinquen Residence
By Oyiza Adaba
Photo: Africa-Related
If you are looking for a prime example of how art can be used as therapy in the healing of both mind and body, look no further than the El Borinquen Residence located in the Morrisania neighborhood of the Bronx. The colorful facade of the newly constructed 148-apartment building stands out, in sharp contrast to standard aesthetics of the South Bronx. Added to that are brightly painted murals in the hallways by artists Aurelio del Muro and Martha Blain, which give the feel of walking through an aquarium of culture.
“Tradition, Oh My Love”, an exhibition that just wrapped featured artists whose works were based on or influenced by folk art. Blanka Amezkua, a New York City based contemporary artist who herself combines diverse fusions in her art, curated the art space in the lobby of the building to be just as colorful visually and mentally.
From February to May, 2023, artists of Latin American descent with deep roots in Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Dominican Republic and Mexico, presented works that establish the connection of color, rhythm and emotion. The group include Tanya Torres, Diego Espalliat, Gabriel García Román, Mercedes Molina, Julio Rodríguez, Itzy Ramírez, Matilde Merced María Nasio, Yoloxochilt Marcelino Cano, Quito/Ecuador, Michael Vásquez.
Beyond aesthetics, El Borinquen serves a higher purpose, as a refuge offering supportive services to New York City’s homeless and mentally ill population. At the 2021 opening, New York City Mayor Eric Adams described it as the blueprint to treating “homelessness as a housing problem”. Further stating, "With the completion of the El Borinquen Residence, more of our neighbors experiencing homelessness and mental illness will have a place they can call home.”