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¡Que Bonita Bandera!: The Puerto Rican Flag as Folk Art Exhibition Opening

The Institute for Community Research (ICR) and its Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program (CHAP) celebrated the opening of the exhibit, ¡Que Bonita Bandera!: The Puerto Rican Flag as Folk Art, on July 11, 2004. Hartford Mayor, Mr. Eddie Perez welcomed Hartford residents to the opening by thanking ICR for supporting the cultural heritage of Hartford communities, and by discussing the importance of honoring cultural symbols through educational exhibits such as ¡Que Bonita Bandera! The exhibit's curator, Elena Martinez of City Lore in New York, was also present for the exhibit opening.

The opening event included performances by Taino-style musical group Village Drum, bomba dancers from the Areyto Latin Dance Studio of East Hartford and musica jibara group Amor y Cultura. Master cake decorator Ana Lozada from Hartford created a spectacular Puerto Rican flag cake to honor the occasion.

Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez and Lynne Williamson, Director of ICR's Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program, speaking to visitors at the exhibit opening reception.

Village Drum performing Taino-influenced music of Puerto Rico at the opening reception.

Flag cake made by master cake decorator Ana Lozada of Hartford.

Amor y Cultura performing musica jibara, folk music of Puerto Rico, at the opening reception.

A young visitor is impressed by artist George Zavala's installation "Mas bonita se viera," part of the "Que Bonita Bandera exhibit."

Dancers from the Areyto Latin Dance Studio performing Puerto Rican bomba at the opening reception.

A view of the Que Bonita Bandera exhibit, showing the section describing Movement/Mobilidad. The bike has been decorated by Jose Castrodad, who rides it every year in the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York. His helmet is displayed on the pedestal at the far right.