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No. 1. Voice From the Studio. The Newsletter of The Art of Felix Berroa. Long Island, New York. 1997

Para abrir la version en español de este Newsletter apriete aqui.

 

BODIES AND THOUGHTS ECSTASY

No. 17-b	No. 24-b	No. 20-b

Everyone converse with me in any of my exhibition know I speaking a "broke English". That will not stop me to make this newsletter. English is a second language for me. Learning another language in the adult age, is much more difficult than children and young people.

Some people call us "Latinos" or "Latin", but that term is not the right one. Latino is cover something more than us. The Italians and Brazilians are "Latino" too, reason because some of us like that term. Among us there will be all time people who will try to look better, so including the Italians and Brazilians sound like a good deal. The perfect word is "Spanish", becouse we are "Spanish Descendants". Descendants from the nation came to "discover" America, stealing our gold, killing our indians (in some country like Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico extinguished), but they left their seed across the continent: Their children, their language, their culture. So, we are SPANISH.

We are around thirty millions Spanish's in USA. Exaggerated sum? No! Is real. Don't scare. We are nice people. A few bad guys, but no all.

(When I made this newsletter in 1997, I guest the amount writing above. Last counting made recently by the Census Bureoau in July 1, 2004, report 41.3 millions Spanish's in USA, an amount over the African Descendants in USA, who originally was the first minority. From this total amount, a least three quarter are Mexicans and the rest from the other countries of Hispanish American ).

Spanish in USA are simple people. Most of us come from small towns and the country sides of our countries, looking for a better opportunity in our life. Most of us are "every day Spanish speaking" everywhere: home, streets, stores, pharmacies, groceries, supermarkets, factories. night clubs, restaurants, receptionists, doctors, telephone company, LILCO, radio stations, TV channels, etc.. In almost every area you find someone answer to you request in Spanish. Sometime we try to "make in English" in any of those places with Spanish's English-speaking or Norteamericans and, because of our strong ascent, some of them don't want to try to understand us, so we get answers like that: Como estas amigo? Que quieres? Vaya con Dios! Hasta la vista!

That don't bother me. I feel good when I see Northamericans try to learn our language. Is smart to do that if Spanish is "second language" in this country.

Other foreign language speakers do not have the same luck (Europeans, Brazilians, Haitians, Asiastics, etc.). They need to "learn English fast" or will have a lot of troubles here.

I'm writing the above introduction because this time I'm translate myself my statement in this newsletter and will do that until I find someone loving enough the Arts that spare some time help me in the translation.

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No. 44-b	No. 42-b	No. 41-b

Well, an exhibition is going on right now at the Brentwood Public Library through this month of December 1997. One of my collections are exhibit there now: "BODIES AND THOUGH ECSTASY".

The exhibit was planned with twenty five paintings, but the library direction recommend to not exhibit fourth of the group, because of their "accentuated sensual expressions". The paintings left out of the exhibit are printed here for you consideration. Their reference number are 5-b, 14-b, 24-b, and 41-b.

Bodies and Though Ecstasy" is one of my most important collections. That collection beginning durint the Puerto Rico Period (1979-1980).

Puerto Rico is around three time smallest than the Dominican Republic, but with and economic developed much more advanced. That is happen because Puerto Rico is under the USA flag since 1898.

No only the dollars arrive to the Borinquen Island. Also the Norteamerican culture too, introduced through the schools and all goberment offices. But the Portorrican culture, -like any other Caribbean culture-, is very strong and unique. In one century of Norteamerican neocolonialism of the island, Puerto Rico still proudly conserving the original language and culture, with some influence, of course. Is logic after one hundred years.

In the year I lived in Puerto Rico I have a great impression of the people and their folklore, but also of the beauty of the Portorrican women. My "Fertilized Woman" series born there, motivated in the pregnant wife of my best friend Arnaldo Alicea, natural from Comerio, Puerto Rico. Also I started in Puerto Rico my sensual subject, motivated in the sensual way of dressing of some Puertorrican women, at that time (1979), much more provocative than the Dominican women.

The most high level of the sensual production start in Chicago at the ending of 1981. Two years later I move to Bay Shore (in Long Island), New York, were I get married and experience with the "fertilized woman" with my own child. In those days, the series "Bodies and Though Ecstasy" get the maxima expression.

The everyday life in this society, full of "sensuality sugerences" through the multidirectional communications system, such as TV, newspapers, magazines, cinematography film, etc., is a reality. This reality modify the traditional models of the norteamericans and all immigrants who do not want to step back, making real the old expression that said: "If you going to Rome, doing what the Romans do".

The most sophisticated system of publicity in the world, supported by the wide freedom of expression and commerce are here, everyday through serials printed and the TV screen, saling. Also, the most extended variety of products and services in the world are here.

"Sensuality sugerence" is one of the elements in many products. One of those products are the dressing FASHION. I take many of my ideas fron the fashion: tight-thin-open-transparent dresses. The LEOTARD and STRETCH LEGGINGS, commonly was use before as an underwear, Now is use as a primary garment.

Precisely, in one of the paintings "left-out" at the Library exhibit (the number 24-b), the woman wearing a "leotard". In that painting, the woman is accosed by an "angel"...., I mean, by a "good and sincere man".

Other painting "left-out" was "The Plane over New York". This painting express the raw metropolitan city, washed by maximal power of this country. A young woman is shamed by her nudity that is reflected in through a mirror. That reflection is observed by the entire community. Below, the crime, delinquencies, etc., is represented by a popular concept, representing physical aggression: "the large fish eat the smallest". In the sky, "the plane'. In the Dominican Republic was very popular the expression "the plane" for the "easy woman", the woman that sleeping with more than one man. A plane is piloted by a man or two. A plane can be piloted by different man in different time. The "women-plane" too.

The painting was created in 1988. Was exhibit for first time at the Islip Museum in Long Island, New York. Johm Rense wrote: "...he show, with humor and panache, how TV is a major influence on the culture, dress, dreams and sex life of a generation."

The exhibition of the Brentwood Public Library is dedicated to the new generation of Spanish in Long Island, New York, because they represent the new and the hope of the development of the intellectuality of our people in USA, that look to be mostly portrait in the "physical action" than the knowledge.

Felix Berroa.

All works published here are copyright 1987-2005

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Index of NEWSLETTERS

2005: No. 10.- "For Who I create my Art?"

2004: No. 9.- "Artist's Style - El Estilo del Artista".

2003: No. 8.- "Family". (Soon)

2002: No. 7.- "Dream Hunters". (Soon)

2001: No. 6.- "Carefully When you Visit an Outdoor Art Show"

2000: No. 5.-"A thousand Birds for a Dreamer Girl"

1999: No. 4.- (Soon)

1998 No. 3.- "The Music Maker"

1997: No. 2.- "Bodies and Thoughts Ecstasy"

1999: No. 1.- The Artist in the Modern Society

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CAREFULLY WHEN YOU VISIT AN OUTDOOR SHOW. IT'S NOT ALLWAY WHAT YOU SEE. IT'S HOW YOU SEE.

In the photos, an idea of two differents way of exhibit art. A left, an outdoor show. At right, a museum. The painting still the same, but with different value "in money". When you visit an outdoor art show, be smart. "See" the paintings, observe for quality of the techniques, materials, composition, subjects, ... used. Ask for education background, exhibit backgraound.