The Garifuna Experience Podcast

Episode 11 - Art & Identity- Visual Expressions of Garifuna Culture in NYC

Jose Francisco Avila Episode 11

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Explore the vibrant world of Garifuna visual art in Episode 15: Art & Identity: Visual Expressions of Garifuna Culture in NYC. Hosted by José Francisco Ávila, this episode goes beyond the well-known music and dance to highlight how painting, sculpture, and crafts are central to Garifuna identity. Discover how artists like Benjamin Nicholas, Pen Cayetano, Isidra Sabio, Greg Palacio, and Santos Arzu use their work to transmit oral histories, make political commentary, and affirm cultural resilience in both traditional and contemporary forms. This episode is a deep dive into the powerful visual storytelling that ensures the survival and celebration of Garifuna heritage.

Resources:

The Garífuna Experience in NYC | Bronx walking tour

The Garifuna Experience in NYC 

The Happy Land Memorial Walking Tour 

Garifuna Heritage Walking Tour (BronxNet Video)

Benjamin Nicholas

Pen Cayetano

Isidra Sabio

Greg Palacio

Santos Arzu

Books by José Francisco Ávila

Pan-Garifuna Afro-Latino Power of Pride: My Quest for Racial, Ancestral, Ethnic and Cultural Identity

Garífuna Ancestry: The DNA Quest to Decipher the Garifuna Distant Past 

People on this episode