By Clara Galvano Rivera
cgr.writepro@gmail.com
Meet a Puerto Rican Renaissance Man! Felipe Rangel is a multi-skilled artisan who makes sure that his extraordinary Ponce-centric Vejigante masks, tell the story of how, where and why they came into existence.
While working as a teacher in Brooklyn many years ago, Rangel noticed that many of his students, predominantly Puerto Rican, didn’t know much about their culture. His idea to make the masks and to combine that with Puerto Rican history was a resounding success. While teaching them to make the first basic masks, he also started teaching them about the Bomba, and Plena musical genres. Now his students were creating art as well as learning to play with instruments that taught them about their roots. This was a very exciting time for Rangel. Many students, not just those of Puerto Rican descent took the learning to heart. “One of my students, a Dominican young man, was very interested in how the molds were made because he wanted to take his learning back to D.R. and teach others how I made them. Lo integro en su cultura. De un solo maestro salieron un número de artistas que enriquecieron su cultura con su arte. I created a Caribbean cross-cultural exchange!”
Rangel continued learning and as his methods and techniques became more advanced, his masks became more refined and elaborate. He also travelled to Puerto Rico to study with some of the masters on the island. As he learned, he taught others and came up with different characters for his masks. Rangel has his own style. His favorite subject is the rooster, but he has designed a horse, a dragon and likes to come up with new ideas that test his skill.
Beyond his artistry with these special Vejigante masks, Rangel is a musician and plays the trombone. Additionally, he shares, “Juan Gutierrez, you know from Los Pleneros de la 21, he taught me how to play the pandereta.” In a Latin band at Baruch College, he played many gigs with fellow musician colleagues.
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- Felipe conducting a workshop at Comite Noviembre’s National Puerto Rican Artisan Fair and Book Expo in 2018
Always wanting to put his Puerto Rican culture first and foremost, in 1998 he created the La Hermandad Cultural de Artesanos y Artesanas Puertorriqueños organization and became its first president. After being the head for six years, he saw that the organization was not focusing on the mission, and he stepped down. Rangel continued to design and create one-of-a-kind masks and to teach, which were his first loves.
A few years later, he came in contact with a new organization that called itself P.R.I.D.A (Puerto Rican Institute for the Development of the Arts) begun by Luis Cordero. Since Cordero knew of his experience with La Hermandad, he asked Rangel to join. A member of the P.R.I.D.A Board of Directors since 2016, he is also the current Treasurer.
So let’s see, Rangel has been a teacher, a creator of Vejigante masks, a musician, and a Puerto Rican culture organization president, so what else is this Renaissance man into, you ask? How about agriculture? Agriculture? Yes, he has a small farm at the back of his house and loves to grow natural herbs and vegetables. He grows lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, peppers and those ajies that feature prominently in Puerto Rican cuisine. Rangel has become an agricultural explorer who is into composting and environmental science. What’s next? How about recognition of his artistry?
At the 12th Annual Taino Awards Ceremony, Rangel will receive the well-deserved Areito award for the “Artisan of the Year.” By the way, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Taino Awards will take place on Sunday, July 12, 2020. Hope to see you there with all of us being healthy and cheering him on.
Why did Rangel join PRIDA?
Bueno, necesitamos que el mundo sepa de nuestro talento y con PRIDA eso es lo que tratamos de hacer. (The world needs to know our talent and with PRIDA that’s what we try to do.)
Rangel, Felipe
Vejigante masks, hand painted gourds and jewelry
Cell phone: 347-531-8271
Email: jfrangelf@yahoo.com
rtrangel96@gmail.com
Facebook: Felipe Rangel Pizzini