by Clara Galvano Rivera
Gladys Rosas-LaFrossia is a mixed media artist and art teacher at the NYC Department of Education in The Bronx, where she was raised and still lives. Her father is from Colombia, her mother from Quebradillas, P.R. known as La Guarida del Pirata, or pirate’s hangout, as it borders the Atlantic Ocean. “I was mostly raised with the Puerto Rican culture because I visited the island almost every year until I was 18. We have a very large family there.”
The love she has for Puerto Rican culture is revealed in original works like Tres Mujeres, La Resistencia and others. Rosas-LaFrossia shares “I was always drawing. Being part of the Head Start Program was so great. I was painting and drawing every single day. I would bring my artwork home and my parents would post it up on the wall. That gave me a sense of validation.”
At Lehman College, she took a minor in Education because her father wanted her to have something to “fall back on” if work as an artist became scarce. He was right. “I was really glad I listened to him, because in the 90’s the city cut out all the art programs in the schools and I could not get a job.” What to do? Our Artist of the Month began teaching at private schools. “I always injected Art projects at the private schools, but it wasn’t an official art class. I was licensed and ready to teach art after college, but that’s when the Arts were cut and it took me 10 years to find a job teaching art. I have now been teaching art for 15 years in the public school system.
On June 8th, PRIDAVision presented “Printmaker Artists Talk” and Rosas-LaFrossia, was one of the artists featured. When asked whether social injustice inspired her body of work, she responded by saying she didn’t think the whole category or genre of her work was political, but did think that reflecting the social issues of the times was important. Resistencia, for instance, is a work she created for the 2019 Comite Noviembre Artisan Fair, and reflects her reaction to the protests that sprung up in Puerto Rico that ousted then-Governor Ricky Rosello. She saw people coming together with passion, joy and exuberance and that inspired her. Here is a link to this excellent interview that features other amazing PRIDA artists. Please, don’t miss it!: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM9WgJEgC_A
La Resistencia 
Taino Symbols 
Taino Panels 
Pelo Buenisimo 
Tres Mujeres
Rosas-LaFrossia became interested in printmaking through her graduate program at Lehman College. “I fell in love with printmaking when I took a graduate class at Lehman College. My professors (Melissa Brown and John Vasquez Mejias) introduced us to screen printing and woodcarving. They taught us about revolutionary art posters, artwork by Kathë Kollwitz, Jose Posada, Shepard Fairy. Their love of the medium and excitement teaching it brought out the best in me. I was never really a painter, not really a sculptor… I could do those things, but they were not my strengths. I have always loved drawing, but printmaking seems to bring out my best, and I feel it works so well with my style. I guess I love the involvement of the process because I am very thorough… it becomes a therapy to me. I like to sit and listen to music or talk on the phone while I create and prepare. I think I enjoy the carving more than the printing… kind of hard to decide.!!” In speaking with Rosas-LaFrossia, she mentioned that certain woods are not very forgiving and after a while she needs to stop to rest her hand, but it’s all worth it in the end when a beautiful piece of art emerges.
Printmaking does have an illustrious history and some Puerto Ricans have excelled in it, like Rafael Tufino and Lorenzo Homar to name just two. From the 1950’s through the 80’s, Puerto Rican artists, primarily men, were creating prints that depicted everyday life on the island. The vibrancy of the colors, the focus on everyday life made them popular. Now, most prints are in museums or private collections and are highly sought after. You can read more about them on http://www.puertoricanposters.com/.
Her eye on the future, Rosas-LaFrossia, will be applying for some exhibits for the NYC Parks Department. She would also love to continue collaborating with the Bronx Arts Factory. She has done workshops and exhibits there. In the Fall, she will be back in the classroom. Lucky are the students who will be on the receiving end of her mastery, as the artist spoke from her heart: “Already I am re-vamping my curriculum to include mixed media and crafts. Students have different learning styles, and it’s important to introduce a variety of mediums to capture their interest and capitalize on their strengths. For some, it’s color, for others, it’s drawing. Still others are kinesthetic, excelling in clay or textiles. This is why arts education is my passion. It’s all fascinating to me.” The artist would love to be part of a printmaking taller or workshop in the future.
Why did Rosas La Frossia become a PRIDA member?
“I had always heard of PRIDA, but for me it felt like an exclusive club for ‘serious’ artists. I never really thought I had a shot. My former classmate from Lehman College told me about it about 3 years ago and suggested I apply. Around the same time, another artist friend of mine told me about it and said I would be a good fit. I was afraid that I would not be eligible, so I sat on the application until the very last minute. I am glad I sent in the application, because I was accepted! I have enjoyed being a member of PRIDA!
Contact:
You can view Gladys’ artwork on Instagram @lafrossia and/or send her an email: gladys.lafrossia@gmail.com