by Clara Galvano Rivera
cgr.writepro@gmail.com
“What do I do now?”, Marrero asked herself. She had just retired as an art teacher from the NYC Board of Ed and the future was bright but unscripted.
Our PRIDA Artist Everyone Should Know, Elena Marrero, a graduate of the High School of Art and Design, had a brilliant idea. She would become a street photographer and create artistic photos of the dynamic and vibrant Puerto Rican events happening in New York City. Marrero recalls, “All the Puerto Ricans would come out for the bomba and plena performances, the poetry readings, fundraisers, parades, etc. It was wonderful. I went everywhere. I didn’t miss a thing. I had so much fun. I loved it!”
Born in NYC and with family from Adjuntas, Jayuya, Toa Alta and Yauco, capturing her Afro-Puerto Rican culture in photos was easy and fun. The pictures showed images where Boricuas saw themselves being represented and they started asking her for copies, so she gave them away for free. She took pictures of many well-known Boricuas such as poet Tato Laviera, and of groups like Yerbabuena, and many others that performed at the now-defunct Camaradas in El Barrio. In 2008-09 she also volunteered as the Manager of Cemi Underground, a bookstore in El Barrio, owned by Luis Cordero Santoni. The image below shows Marrero on the flyer of an exhibit of her photos at the popular bookstore, where poetry readings, songs and comedy were performed by many including Shihan Candy Warixi Soto, and Caridad de la Luz (La Bruja).
The days of giving away her photographic art for free, however, was coming to an end. In 2017, she joined PRIDA and began selling her photos at the annual Comite Noviembre’s National Puerto Rican Artisans Fair & Book Expo. They were a hit! Marrero shares, “I only sold photos there, but its where I saw the different artisans and what they were creating that inspired me to use my artistic abilities. I started to paint on items made of wood and used acrylics. I painted anything I could get my hands on! My items sold quickly because I made them affordable.” Marrero also uses an etching tool to carve rocks which she paints with Puerto Rican motifs and Taino symbols.
Marrero’s love of photography – an art form in itself – inspired her to self-publish 4 photo documentary books: one for her family, La Familia Claudio, From Puerto Rico to El Barrio, NYC Vol. I 1800’s to 1946; another the 50th Anniversary of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, June 9, 2007, NYC (sold out) and two she shared with those who attended the annual Comite Noviembre Buscando Nuestras Raices sponsored trips to Puerto Rico, 2007 and 2008.
Our artisan is proud of everything she creates, but if she had to choose, she loves painting on wood. “I paint on cutting boards, tostoneras, pilones, etc. I am inspired by my African/Puerto Rican culture. I’m working on mini wood rocking chairs painting the Puerto Rican flag on the back and hanging a mini straw jibaro hat on it. These will be available in November. I don’t usually vend in the Summer,” she explains. These pieces will probably be available at the next Comite Noviembre Artisan Fair, where she has been known to blow the Taino Guamo (conch shell) to let the Boricuas present at the event know it is ready to begin. She received the Taino Awards first Award for Photography and has been involved with the organization ever since.
June 17, 2021, Marrero was one of two photographers featured as part of In Her Shoes Series: 2021, a part of Momma’s Hip Hop Kitchen, a multifaceted hip hop event designed to showcase women artists, especially women of color. The series was hosted by the Hostos Center for Arts and Culture.
The artist has many interests and spoke of her “bed” in the Rivers Run Community Garden at Co-op City where she grows tomatoes, cilantro, hot peppers, garlic, and more. She has organized Bomba and plena events there with much success, gave dance lessons and sold some of her artesanias there as well. She related, “Once the word was out, many of the Puerto Ricans living in the complex came out, it was so much fun. I also make it a point to include African symbols in some of my pieces because many of the attendees were Black and I wanted them to feel welcome.”
As you can see, this PRIDA Artist of the Month is multi-talented and multi-faceted. Can’t wait to see what she creates next!
Why did you join PRIDA?
“I joined PRIDA to support my Puerto Rican culture and to share and sell my art”.
Contact Elena:
azucar48@optonline.net
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