SOLDADERAS-
Frida Kahlo, Julia de Burgos & Mexican/ Puerto Rican solidarity
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 Unveiling ceremony, SoldaderasThe unveiling ceremony on July 6, 2011 (Frida's birthday and the anniversary of Julia's passing) begins with a Mexica blessing by Kalpulli Huehuetlahtolli. Photo by Joe Conzo |  Soldadaras Unveiling CeremonyThe unveiling ceremony begins with a Mexica blessing by Kalpulli Huehuetlahtolli. Photo by Joe Conzo |
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 Soldaderas Unveiling ceremonyThe unveiling ceremony begins with a Mexica blessing by Kalpulli Huehuetlahtolli. Photo by Joe Conzo. |  Soldaderas Unveiling ceremonyThe unveiling ceremony begins with a Mexica blessing by Kalpulli Huehuetlahtolli. Photo by Joe Conzo. |
 Musical blessingMusical blessing at the unveiling ceremony. Photo by Joe Conzo |  Congas for the SoldaderasPhoto by Joe Conzo |
 Sandra Maria Esteves, SoldaderasWith godmother of Nuyorican Poetry, Sandra Esteves and Program Host Rhina Valentin. Photo by Joe Conzo. |  Yasmin Hernandez & Tato LavieraPhoto by Joe Conzo |
 Candlelight vigilAfter the opening remarks and presentations, a candlelight vigil is held for Julia de Burgos at the garden, marking the anniversary of her passing. Photo by Xen Medina |  Poetry VigilSery Colon and la Bruja, light their candles before the poetry procession/ vigil. Photo by Xen Medina |
 El Regalo de los Reyes!Sery Colon reads Julia de Burgos' poem "El regalo de los Reyes" featured on the red stripe behind Frida Kahlo, shared by the Mexican and Puerto Rican flags. The poem is about our flag. Photo by Xen Medina |  Poets preserving Boricua cultureMy dear poet friends Prisionera and Sery Colon. Photo by Xen Medina |
 Prisionera, 23 de SeptiembrePrisonera, representing for the Partido Nacionalista de Puerto Rico, of which Julia de Burgos was a part, reads one of my favorites, "23 de septiembre." Photo by Xen Medina |  La Bruja at Manny's mosaicLa Bruja reads a poem by the Julia de Burgos mosaic on 106th St by Manny Vega. Photo by Xen Medina |
 Plena processionPleneros lead the procession up 106th Street. Photo by Xen Medina |  At the procession with baby GabrielMe with a very sleepy Gabriel, 2 years old. I was also about 2 months pregnant with Josef. Photo by Xen Medina |
 detail on Julia altarFlowers from Julia's altar at the last stop of our procession, 5th avenue, near 106th street, near the site where she was believed to have fallen. Photo by Xen Medina |
SOLDADERAS PRINTS
Frida Kahlo
Mexico
July 6 1907- July 13, 1954
Julia de Burgos
Puerto Rico
Feb 17 1914- July 6, 1953
Soldaderas, named after the women soldiers of the Mexican Revolution, is a mural tribute to Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and Puerto Rican poet Julia de Burgos. It honors the common histories, common struggles and solidarity of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. Inspired by Kahlo’s painting, “Las dos Fridas,” the two women sit holding hands, their flags merge sharing a central red stripe. Both were feminists, upheld revolutionary ideals and shared a profound love for their respective homelands. At a time in which their male counter parts did not delve into personal issues in their poetry and art, de Burgos and Kahlo unapologetically made the personal political.
Soldaderas is also inspired by the neighboring Puerto Rican and Mexican communities who have made El Barrio/ East Harlem their home. The mural unveiled in El Barrio at the Modesto Flores Community Garden on Lexington Avenue between 104th and 105th Streets on July 6, 2011. I chose that date because in a poetic twist, Julia de Burgos died on July 6th, 1953, Frida Kahlo's birthday. The mural unveiling brought together members of the Puerto Rican and Mexican communities, opening with a Mexica blessing by Kalpulli Huehuetlahtolli and combining poets, performers and speakers from each of these cultures. A candlelight vigil began with the godmother of Nuyorican Poetry, Sandra Maria Esteves, reading the famed Rio Grande de Loiza, on the bridge over the water in garden. After the program in the garden, a procession was led by pleneros, stopping at several significant sites along 106th Street/ Julia de Burgos Boulevard, where poets recited selected de Burgos poems. The procession ended with another candlelight vigil on 5th Avenue, near the site where she collapsed before have passed. There we read Dadme mi Numero y Poema Para mi Muerte.