National Hispanic Heritage Month is a monthlong celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture in the United States. While Hispanic and Latino communities deserve to be celebrated all year long, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 is a time to give extra recognition to these communities.
The observation first began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded the celebration to the present 30-day period. By spanning from the middle of September and ending mid October, Hispanic Heritage Month encompasses the independence days of many Central American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on Sept. 15, Mexico on Sept. 16, Chile on Sept. 18, and Belize on Sept. 21.
Join in celebrating the vibrant art, music, and dance of Hispanic and Latino culture by joining the Islip Arts Council (IAC) in the following events.
“Herencia”: Celebrating the works of Hispanic and Latinx Artists
The IAC has invited Hispanic/Latinx artists to showcase their work relating, but not limited, to their culture, style of art, or pieces they’re proud of and wish to share in the IAC gallery. The gallery is located in the South Shore Mall at 1701 Sunrise Highway in Bay Shore. This art exhibition will be on display from Sept. 10 through Oct. 1, and the opening reception will be held Friday, Sept. 13, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Hispanic Heritage Month featured artist Jairo Ortiz
On view from Sept. 5 to Oct. 3 is artwork from featured artist Jairo Ortiz. Born in Peru in 1996, Ortiz entered ENSABAP (National School of Fine Arts in Peru) in 2016 before he emigrated to the United States to start a new artistic journey. Ortiz prefers painting outdoors rather than a studio and found that painting outdoors helped him get to know the surroundings of a new city. Based in New York, he uses the urban and natural themes of the neighborhood where he lived for his inspiration. Join Ortiz at the opening reception on Sept. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Villalobos Brothers
The grammy-winning family from Veracruz, Mexico, will be bringing their musical talents to the Boulton Center in Bay Shore on Sunday, Oct. 6. Their original compositions and arrangements masterfully fuse and celebrate the richness of Mexican folk music with the intricate harmonies of jazz and classical music. The renowned ensemble has performed around the world and collaborated with legendary musicians including Grammy winners Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton, Antonio Sánchez, Regina Carter, Eduardo Magallanes, Dan Zanes, and more.
Doors open at 1 p.m. for the 2 p.m. show. Tickets are priced at $37. To purchase, visit https://www.boultoncenter.org/villalobos-brothers.
El Ritmo
Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance Company will be presenting a program of Salsa/Latin, Argentine Tango and Flamenco dance during this dance and music celebration. The concert, entitled “El Ritmo,” will celebrate the many passionate and exciting rhythms of the Latin world, and is set for Oct. 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the South Shore Mall Courtyard and IAC gallery.
The concert is free to the public, made possible with grants Sol y Sombra received from the NYSCA’s SCR program as administered in Suffolk County by the Huntington Arts Council, Suffolk County’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the NYS Dance Force as regranted by Teatro Yerbabruja.
Bombazo
A Bronx-native born to Puerto Rican parents both from Caguas, Puerto Rico, Jose “Dr. Drum” Ortiz is one of the top national Afro Rican Bomba Artists. He will be performing in the South Shore Mall Courtyard and IAC gallery on Oct. 19 at 3:30 p.m.
Dr. Drum is a nationally highly acclaimed professional on-stage performer, educator in Pan-African, Caribbean and Latin culture and is a self-taught percussionist of AfroCaribbean rhythms. Dr. Drum has been an adamant advocate for the cultural arts and activist, organizer and educator of Afro Puerto Rican Bomba, a traditional African derived music and art form brought to the Americas from African slaves. Come to this free concert prepared to dance!
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