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Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collection, 2015.196.632.1, Connecticut Historical S ...
Gourd Carving Workshop with Graciela Quiñones Rodriguez
Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collection, 2015.196.632.1, Connecticut Historical Society, Copyright held by Lynne Williamson.

Gourd Carving Workshop with Graciela Quiñones Rodriguez

Subject (Puerto Rican)
Photographer
Date1997
Mediumprint photographs
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections
CopyrightCopyright held by Lynne Williamson
Object number2015.196.632.1-.6
DescriptionPhotographs from a gourd carving workshop taught by Graciela Quiñones-Rodriguez in 1997. The workshop was held in conjunction with the "Herencia Taina: Legacy and Life" exhibition.

(.1-.4) Graciela Quiñones-Rodriguez demonstrating the art of higüera carving.

(.5) Artwork, including higüeras and cuatros, made by Graciela Quiñones-Rodriguez.

(.6) Graciela Quiñones-Rodriguez demonstrating the art of higüera carving to people attending the workshop. In the background are photos of the process of collecting higueras from trees and hollowing them out and drying before carving. Graciela's father assists her in this process.
NotesSubject Note: As part of the "Herenica Taina: Legacy and Life" exhibition at the Institute for Community Research in 1997, Graciela Quiñones-Rodriguez presented her research into the techniques of higüera (gourd) preparation and decoration for use as household utensils, ornaments with Taino or political iconography, or musical instruments. This was a participatory workshop. Higüeras, which grow on trees in a variety of sizes, have been used as utensils and vessels by Puerto Ricans for centuries. Tainos would use them for ceremonial bowls or as everyday cups or ladles. They are cut open, the inedible pulp scooped out, then dried. Graciela Quiñones-Rodriguez sometimes carves them with hand tools while green and soft on the outside, but she also uses an electric dremel to carve the hardened gourds. The designs are inspired by Taino motifs she sees on rock carvings and pottery or learns about from other researchers.


Subject Note: "Herencia Taina: Legacy and Life" was an exhibition and related programs examining the history of Puerto Rico's indigenous people, the Taino through contemporary art expressions and interpretations. ICR's Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program, in conjunction with project scholar Ruth Glasser and designer Ricardo Mulero, planned an exhibit, workshops, and concert to present a wide range of arts practiced by musicians and visual artists who are inspired by Taino heritage. Participating artists included Imna Arroyo (Eastern CT State University), Graciela Quiñones (West Hartford) Mel Gonzalez (Meriden) and Robert Borrero (New York) who created contemporary interpretations and folk art works illustrating Taino heritage, such as musical instruments, gourd carvings, paintings and textile art, as well as interpretive information for these. Their works were juxtaposed with Taino artifacts from archaeological collections, along with photographs and posters from the continuing indigenous festival held in Jayuya, Puerto Rico, to show the strong influence that Taino culture still holds for Puerto Ricans. The exhibit project also presented several public events including a concert, a workshop for teachers, and a roundtable discussion. An illustrated brochure in both English and Spanish was produced. The project was supported by the Connecticut Humanities Council, the Connecticut Commission on the Arts, the Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Foundation, the Greater Hartford Arts Council, and the Institute for Community Research.


Biographical Note: Graciela Quiñones-Rodriguez is a Puerto Rican educator, social worker, artist, and luthier who apprenticed with William Cumpiano (Easthampton, MA) and has built cuatros, tiples, and bordonuas. Graciela is also a cuatrista and higüera (gourd) and santos carver. She served as an advisory committee and exhibiting artist and workshop leader for CCHAP’s three Puerto Rican projects, starting as a community scholar with Herencia Taina, CCHAP’s 1998 Taino exhibit project, researching the techniques of higüera preparation and decoration for use as household utensils, ornaments with Taino or political iconography, or musical instruments. She also worked as an artist-presenter for the Massachusetts Cultural Council summer institute on Puerto Rican cultural heritage for Springfield, Massachusetts teachers. Graciela is a highly respected arts educator, woodcarver, and singer with the Connecticut Latin music group Tierra Mestiza. She is a Connecticut Commission on the Arts Master Teaching Artist and Artists Fellowship winner. As part of the Southern New England Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, she worked with master luthier Bill Cumpiano. Together they built cuatros, tiples, and bordonuas, older forms of Puerto Rican stringed instruments. As part of the apprenticeship they built a cuatro on the basis of a photograph of an unusual form from the early 1900's, which has a bent wood body rather than a hollowed-out base. They demonstrated their partnership work at the Lowell Folk Festival in 2000.


Additional materials exist in the CCHAP archive for this artist.


Cataloging Note: This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-245929-OMS-20.
Status
Not on view
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