Skip to main content
Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections, 2015.196.72.13, Connecticut Historical …
Program: Salad Bowl Multicultural Festival
Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections, 2015.196.72.13, Connecticut Historical Society, In Copyright

Program: Salad Bowl Multicultural Festival

Date1998
MediumPaper
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections
DescriptionProgram for the Salad Bowl Multicultural Festival, 1998.
Object number2015.196.72.13
CopyrightIn Copyright
NotesSubject Note: The Salad Bowl Multicultural Festival, held in East Hartford on September 19, 1998, developed as an event to celebrate the diversity and unique cultural contributions of artists, musicians, spiritual organizations, and ethnic groups in the Greater Hartford area. The festival presented many ethnic musicians from groups including Franco-Americans, Puerto Ricans, African American, Irish, and Latin, and also featured a food tent with African and other local restaurants represented. One of the organizers was Tito Ortiz, a Puerto Rican musician and artist who collaborated with CCHAP on several projects.

Biographical Note: Tito Ortiz of East Hartford is a long-time artist, solo performer, and leader of the group Son Borincano. His performances and work in schools combine music and storytelling to involve audiences and children in an exploration of the history and culture of Puerto Rico and include participatory playing of Caribbean instruments as well as historical background. He has presented music residencies at Guakia where he also taught guitar, the Andover Newton School, Massachusetts; Betances and many other Hartford schools; and especially with the Bushnell Partners Program statewide. Tito worked extensively with community groups such as the Webster Correctional Institution, the Cultural Center Without Walls on Park Street, the Artists Against Aids coalition, and the Village for Families and Children where he was employed as a social worker. He also taught art and was exhibited at Capitol Community Technical College in Hartford. His biography states “My goal with music and visual art is to bring audiences to a better understanding of the beauty and history of Latino culture. In my solo performances of songs and storytelling I feature my own compositions and the traditional stories of Puerto Rico, accompanying myself on guitar and cuatro. I also play Caribbean music and contemporary Latin jazz with the group that I formed, Son Borincano (previously called Aires Riqueños). We performed at the Bushnell’s Community Open House, among other venues, and had regular gigs at Braza and Bamboleo Restaurants which will continue through 2005. I also play guitar, guiro, and percussion with the David Giardina Jazz Band and Ray Gonzalez’ music groups out of Guakia. My music and presentations are in both English and Spanish, depending on the audience.“

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