Nunca Olvides de Donde Vienes / Never Forget Where You Come dedication as part of CAICU, April 19, 2025. Photo by Eddie Einbender-Luks.
CAICU, a Taino word for land bridge, is a socially engaged public art series
weaving together culturally and historically significant Puerto Rican-themed
gardens in the Norris Square neighborhood created by community organizers in
the 1980s.
Led by Philadelphia-based curator Marángeli Mejía-Rabell and Puerto
Rico-based muralist Celso González to strengthen community and public
awareness of the neighborhood’s history and legacy. The project’s focus is on
building a cultural bridge through cultural organizing, public art and
fostering cultural exchanges with Norris Square, Philadelphia and Loíza,
Puerto Rico as its landing points. Efforts to date include the co-design of a
garden at Corredor Afro in Loíza, public art interventions, and skills &
practices share/gatherings that support co-creation, foster connections, and
encourage a culture of learning, collaboration and community building. Their
next effort is a collaborative mural bringing together three local artists and
two visiting artists to celebrate the rich history of the Norris Square
community and its Caribbean roots. The CAICU team is also training community
members to serve as Mural Arts' first resident-led neighborhood tour
guides.
FUNDERS:
National Endowment for the Arts, PNC Arts Alive, Pennsylvania Council on
the Arts
