Expressiones Paella Fiesta
The balmy evening of August 30th brought some five dozen people to the Stonington home of Cynthia Elliott and Doug Rice, to enjoy a fundraiser for New London's Expressiones Cultural Center.
Billed as a Paella Fiesta, the event did indeed feature a four-foot wide steaming pan of seafood paella, courtesy of Puerto Lima in Gales Ferry. Additional sponsors included Thames River Greenery, Favorites Bistro, and Stonington's 85th Day Food Community.
Miguel Rivera of Puerto Lima preps the Paella
"For me, one of the greatest highlights of the afternoon was seeing so many different parts of the Expressiones community come together in one place," said Expressiones Director Jose Guaraycochea. "Ixel Orozco, our current Artist-in-Residence, introduced herself and shared her work with the guests, and Cuban artist Cirenaica Moreira presented her performance, “Soft Sculpture.” Both gave people a chance to experience the kind of contemporary Latin American art and cultural exchange that is at the heart of our work."
A silent auction was another part of the evening, with works from Expressiones artists displayed along the backyard fence, in parallel with several long dinner tables and a speaking podium. (click photos below to enlarge.)
A key beneficiary of the evening was Expressiones' main program ArtVenture, which provides culturally competency, relevant and unique experiences, bilingual arts and educational programming for children in New London Public Schools, and in after-school sessions in New London. This program serves to bridge cultural gaps between the diverse communities in the area and to provide arts and other educational programs for children in New London, including a large and growing population from low income families.
The event is becoming a tradition. According to Guaraycochea, “The Paella Fiesta is much more than a fundraiser for Expressiones. It brings together artists, friends, supporters, and people who may be discovering our organization for the first time. The funds raised help us continue our artist residencies, educational programs with children, exhibitions, and community collaborations, while the event itself helps strengthen the relationships that make all of this work possible.”
