Alison Stewart: You're listening to All Of It on WNYC. I'm Alison Stewart. This Sunday, May 25th, is the 38th annual Loisaida Festival, a neighborhood wide celebration of the Puerto Rican and Latinx history and culture of the Lower East Side. This year's festival is dedicated to one resident, Marlis Momber. Marlis was a German immigrant who lived on the Lower East Side starting in 1975. She dedicated her career as a photographer to documenting the Puerto Rican community in the neighborhood and directed the 1978 documentary Viva Loisaida. Marlis died just last month at the age of 82. Joining me now to discuss more about Marlis Momber and about what to expect from the Loisaida Festival is Alejandro, I hope I get your middle name right, Epifano.

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Epifanio.

Alison Stewart: Close. Torres. He's the executive director of the Loisaida Center. Nice to meet you.

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Same here, Alison. It's a pleasure to be here.

Alison Stewart: When did the festival start? Where is it taking place?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: The festival began in 1987. It was an important community celebration as Avenue C got renamed officially Loisaida Avenue. It was a form of celebrating our history, our heritage, and the contributions that Puerto Ricans and Latinos made to the neighborhood. We are celebrating the 38th annual Loisaida Festival. It used to take place along the entire Avenue C, Loisaida Avenue, now it's only between 5th street and 12th street, but still lots to do.

Alison Stewart: This year's festival is dedicated to the memory of Marlis Momber, a beloved member of the Loisaida community. What made Marlis so special?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Marlis really embedded herself in the neighborhood. She had her photography studio at the former community center, Charas. Then she really dedicated her free time to documenting just life around in the neighborhood in a time where, really, there was not much attention paid to Loisaida or this area of the Lower East Side. Marlis made it a point to really develop friendships with Puerto Rican activists and also poets like Bimbo Rivas, who is credited for actually coming up with the term Loisaida in his 1974 poem, Loisaida My Love.

Alison Stewart: She spent her life documenting what was happening on Loisaida in her 19-- I think-- her documentary, I think it was 1978, it came out. What was meaningful to you about the way she documented the people and the culture?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Again, this is a time of transition. The demographics of the neighborhood were changing. It went from predominantly Jewish neighborhood to a predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhood. Marlis was there to document all of that. It was important for Marlis to also become involved in the homesteading movement, which was an important movement led by the community, where they would repair abandoned buildings and structures and then claim ownership of these. It was important for Marlis also to be able to raise a family in the neighborhood. Her son Curtis grew up there, also just the fact that she loved the Puerto Rican experience, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe was just around the corner. She was a staple there. All the activism around safety and essentially just rehabilitation of the neighborhood, she was very close to.

Alison Stewart: How is the festival going to honor her?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: We're excited to have an exhibition of Marlis' photos at the nearby gallery, Piragua Art Space on 10th street between Avenue B and C. This is just right around the corner from the festival. The gallery will be open the entire day. Also, the official after-party of the festival will happen over there as well. Guests will have a chance to look at Marlis' work at Piragua Art Space just around the corner from the festival. Again, 10th street between B and C.

Alison Stewart: My guest is Alejandro Epifanio Torres. We are talking about the 38th annual Loisaida Festival. It's happening this Sunday, May 25th. All right, I understand there's a community parade that helps open things up. What should we expect?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: The community parade starts at 11:30, and it's a form of saying, "Hey, neighbors, wake up. The festival is about to begin." It will be led by the all-women ensemble, Batalá New York, which we're very excited for. Also, we'll have multiple contingents of public school children that will be joining us and other community organizations as well. The programming starts officially at 12:00 with the main stage, where we have folks like Joe Bataan. We'll have Anissa Gathers, urban artists like Ana Macho and many, many other activations throughout the avenue. We'll have the community gardens, La Plaza Cultural activated, and also Pancho Ramos Community Garden activated as well.

Alison Stewart: You talked about the main stage. You have all kinds of genres performing there, from Latin, Soul, to Urbano Pop. What were you looking for when you were looking for curating the main stage?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: I think it's important to highlight both past and future musical genres of our community. Puerto Rico is very well known for its music, and I think it's very important to highlight this type of wide ensemble of genres that we actually support. Yes, it's something for everyone, and I think it's important to have that variety included in the festival.

Alison Stewart: There's going to be an open mic marathon happening at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. That's exciting, first of all. Where should people go if they want to hear some poetry?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: The Nuyorican Poets Cafe will partner with the BombaYo group from the Bronx that's coming down to play traditional Bomba while they host their open mic. This will happen between 8th and 9th street along Avenue C.

Alison Stewart: The Theater Lab is also taking part in this. What's happening at the Theater Lab?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Yes, the Theater Lab is a mini festival within the festival. It happens at La Plaza Cultural de Armando Perez community garden. This is the southwest corner of 9th street, and there are short performances there. We have the artist Radio Circus, where there will be interactive performances for children and their families. We'll have a visiting group of MCs from Puerto Rico and also we'll have our partners Dorill Initiative showcasing some of their youth dance choreography.

Alison Stewart: There's also the BioBus mobile lab, which sounds pretty cool.

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Super exciting. It's their 11th straight year at the festival. They basically roll in with a mobile laboratory equipped with scientific equipment, top notch scientific equipment that the community will be able to use and play with, and they'll do an exploration on culinary arts as well, delving into the ingredients of Sofrito.

Alison Stewart: This sounds like an event where kids can get a lot out of it, a real family friendly event, yes?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Yes, definitely. We'll have free bouncy houses also for children on 11th Street, a mini basketball tournament, basketball skill challenge as well where the youth can test their skills and get some prizes. Yes, there is definitely fun for the entire family.

Alison Stewart: Anything else about the festival you want to tell us?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Excuse me. No, just please come in. It really is a community celebration. It's a unique festival. It opens, really, other celebrations that will happen throughout the summer and the month of June. I just invite everyone to come and have a feel of Loisaida, and tell your friends.

Alison Stewart: What are you looking forward to? What's the one thing you're really excited about?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: I'm always excited about the Puerto Rican Institute for the Development of the Arts showcase, which is a full block dedicated entirely to artisans and crafts. It brings so much variety. There's live art, there's so much handmade stuff. I'm really looking forward to seeing the artisans this year.

Alison Stewart: My guest has been Alejandro Epifanio Torres. We were talking about the 38th annual Loisaida Festival. It's happening this Sunday, May 25th. Have a great festival.

[music]

Alison Stewart: You're listening to All Of It on WNYC. I'm Alison Stewart. This Sunday, May 25th, is the 38th annual Loisaida Festival, a neighborhood wide celebration of the Puerto Rican and Latinx history and culture of the Lower East Side. This year's festival is dedicated to one resident, Marlis Momber. Marlis was a German immigrant who lived on the Lower East Side starting in 1975. She dedicated her career as a photographer to documenting the Puerto Rican community in the neighborhood and directed the 1978 documentary Viva Loisaida. Marlis died just last month at the age of 82. Joining me now to discuss more about Marlis Momber and about what to expect from the Loisaida Festival is Alejandro, I hope I get your middle name right, Epifano.

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Epifanio.

Alison Stewart: Close. Torres. He's the executive director of the Loisaida Center. Nice to meet you.

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Same here, Alison. It's a pleasure to be here.

Alison Stewart: When did the festival start? Where is it taking place?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: The festival began in 1987. It was an important community celebration as Avenue C got renamed officially Loisaida Avenue. It was a form of celebrating our history, our heritage, and the contributions that Puerto Ricans and Latinos made to the neighborhood. We are celebrating the 38th annual Loisaida Festival. It used to take place along the entire Avenue C, Loisaida Avenue, now it's only between 5th street and 12th street, but still lots to do.

Alison Stewart: This year's festival is dedicated to the memory of Marlis Momber, a beloved member of the Loisaida community. What made Marlis so special?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Marlis really embedded herself in the neighborhood. She had her photography studio at the former community center, Charas. Then she really dedicated her free time to documenting just life around in the neighborhood in a time where, really, there was not much attention paid to Loisaida or this area of the Lower East Side. Marlis made it a point to really develop friendships with Puerto Rican activists and also poets like Bimbo Rivas, who is credited for actually coming up with the term Loisaida in his 1974 poem, Loisaida My Love.

Alison Stewart: She spent her life documenting what was happening on Loisaida in her 19-- I think-- her documentary, I think it was 1978, it came out. What was meaningful to you about the way she documented the people and the culture?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Again, this is a time of transition. The demographics of the neighborhood were changing. It went from predominantly Jewish neighborhood to a predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhood. Marlis was there to document all of that. It was important for Marlis to also become involved in the homesteading movement, which was an important movement led by the community, where they would repair abandoned buildings and structures and then claim ownership of these. It was important for Marlis also to be able to raise a family in the neighborhood. Her son Curtis grew up there, also just the fact that she loved the Puerto Rican experience, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe was just around the corner. She was a staple there. All the activism around safety and essentially just rehabilitation of the neighborhood, she was very close to.

Alison Stewart: How is the festival going to honor her?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: We're excited to have an exhibition of Marlis' photos at the nearby gallery, Piragua Art Space on 10th street between Avenue B and C. This is just right around the corner from the festival. The gallery will be open the entire day. Also, the official after-party of the festival will happen over there as well. Guests will have a chance to look at Marlis' work at Piragua Art Space just around the corner from the festival. Again, 10th street between B and C.

Alison Stewart: My guest is Alejandro Epifanio Torres. We are talking about the 38th annual Loisaida Festival. It's happening this Sunday, May 25th. All right, I understand there's a community parade that helps open things up. What should we expect?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: The community parade starts at 11:30, and it's a form of saying, "Hey, neighbors, wake up. The festival is about to begin." It will be led by the all-women ensemble, Batalá New York, which we're very excited for. Also, we'll have multiple contingents of public school children that will be joining us and other community organizations as well. The programming starts officially at 12:00 with the main stage, where we have folks like Joe Bataan. We'll have Anissa Gathers, urban artists like Ana Macho and many, many other activations throughout the avenue. We'll have the community gardens, La Plaza Cultural activated, and also Pancho Ramos Community Garden activated as well.

Alison Stewart: You talked about the main stage. You have all kinds of genres performing there, from Latin, Soul, to Urbano Pop. What were you looking for when you were looking for curating the main stage?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: I think it's important to highlight both past and future musical genres of our community. Puerto Rico is very well known for its music, and I think it's very important to highlight this type of wide ensemble of genres that we actually support. Yes, it's something for everyone, and I think it's important to have that variety included in the festival.

Alison Stewart: There's going to be an open mic marathon happening at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. That's exciting, first of all. Where should people go if they want to hear some poetry?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: The Nuyorican Poets Cafe will partner with the BombaYo group from the Bronx that's coming down to play traditional Bomba while they host their open mic. This will happen between 8th and 9th street along Avenue C.

Alison Stewart: The Theater Lab is also taking part in this. What's happening at the Theater Lab?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Yes, the Theater Lab is a mini festival within the festival. It happens at La Plaza Cultural de Armando Perez community garden. This is the southwest corner of 9th street, and there are short performances there. We have the artist Radio Circus, where there will be interactive performances for children and their families. We'll have a visiting group of MCs from Puerto Rico and also we'll have our partners Dorill Initiative showcasing some of their youth dance choreography.

Alison Stewart: There's also the BioBus mobile lab, which sounds pretty cool.

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Super exciting. It's their 11th straight year at the festival. They basically roll in with a mobile laboratory equipped with scientific equipment, top notch scientific equipment that the community will be able to use and play with, and they'll do an exploration on culinary arts as well, delving into the ingredients of Sofrito.

Alison Stewart: This sounds like an event where kids can get a lot out of it, a real family friendly event, yes?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Yes, definitely. We'll have free bouncy houses also for children on 11th Street, a mini basketball tournament, basketball skill challenge as well where the youth can test their skills and get some prizes. Yes, there is definitely fun for the entire family.

Alison Stewart: Anything else about the festival you want to tell us?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Excuse me. No, just please come in. It really is a community celebration. It's a unique festival. It opens, really, other celebrations that will happen throughout the summer and the month of June. I just invite everyone to come and have a feel of Loisaida, and tell your friends.

Alison Stewart: What are you looking forward to? What's the one thing you're really excited about?

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: I'm always excited about the Puerto Rican Institute for the Development of the Arts showcase, which is a full block dedicated entirely to artisans and crafts. It brings so much variety. There's live art, there's so much handmade stuff. I'm really looking forward to seeing the artisans this year.

Alison Stewart: My guest has been Alejandro Epifanio Torres. We were talking about the 38th annual Loisaida Festival. It's happening this Sunday, May 25th. Have a great festival.

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Thank you, Alison, so much.

Alejandro Epifanio Torres: Thank you, Alison, so much.