Poets from various Chicago neighborhoods harness the power of Plena, a traditional Puerto Rican musical form, as an historical tool of protest.
Plena is known as the “sung newspaper” because of the way it recounts history and the everyday life of the common people. “Of Plena and Poetry” combines poets reciting lyrics about the struggles of their distinct identities with Plena music from Puerto Rico. The Pleneros de Don Segundo trade verses with Wesly Frazier-Keys, Chris Aldana, Aysha Affaneh, and Logan Lu as they join poetry and Plena to tell the story of their people.
Poetry curated by Logan Lu, Plena by Los Pleneros de Don Segundo, a project of Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center.
This event is presented in conjunction with Comfort Station’s exhibition, La Casa de Todos/Everyone’s Home.
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An initiative of the Terra Foundation for American Art in partnership with artists and organizations across the city, Art Design Chicago is a series of events and exhibitions that highlight the city’s artistic heritage and creative communities.
