HOMENAJE: Tribute to Miguel Algarin, CHULO Undewear & Amer I Can by Ricardo Muñiz (Coquí Chulo)

HOMENAJE: A Tribute to Miguel Algarín

Sometimes you come across a new artist without fully grasping the full range of his or her work and the great affinity that exists between you and them! That happened to me in May when I met Ricardo Muñiz at the Loisaida Center during LoisaidaFest, where he was showing his fantastic HOMENAJE series. Little could I have imagined that he is also a major NYC gay scene photographer and video maker!

Ricardo's traveling exhibit HOMENAJE features a series of 17" by 11" horizontal posters celebrating outstanding Nuyorican figures, including legendary poet and founder of the Nuyorican Poet's Café Miguel Algarín, writers/poets Nicholasa Mohr, Dr. Nancy Mercado, Dr. Myrna Nieves and Jesús Papoleto Meléndez; opera singer Eva de la O; musicians Johnny Colón, Bobby Sanabria and Orlando Marín; artists Marcos Dimas and Nitza Tufiño; activists Teresa Santiago, Sery Colón and Jaime Estades; choreographers Merián Soto and Arthur Aviles; boxer Carlos Ortiz; and businesswoman and restauranteur Adela Fargas, owner of the legendary Casa Adela in NYC's Loisaida (Lower East Side).

Check out Ricardo's essay HOMENAJE: The Traveling Exhibit and a Tribute to Miguel Algarin in CENTRO Voices, where he tells a hilarious and sexy story about hanging out with our poet laureate Miguel Agarín! Ricardo's tale reminds us why all lovers of poetry with interests in gay and bisexual topics should go back and read Algarín!

Speaking about sexy, make sure to also see Ricardo's blog Coqui Chulo, which features a lot of his photography, including numerous images of models wearing CHULO underwear! You can even purchase CHULO Puerto Rican Flag Sport Boxers! Proceeds benefit community based organizations that help marginalized youth. Visit www.chulounderwear.nyc!

CHULO Underwear, Puerto Rican Flag Sport Boxer

Ricardo has also directed a video titled AMER I CAN, a fascinating counterpoint to Tato Laviera's AmeRícan. As the AMER I CAN's YouTube page indicates, "Puerto Rican poetic pride is celebrated in this work by Ricardo Muñiz. Come celebrate the real meaning of "I CAN" and the true diverse make up of our AMERICAN people as told poetically and rhythmically across the luscious landscape of skin. Edited by Joe Kavitski. Music by Jose Henriquez. Originally published in NEXT Magazine and originally performed by Sery Colon at the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (BAAD!). Featuring in order of appearance: Rico King, Omar Mohran, Joe Kavitski, Marcos Soto, Carlos Sotelo, Tamala DeJesus, Cinderella Marin, Roman Anthony, Mariah Acevedo, and Neftaly Tejada." Enjoy!