Eight days ago I went Port Morris to shoot some images. While I was there I decided to check out a building that I had noticed many times. Its on the South edge of Mott Haven along the Bruckner Expressway on 135 St. After speaking to Rafael Bueno the Executive director of the Cherry Tree Association, I found out the the building was the Casa Del Sol a community center which had started as a squat 20 years ago. Rafael informed me that they had just lost their eviction court case brought against them by ACORN but that they weren't worried. The light was just about gone and so I held off on posting till I could return. Little did I know that they would be evicted the very next day and a mysterious fire started. I'll go back tommorrow and check it out.
The story makes me sad, but that stick figure on that teepee makes me smile. Any update?
Posted by: dragonballyee | December 09, 2004 at 11:56 PM
Thanks for posting the pictures. They are beautiful.
Posted by: Casa Del Sol | December 10, 2004 at 05:59 AM
Garden Party, Rally and Procession to support and commemorate Casa del Sol community center!
DRESS FESTIVE!!!
Sunday, December 12th.
3pm to 5pm.
At the St. Luke's Park.
138th street between Cypress and St. Anne's Ave.
Take the 6 train to Cypress Ave. Walk away from highway towards Cypress.
Featuring: The RUDE MECHANICS ORCHESTRA marching band (probably)
+ other festivities!
For more info call: (646)334-1043
or email: casashows@gmail.com
...and then there will be an after party...for four days:
Four Day Autonomous Space!!!
Next week, starting Monday morning December 13th and going until Friday morning, Extravaganza of Ridiculous Proportions will be co-hosting an an event at the Tank Annex, an amazing art space on 37th street. 24 hours a day. Four days straight.
I mean it. 24 hours a day, for four days. Music, games, performances, puppets, art making and much more.
This is in support of the recently evicted Casa del Sol.
We are looking for more artists, of all kinds, and musicians to come at any hour (Esp. evening) and perform and have a good time. (Email here or show up there.)
There will be bands of all types playing all four evenings as well as many types of artwork, including human size puppet making for the party on Friday and for merriment at the art space as well.
The address is: 208 West 37th street. Between 7th and 8th avenues. Donations will be accepted at the events to help the collective find a new home.
There should always be someone there.
Come and respect the space and we should all have a blast.
Background:
On November 30th residents of the Casa del Sol community center est. 1984, were evicted without warning by the NYPD. They were given ten minutes to leave, not enough time to retrieve much of their belongings, besides which all of them believed they would soon return to live there or at least get the rest of their things.
Within five hours of the eviction ACORN (A corrupt anti-community group, see www.acornsucks.org ) contractors started a four-alarm fire somehow, that resulted in the destruction of some of the most livable areas of the building. 16 firefighters were hospitalized as a result of the fire.
Posted by: Casa Del Sol | December 10, 2004 at 06:01 AM