Procession of Angels unites a diverse, multigenerational crowd in New York City, showcasing how communities can rally together with a shared purpose during turbulent times.
Conceived by artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons and organized by Madison Square Park Conservancy in partnership with Harlem Art Park, this initiative invites participants to walk from Harlem Art Park to Madison Square Park, retracing historical paths to shape an inclusive future.
Over two mornings, seven significant stops along the route mark locations imbued with agency, optimism, or trauma.
Chosen for their relevance to Black, Cuban, and Cuban-American communities, each stop features poetry readings, culminating in an art-making workshop and musical performances.
Event Details
Saturday, September 7, 9 AM – 12:30 PM: First Procession
- Harlem Art Park: Kick-off with welcome remarks by Campos-Pons, leadership from Harlem Art Park and Madison Square Park Conservancy, poetry by Richard Blanco, and music by neighborhood musicians.
- Dos Alas (Two Wings) Mural: Poetry reading by Marina Ortiz at this mural representing revolutionaries Che Guevara and Pedro Albizu Campos.
- El Museo del Barrio: Poetry by ten-year-old Kayden Hern and an art-making workshop to create puppets, flags, and signs for the September 20 procession.
Friday, September 20, 9 AM – 2 PM: Second Procession
- Monument to José Julián Martí: Readings from Martí’s writings by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Dr. Ada Ferrer.
- Gathering Site of the 1917 Silent Parade: Poetry by Patricia Spears Jones and a moment of silence in honor of the Silent Parade.
- Former Site of the Colored Orphan Asylum: Poetry reading by Major Jackson to honor the first orphanage for Black children in the U.S., destroyed during the 1863 draft riots.
- Madison Square Park: Concluding poetry reading by Willie Perdomo, a Carnegie Hall Citywide concert by Afro-Cuban jazz singer Daymé Arocena, and a performance by musician Kamaal Malak.
Participation is free, but registration is required.
Sign up below to join us on your chosen date. Register here
Photo credit: Left: María Magdalena Campos-Pons, conceptual sketch for Procession of Angels (2024). Courtesy of the artist and Madison Square Park Conservancy. Right: María Magdalena Campos-Pons. Photo: John Russell. Courtesy Vanderbilt University.
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