Art by Ricky Rodriguez
At the Museum of the Old Colony, acclaimed artist Pablo Delano examines the paradoxes of colonial identity. His own parents, Jack and Irene Delano, were part of DIVEDCO, a New Deal-inspired government agency that used film, illustrated books, and silkscreen by Puerto Rico’s most renowned nationalist artists to shape a national identity.
For the seventh episode of American Colony, Joaquín Cotler explores what DIVEDCO represented and how the program’s visual language still defines Puerto Rico today. DIVEDCO set out to sell Puerto Ricans an American Dream. What its artists built instead was Puerto Rico’s own image of itself.
This episode of American Colony was produced by Joaquín Cotler. It was edited by Julio Ricardo Varela.
En el Museo de la Old Colony, el reconocido artista Pablo Delano examina las paradojas de la identidad colonial. Sus padres, Jack e Irene Delano, formaban parte de DIVEDCO, una agencia del gobierno inspirada por el New Deal. Ese programa usó cine, libros ilustrados y serigrafía de los artistas nacionalistas más reconocidos de Puerto Rico para crear una identidad nacional.
En el séptimo episodio de American Colony, Joaquín Cotler explora la historia de DIVEDCO y cómo su lenguaje visual sigue definiendo a Puerto Rico hoy. DIVEDCO vendía a Puerto Rico el sueño americano, pero sus artistas terminaron construyendo una nueva imagen del archipiélago.
Este episodio de American Colony fue producido por Joaquín Cotler. Fue editado por Julio Ricardo Varela.
About the Producer
Joaquín Cotler is a journalist and audio producer living in Brooklyn, NY. He has covered Puerto Rico and the diaspora for Latino USA, WNYC, NPR, and Latino Rebels.
Credits
American Colony is a production of The Latino Newsletter and Shake It Easy Media
Original Concept by Julio Ricardo Varela
Senior Editor: Nuria Net
Senior Producer: Joaquín Cotler
Hosts: Julio Ricardo Varela and Nuria Net
Producer: Carlos Berríos Polanco
Consulting Producer: Susanne Ramírez de Arellano
Managing Editor: Christina Hernández
Video Producer: Amalia I. Núñez-Pires
Social Media Videos: Anthony Modesto Milián and Aliana M. Bigio
Illustrator: Ricky Rodriguez
Composer: Alain Emile
Additional music courtesy of Soundstripe
Executive Producers: Julio Ricardo Varela, Nuria Net, and Joaquín Cotler
Support for this program comes from the Mellon Foundation, the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and humanities. More at Mellon.org.
American Colony was also made possible by individual donations. To support the nonprofit work of The Latino Newsletter, click on the Donate tab at The Latino Newsletter.
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