On Tuesday, February 6th, 2024 Oliver Rios hosted a walking tour of East Harlem. Photography professor Carmen Rubio and the freshman class of SVA were excited to learn about the rich culture El Barrio has to offer while exploring and documenting its beautiful environment.

The students visited two of El Barrio’s oldest community gardens. Los Gallos Garden on 118 street and Lexington avenue and Lydia’s Magic Garden on Park avenue between 118 street and 117 street. We also visited one of New York City’s oldest Catholic Church St. Paul’s Church located on 117 between Lexington and Park Avenue. Afterwards we stopped inside La Marqueta to view the Elevating El Barrio® photography exhibit.

Oliver Rios talking to the SVA Photography freshmen class about East Harlem and Los Gallos Garden on 118 street and Lexington ave. Photo by Carmen Rubio
SVA students documenting the garden. Notice the large Ginkgo Biloba tree that has stood on 118 street for more than a century. Photos by Oliver Rios

SVA Photography Professor Carmen Rubio capturing the basketball court Next to St. Pauls Church with her Nikon. Photo by Oliver Rios

Lydia’s Magic Garden NYC Parks Sign. Notice the Coqui mural in the background which has been part of the garden since 1995. Photo by Oliver Rios

We ended the tour by visiting the 1st Spanish United Methodist Church (aka People’s Church) located on 111 street and Lexington Ave. In 1969 The Young Lords, a Civil Rights and Pro-Independent Puerto Rico group, took over the Church for 11 days to provide services for the underserved East Harlem community. The students were introduced to the mural “El Regalo Mágico/The Magic Gift” of Nuyorican author Nicholasa Mohr by Celso González and Roberto Biaggi. The class also saw “The Bronx March” photographed by renowned photographer and Young Lord, Hiram Maristany. The photo was part of an outdoor exhibit called Mapping Resistance. The installation was produced by Hiram Maristany, Miguel Luciano & El Museo Del Barrio.

The Bronx March – Hiram Maristany © 1969