Baruch College’s Mishkin Gallery Presents Roots and Tides: Black Cinemas in the Caribbean Basin

Film screenings and live events run until March 7, 2025

February 5, 2025

Mishkin Gallery is pleased to present Roots and Tides: Black Cinemas in the Caribbean Basin, a five-week long series of film screenings and live events. The series highlights films that delve into the Afro-Caribbean basin’s historical, social, and cultural experiences, showcasing their intellectual reach, creativity, and profound contributions to global culture. Roots and Tides: Black Cinemas in the Caribbean Basin invites Baruch College students, faculty, and the public to immerse themselves in Afro-Caribbean and Latin American cinema and experience the stories that shape Blackness in the region.

The selection of films spans genres, offering distinct perspectives on identity, gender, spirituality, migration, resistance, and the enduring legacies of colonialism, slavery, and marronage. Through these stories, the series aims to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the complexities and beauty of Afro-Caribbean life.

The series explores the intersections of race, culture, and history through the lens of talented contemporary filmmakers across the Caribbean basin. In addition to film screenings, a series of special events will invite audiences to engage in thought-provoking discussions, meet special guest speakers, and connect with a community of film enthusiasts dedicated to celebrating and elevating Afro-Caribbean voices and visions.

Roots and Tides: Black Cinemas in the Caribbean Basin is curated by Dr. Rojo Robles, Assistant Professor of Black and Latino Studies at Baruch College. The exhibition is made possible by the Schindler-Lizana Fund for Latin American Arts and Culture, Friends of the Mishkin Gallery, and the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences at Baruch College (CUNY).

Booklet

A booklet published for exhibition, including film descriptions and an essay by the curator, is available here.

Schedule of Programs

*Films will loop continuously in the gallery throughout the day. All screenings and events are free and open to the public. All events are held at Mishkin Gallery, except where noted. More information about the special events available here.*

February 3-7
Luis Arnías, Bisagras
(2024, Senegal/Brazil/Venezuela, 18 minutes)

Special Event
Thursday, February 6, 6-8pm
Filmmaker Luis Arnías in conversation with Dr. Rojo Robles
Online Only – Zoom RSVP

February 10-14
Mariana Rondón, Pelo Malo
(2013, Venezuela, 93 minutes)

February 18-21
Juan Andrés Arango García, La Playa D.C.
(2012, Colombia, 90 minutes)

Special Event
Tuesday, February 18, 6-8pm
Black Cinemas in the Caribbean Basin: Expanding the Black Gaze
With Dr. Elena Martinez, Professor of Spanish and Latin American Literature in the Department of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature, Baruch College, and Dr. Rojo Robles

February 24-28
Nino Martínez Sosa, Liborio
(2021, Dominican Republic, 99 minutes)

Special Event
Thursday, February 27, 12-2pm
Encounters Magazine Zine Launch

March 3-7
Rosamary Berríos Hernández, Santiago de las Mujeres
(2023, Puerto Rico, 63 minutes)

Special Event
Tuesday, March 4, 6-8pm
Documentary Filmmaking and Black Spirituality in Puerto Rico
With filmmaker Rosamary Berríos Hernández, Dr. Margarita Rosa, Visiting Assistant Professor of Black and Latino Studies, Baruch College, and Dr. Rojo Robles. Presented with Baruch’s Black and Latino Studies Department and Black Studies Colloquium

About Mishkin Gallery

The Mishkin Gallery at Baruch College, City University of New York (CUNY) presents exhibitions and public programs dedicated to education and advancing the understanding of modern and contemporary art, interdisciplinary cultural activity, and innovative artistic practice from around the world. Extending Baruch beyond its campus, the Mishkin Gallery promotes projects by artists and intellectuals who demonstrate how and why creative practice is a crucial force in nurturing diversity, tolerance and shaping culture. http://www.mishkingallery.baruch.cuny.edu

Location: Mishkin Gallery, 135 E. 22nd Street, New York City

Gallery Hours: Monday – Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m

Gallery Contact Info: (646) 660-6653

social: @mishkingallery

The gallery is free and open to the public.

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