El Barrio’s Taino Towers celebrates the life of Nuyorican poet, author, playwright, and activist, Jesús “Tato” Laviera, with a mural created by well-known street artist Don Rimx.
Educated as a classical painter, Rimx is known for combining this training with urban art in his large-format murals. Rimx immersed himself in the life of the revered poet before beginning the commission ~ even living in ‘Tato’s’ rooms at the invitation of his family, while working on the mural.
In addition to the mural honoring Jesus ‘Tato’ Laviera, the community held a re-naming of 123rd Street and Second Avenue to Tato Laviera Way. Jesus ‘Tato’ Laviera passed away in 2013. Laviera’s papers, including an extensive collection of unpublished materials, can be found at Archives of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College. Here you will find a video of Tato Laviera reading his poetry on Centro TV.
The artist, David ‘Don Rimx’ Sepulveda, was born, raised, and educated as an artist in Puerto Rico. Moving to Brooklyn in 2009, he went on to create several large-scale murals throughout Brooklyn, and Midtown near Bryant Park. Rimx and his family moved to Florida in 2014, where he broadened his scope to include new school tattoo artist, and was invited as guest artist for National Hispanic Heritage Month at the Brooklyn Museum working on projects with the Jordan sneaker brand and numerous other projects in the Miami area. Read more about Don Rimx here.
While you’re El Barrio, check out The Guerrilla Wall by the Harlem Art Collective (HART) on 116th Street, the White Park Mural Project curated by Public Art Initiative of the Marcus Garvey Park Alliance, and the #100GatesProject #ElBarrio through Uptown Grand Central (NHEMA).
Don’t miss the historic murals throughout El Barrio, the Graffiti Wall of Fame on 106th Street, #NotACrime, and the Monument Art Project.