Artistic tribute to Vieques activist Rabin runs through mid-August
By The Star Staff
An artistic tribute to the late Vieques activist Robert Rabin entitled “Pirate Island” has opened to the public at the Fortín Conde de Mirasol Museum in Vieques.
Announced earlier this week by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (IPRC), the most recent exhibition by The Puerto Rican Engraving Conference is a posthumous tribute to Rabin, who was a prominent community leader and promoter of culture in Vieques.
The sample of works, which was organized by conference president Ada Rosa Rivera Negrón, comes from more than 30 artists. In the pieces, the collective history of a people can be appreciated through the vision of the participating artists. Social problems, hurricanes and earthquakes are some of the themes running through the exhibition.
Rabin, affectionately known as Bob, arrived at Isla Nena from Boston in 1980, intending to return to New England in several weeks, but never did. During his life on Vieques, he tirelessly defended Puerto Rican history and culture and managed various cultural and community projects. He was a valuable collaborator with the IPRC and left a great legacy with his work at the Museo Fortín Conde de Mirasol, the Historical Archive of Vieques and Radio Vieques.
The Puerto Rican Engraving Conference is a non-profit organization that has been promoting graphic art in Puerto Rico for more than 20 years. As part of its educational commitment, the artistic collective holds exhibitions and workshops.
The Pirate Island exhibit is open through Aug. 14, Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. To coordinate visits, write to cmelendez@icp.pr.gov.