The exhibition RÍO invites a dialogue on ecological and social issues surrounding water and biodiversity in this unique territory.
El Yunque, one of the rainiest forests in the Northern Hemisphere, is home to rivers that supply water to more than 750,000 people, including communities on the island of Vieques. Its rivers include Espiritu Santo, Mameyes, Sabana, Pitahaya, Fajardo, Santiago Blanco, and Grande de Loíza, along with numerous streams and creeks, which sustain diverse ecosystems, regulate the hydrological cycle , recharge aquifers, and prevent erosion.
The exhibition RÍO brings together eight site-specific installations by Puerto Rican artists Gisela Colón, Jaime Suárez, Jaime Rodríguez Crespo, Lena Galíndez, Edra Soto, Dhara Rivera, Daniel Lind-Ramos and Frances Rivera González. These works explore the connections of the river system from cultural, ancestral, and environmental perspectives, highlighting the relationship between water, ecosystems, and the communities of the Puerto Rican archipelago and its diasporas
ArteYUNQUE, led by the cultural project theartwalkpr, was established in 2023 through a partnership with the Fundación Amigos de El Yunque and with support from the United States Forest Service.
ArteYUNQUE"s mission is to foster creative exploration of the landscape, scientific knowledge, and cultural history of El Yunque through artistic commissions and interdisciplinary programming for the public.
Through art and design, the project broadens dialogue around the forest's natural and historical heritage, strengthens connections between local communities and visitors, and promotes collaborations with artists as well as cultural and environmental institutions.
The program's agenda includes an annual thematic exhibition presenting commissioned projects by Puerto Rican artists. This curatorial proposal is enriched by multidisciplinary cultural activities that expand the conversation and generate opportunities for education and discovery.
Each year, the Science and Conservation Trail at El Portal Visitor Center in El Yunque is transformed into an open-air museum, offering the public the opportunity to explore and engage with the works and activities presented.
ArteYUNQUE projects are made possible thanks to a generous grant from the Mellon Foundation and support from the Forest Service.
