Bata's Collage Blueprint: Building an Urban Island Cultural Legacy

Join conceptual artist Leenda Bonilla, creator of The Bata Project, for an immersive collage workshop exploring the "contemporary urban island folklore" of the bata. More than just a house dress, the bata is a vessel for history, a symbol of matriarchal strength, and a thread that unites the Caribbean diaspora across city streets.

In this hands-on session, we move beyond the fabric to uncover the universality of this iconic garment. Through guided collage-making and multimedia storytelling, you will craft your own "Bata Narrative"—blending personal history with collective heritage.

• Guided Creation: Learn Leenda’s signature approach to community collage, using layers of texture and image to tell a story.
• Sights & Sounds: Create to the rhythmic pulse of island music, surrounded by vibrant visuals of the people who have turned the bata into a cultural legend.
• Connection: Share stories of the women in your life and discover how the bata transcends boundaries to unite us all.

Whether you are an experienced artist or picking up scissors for the first time, you will leave with a custom artwork and a newfound appreciation for the power of everyday fashion to weave a community together.

Set against the backdrop of May’s tribute to mothers and the upcoming energy of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, this workshop is a space to honor our roots and celebrate our future.

All materials provided, but participants are encouraged to bring photocopies of personal family photos or fabric scraps to incorporate into their work.

Leenda Bonilla is a DisaporRican interdisciplinary artist and cultural worker. Her work centers on the intersection of community activism and conceptual art, using the bata to honor the labor, love, and legacy of the matriarchy who carry the spirit of the islands into the heart of the city.

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Host or Publisher Leenda Bonilla