Bacalaitos and Fireworks:
A Presentation by Arlene Gottfried

Loisaida is the Latino name for the Lower East Side coined in the 1970s by noted Puerto Rican poet and community activist Bittman “Bimbo” Rivas, from his poem titled “Loisaida.” This term will resonate through this presentation as Arlene Gottfried, a native New Yorker with a passion for photographing the city, discusses her newest book, Bacalaitos and Fireworks. Comprised of color photographs that document New York’s Puerto Rican culture and changing Lower East Side/East Village, her book begins in 1970 and documents the culture of Loisaida through the present. Ms. Gottfried will also present some of her black and white photographs from earlier books, all of which reflect her unique style. Bacalaitos and Fireworks will be available for sale and signing.