Published in The Jaunt·Dec 17, 2019The Connections of Puerto RicoSylvain Lab’s annual Jaunt to Puerto Rico was underscored by a theme of ‘connections’. — Sylvain Labs’ annual Jaunt to Puerto Rico was a trip underscored by the idea of ‘connection’ — both spatial and physical. Specifically, the connection of Puerto Rican and American culture that lives continuously in our music, food, style and cinema from the Bronx to Miami. A territory that is separated…Puerto Rico4 min readPuerto Rico4 min read
Published in The Jaunt·Dec 6, 2019Home is Where the Plantains ArePlantains are a symbol of home for Puerto Ricans. — While food isn’t the only reason to travel, it’s one of our favorite ways to live and learn about the culture of any new city. …Puerto Rico5 min readPuerto Rico5 min read
Published in The Jaunt·Dec 6, 2019Bomba is LifePuerto Rico’s journey to power and reclamation through dance. — At its most basic, bomba is a musical style performed by a singer, a drummer and a dancer. We learned about the intricacies of this form of expressive physical art when Sylvain Labs spent two days drumming and dancing around Puerto Rico for our annual Jaunt. …Puerto Rico8 min readPuerto Rico8 min read
Published in The Jaunt·Dec 5, 2019Making Masks, Creating MythsDating back to the 17th century, the festival known as Fiesta de Santiago Apostol takes place over three days each July, in the town of Loiza, Puerto Rico. In the baking sun, the intense drumming of the bomba coupled with the larger than life characters that come into being during…Puerto Rico5 min readPuerto Rico5 min read
Published in The Jaunt·Dec 5, 2019The Stubborn Invisibility of Afro-Latino IdentityHumans love to sort and organize. Mostly each other. — Human beings love to sort. In part because our brains are hardwired to recognize patterns. Sorting and classifying allow us to exercise control and infuse some order into the chaos and randomness of the world. This is so core to our natural impulses that we’ve created intricate taxonomies to organize…Puerto Rico4 min readPuerto Rico4 min read
Published in The Jaunt·Dec 4, 2019La Isla del Encanto: A musical interpretation of Puerto RicoWhen it comes to music, Puerto Rico is best known for its deep salsa roots and booming reggaeton that has taken the world by storm. But the musical landscape of the island is as rich and diverse as the people and places that have earned it the much-deserved monicker of…Puerto Rico2 min readPuerto Rico2 min read
Published in The Jaunt·Jun 13, 2019¿Por qué la Ciudad de México?The allure of Mexico City. — “Humankind’s greatest creation has always been its cities. They represent the ultimate handiwork of our imagination as a species, testifying to our ability to reshape the natural environment in the most profound and lasting ways. Indeed, today our cities can be seen from outer space.“ …Mexico City2 min readMexico City2 min read
Published in The Jaunt·Jun 12, 2019Why We JauntJaunt: /jônt/ • noun • A short excursion or journey for pleasure. — If you’ve been a friend of Sylvain Labs for the past five or six years, then this automatic reply may look a little familiar to you. Every September Sylvain Labs closes its doors and descends upon a new place for a few days of exploration, reflection, and communion. No matter…2 min read2 min read
Published in The Jaunt·Jun 12, 2019Las Feministas de MéxicoA poster series celebrating the women who shaped Mexican culture and identity for the #VivasNosQueremos movement. — “Vivas Nos Queremos” (“We Want Ourselves Alive”) is an ongoing campaign to end femicide and violence against women in general. The campaign’s origins can be traced to Mexico City, but the movement has since spread across Latin America. We’re inspired by the women around the world who are mobilizing and…Mexico City2 min readMexico City2 min read
Published in The Jaunt·Jun 12, 2019The Practical Magic of Mexico CityExploring Mexico City’s relationship with the supernatural. — Human beings have always possessed a degree of reverence for magic. Despite the many marvels of modern science and technology, we still reserve a sense of awe for the supernatural, for the things that our mercurial minds cannot explain. What we often deem as “magic” really occupies a broad range…Mexico City7 min readMexico City7 min read
