The Center for Puerto Rican Studies (CENTRO) at Hunter College is excited to announce a new merch collection that celebrates the cultural significance and history of bodegas in NYC and draws inspiration from the Justo A. Martí Photographic Collection preserved in the Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora. It features t-shirts, tote bags, stickers, enamel pins, postcards, art prints, and a coloring book. Click here to watch our video announcing it.
This collection is inspired by the legacy of Photographer Justo Ambrosio Martí and reinterprets vintage photographs from his collection preserved in the CENTRO’s Archives while also celebrating the impact of bodegas in New York City today. The illustrations and designs throughout the pieces were created in-house at CENTRO by Brandon Chacon, Alyssa Monet, Josué Oquendo Natal, and Tarchithaa Chandra Sekharan.
Born in Cuba, Martí emigrated to New York City in 1925 with the dream of becoming a photographer. He documented aspects of daily working-class life for the Latine community like social, cultural, and sporting events, city politics, protests, family gatherings, and organizational activities. Most notably, Martí photographed a burgeoning industry that has now become synonymous with New York City culture: Bodegas. These quintessential neighborhood shops were central to growing Puerto Rican and immigrant enclaves in the mid-20th century.
In 1985, CENTRO organized the first monographic exhibition on Martí as part of the celebration of the acquisition of his collection. Nélida Pérez, Blanca Vázquez, and photographer Máximo Rafael Colón curated the selection of photographs. From the moment that CENTRO acquired the Jesús Colon Papers and the Justo Martí Photographic Collection, they became the foundation for the creation and development of the archival program that was established officially in 1989: The Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora.
With each purchase from the collection, shoppers directly support CENTRO’s mission of researching, preserving, and sharing the Puerto Rican experience in the United States.
Below are the products and their description:
- La Placita Bodega Black Tee:
- The “La Placita Bodega Black Tee” is a screen-printed t-shirt with a photograph of La Placita Spanish American Grocery, located in Brooklyn, taken by Justo A. Martí in the mid-20th century. The photograph is accented by an illustrated decorative frame and illustrative elements, including yellow hand-drawn text reading “La Bodega.” Underneath the large text, the t-shirt reads “Justo A. Martí, CENTRO Archives.” Illustrations by Alyssa Monet.
- Justo A. Martí White Bodega Tee:
- The “Justo A. Martí White Bodega Tee” is a screen-printed t-shirt with a photograph of Cla Grocery taken by Justo A. Martí in the mid-20th century. The photograph is accented by an illustrated decorative frame and illustrative elements, including yellow hand-drawn text reading “Justo A. Martí.” The bottom of the t-shirt reads “Justo A. Martí Photographic Collection, Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies.” Illustrations by Alyssa Monet.
- La Bodega Tote Bag
- This “La Bodega Tote Bag”, illustrated by Brandon Chacon, honors the way bodegas and corner stores have become an integral part of life in New York City, serving as a community gathering space to gather a delicious bite to eat, pantry staples, and familiar products from home.
- Quenepas Sticker:
- One of our community favorites, quenepas are a beautiful green fruit in season during the summer, with a sweet taste that transports us to the Caribbean. Illustrated by Brandon Chacon.
- Machete Sticker:
- A reminder of where we came from, the history we carried into new lives, and generations of resistance. Illustrated by Alyssa Monet.
- BEC Sticker:
- The city’s gift back to us, the iconic NY breakfast sandwich. Illustrated by Brandon Chacon.
- The Center for Puerto Rican Studies Sticker:
- Honoring our mission and work to ensure every story, photograph, and memory brought with us would live for future generations to research, study, and treasure. Illustrated by Alyssa Monet.
- Justo A. Martí Postcard Set:
- Before the neighborhood changed, Justo A. Martí was there with his camera documenting corner stores, community gatherings, political events, protests, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, and more. In NYC, Bodegas were businesses the community could rely on for credit, items from the archipelago, and household staples. Re-printed from Martí’s original collection in the CENTRO Archives, these postcards are windows back into our history. Mail one to your loved ones or keep one for yourself.
- El Barrio Enamel Pin:
- When people arrived in New York City with little more than a suitcase, El Barrio was one of the neighborhoods that we called home. This pin honors this historic neighborhood and current home of The Center for Puerto Rican Studies.
- Plátanos Enamel Pin:
- You could find them in almost any bodega in El Barrio stacked near the door, green or ripe depending on the day. Plátanos made the migration with us, making new kitchens feel like home through tostones, mofongo, or amarillos. Created by Brandon Chacon.
- Gato con Pava Enamel Pin:
- Every bodega in the city has its own manager, the Bodega Cat, who keeps a watchful eye on the pantry staples and ensures everything runs smoothly. Ours is especially cute and, somehow, he got his paws on a pava and hasn’t taken it off since! Illustrated by Josué Oquendo Natal.
- Since 1973 Enamel Pin:
- Migration many times means leaving part of our identity and familiar things behind. Frank Bonilla founded CENTRO in 1973 to ensure our heritage is preserved. This pin honors over 50 years of preserving and sharing the Puerto Rican experience making sure we don’t lose ourselves in the crossing.
- Coloring Book:
- Bring the history of the bodega to life with this Coloring Book. Featuring custom illustrations inspired by photographs from the Justo A. Martí Collection preserved in the Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora, it celebrates the workers and community members who made the corner store a place of love and belonging.
- La Sala Art Print:
- This unique print, titled “La Sala.” celebrates the beautiful photographs captured by Justo A. Martí during the mid-20th century of workers, owners, and community members in NYC bodegas with custom illustrations by Alyssa Monet and photographs of lace crafted by Glorimar García.
CENTRO’s new collection is available for sale now, and can be purchased at our online store.