The gathering group has survived the pandemic and the hard winters, and together we keep craving 'the next time' when we can all be together. ‘Manxs’ so far has brought together Puerto Rico, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Chile, New York, and Miami. We realized together that we could create fertile ground in the city's arid, non-natural rhythms. Like a seed waiting to sprout, Manxs Americanxs was born.
Thus far, we’ve shared laughs, tears, doubts, and advice over mezcalitos, sopas, pão de queijo, and maracuya juice, among many other meals. We talked about ‘home’, ‘earth’, ‘center’, and ‘identity’, going from the most mundane issues to its most existential questions. We learned more about ourselves and each other by listening to the diversity of our voices. And we found home in our 'sister stories’. Over the past almost five years, we have gathered in different settings: indoors, outdoors, in improvised and more structured spaces.
Manxs Americanxs is an ongoing project that grows over care, time, and necessity. It’s been a space for creation and growth, intertwining our cultural disciplines (as artists, curators, arts administrators, art historians, journalists, anthropologists, immigration lawyers…).
Although we are a small intimate group we occasionally opening the space to other partner groups in the city and the general public (like in our Chashama residency in 2024 and participation on the A.I.R. Biennial in 2023). We hosted gatherings, screenings, workshops, an exhibition, healing sessions, and spaces of conversation that aim to connect us further. We hope Manxs can inspire new beginning for encounters, friendships, collaborations, connections, and an expanded community: to be in circle.
Manxs Americanxs
Community, Gathering group
New York (and virtual), 2018-ongoing
"We are all sisters under the Flesh"
Sylvia Gonzales
"We are all related but we are not all the same"
Marjorie Beaucage
Manxs Americanxs is a gathering group of Latinx women and non-binary participants living in New York, working on issues of culture, immigration, identity, social justice and art. Since 2018 we have been making space to be in circle and bend time to be together to caring and nourishing each other.
"Take in your hand seeds and sing, singing, you sow."
Gabriela Mistral
"All flourishing is mutual"
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Manxs so far brings together Puerto Rico, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Colombia, New York, Miami and weave the complicated, beautiful and contradictory stories that connect us, (her)Manas of the Americas.
Since 2018, being with Manxs Americanxs is to known that “Something is really seriously wrong and yet that’s not all that’s happening” as Donna Haraway said.
In 2024 Manxs Americanxs was granted space and fund for both intimate and public activities, including exhibition, screening, talks, workshops, healing session, food and celebration. Check more about In Circle with Manxs Americanxs at Chashama here: https://incirclewithmanxsamericanxs.cargo.site/
This reflection was writen after 1 year of the creation of the group, during the residency at AnnexB, New York: https://www.annexb.net/talk-latinx-women-gather-in-nyc