Jurakán: A Film Series

Jurakán is the name given by the Taínos, the indigenous people of the Caribbean, to the god of chaos and discord who controls the often turbulent weather that affects the region. The images and narratives that predominate about the Caribbean today tend to evoke images of the sun, but representations of wind and water are more prevalent in Taíno imagery and remain part of the imagination of the people who live in the region. The word hurricane, derived from Jurakán, refers to storms that form as they enter the Caribbean, unlike other words, like cyclone or monsoon, that describe storms with turbulent winds in other parts of the world. 

This film series explores what hurricanes are: their mythological and metaphorical associations; what it is like to experience them sensorially; factual, scientific and practical information about them; as well as artistic/poetic representations of hurricanes in cultural context. It looks at how they signify and resonate in Caribbean societies in multifarious ways. The series consists of four presentations, each with a conversation, question and answer session, and reception following the film. Participants include Mary Leonard and invited guests. 

Artists: Cecilia Aldarrondo, Michael Chanan, Andrés Farias Cintron

Curator: Mary Leonard