September 22nd 12pm ET: Online Panel
Discussing La Operación with composer Nick Dunston and Puerto Rican educator/musician Jocelyn Bonadio-de Freitas, examining this historical phenomenon involving colorism in Puerto Rico, eugenics, medical malpractice, and American colonialism. The panel will also discuss the musical work La Operación, created by Dunston and based on the 1982 documentary the same name directed by Ana María García about US-imposed sterilization in Puerto Rico.
September 24th 7pm ET: Maysles Documentary Center
Maysles Documentary Center and music collective Tenth Intervention present La Operación - a new video installation with live dance. Choreography by Brooklyn-based contemporary ballet company konverjdans, music written by Nick Dunston, and film by Laura Sofía Pérez.
"La Operación" is a chamber work written by composer/bassist Nick Dunston, inspired by the 1982 documentary by Ana Maria Garcia, and written in response to government-imposed sterilization practices on women in Puerto Rico between 1930-70.
Between 1930-70, approximately one-third of the female population of Puerto Rico was sterilized, making it the highest rate of sterilization recorded in world history. Many argue that this practice was ethnically biased, employed to decrease high levels of poverty and unemployment in Puerto Rico. There is evidence that informed consent was not obtained from patients before they underwent sterilization, if consent was solicited at all. Instead of providing Puerto Rican women with access to safe or reversible forms of contraception, the U.S. government promoted permanent sterilization. The procedure became so commonplace in Puerto Rico that it was simply referred to as “la operación.”
This work is made possible by the Puffin Foundation and with funding from the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation and with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, administered by LMCC.
Discussing La Operación with composer Nick Dunston and Puerto Rican educator/musician Jocelyn Bonadio-de Freitas, examining this historical phenomenon involving colorism in Puerto Rico, eugenics, medical malpractice, and American colonialism. The panel will also discuss the musical work La Operación, created by Dunston and based on the 1982 documentary the same name directed by Ana María García about US-imposed sterilization in Puerto Rico.
September 24th 7pm ET: Maysles Documentary Center
Maysles Documentary Center and music collective Tenth Intervention present La Operación - a new video installation with live dance. Choreography by Brooklyn-based contemporary ballet company konverjdans, music written by Nick Dunston, and film by Laura Sofía Pérez.
"La Operación" is a chamber work written by composer/bassist Nick Dunston, inspired by the 1982 documentary by Ana Maria Garcia, and written in response to government-imposed sterilization practices on women in Puerto Rico between 1930-70.
Between 1930-70, approximately one-third of the female population of Puerto Rico was sterilized, making it the highest rate of sterilization recorded in world history. Many argue that this practice was ethnically biased, employed to decrease high levels of poverty and unemployment in Puerto Rico. There is evidence that informed consent was not obtained from patients before they underwent sterilization, if consent was solicited at all. Instead of providing Puerto Rican women with access to safe or reversible forms of contraception, the U.S. government promoted permanent sterilization. The procedure became so commonplace in Puerto Rico that it was simply referred to as “la operación.”
This work is made possible by the Puffin Foundation and with funding from the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation and with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, administered by LMCC.