Podcast Summary: All Of It – Manny Vega’s Stunning New York Mosaics
Host: Alison Stewart, WNYC
Guests: Manny Vega (Artist), Mancho Lopez (Curator)
Date: December 15, 2023
Exhibit: “Byzantine Bembe: New York by Manny Vega,” Museum of the City of New York
Episode Overview
This episode celebrates Manny Vega, the Bronx-born artist renowned for his vibrant public mosaics and murals in New York City—especially in El Barrio and at iconic spots like the 110th and Lexington subway stop. In honor of the Museum of the City of New York’s centennial, Vega was selected as its first-ever artist in residence, with a special exhibition of his work titled “Byzantine Bembe.” Host Alison Stewart speaks with Vega and exhibit curator Mancho Lopez about the timelessness of mosaic art, the process of creation, the themes that run through Vega’s work, and how it all connects to New York’s culture and history.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Manny Vega’s Selection and Residency
- Why Manny Vega?
- The museum, celebrating 100 years in El Barrio, wanted to honor its neighborhood by spotlighting an artist who epitomizes the spirit of the area.
- “To celebrate ourselves, we are going to celebrate El Barrio. And who better than Manny to do that?” — Mancho Lopez [03:23]
- Manny’s Reaction:
- Vega feels deeply honored, emphasizing he’s celebrated for being unapologetically himself.
- “…they’re saluting me for being me, you know, for just being, you know, in my maniness, you know, and that’s a good message… I’m just busy being me, being a happy Buddha in the streets of New York…” — Manny Vega [04:01]
The Mosaic Medium: Old and New
- Origins:
- Vega started with beadwork, influenced by his sisters, then gravitated toward mosaics for their durability and storied history.
- “…3,000 years ago, people were clever enough to use little pieces of glass and stone to actually tell stories that become the account of, you know, who they were… I’m inviting myself to go back in time, but I’m telling today’s stories, and that’s why I’m calling it Byzantine Hip Hop.” — Manny Vega [04:41]
- Timelessness & Playfulness:
- Mosaic work is “fragmentation that becomes one”—inviting viewers to piece together the whole.
- “…those beads and the tiles, they are a kind of puzzle. It’s a challenge… the fragmentation that becomes one, it’s something that invites all of us as spectators of the drama, to really complete the story.” — Mancho Lopez [05:52]
- Both guests and host liken the mosaic to New York City: distinct individual pieces coming together to create a whole, dynamic entity.
- “It also feels so much like New York… each little piece by itself, but all together, it makes the whole city.” — Alison Stewart [07:14]
Materials and Artistic Process
- Material Selection:
- Vega practices “hoarding” or repurposing materials; nostalgia and purpose drive his assemblage.
- “…having literally a dialogue… where the actual materials themselves suggest to me what the next project is going to be. I work with synergy… I mainly segue to the next project, and I live that way.” — Manny Vega [09:25]
- His creative process is described as “hard fun”—deeply intuitive, childlike, and perpetual.
- Self-taught Philosophy:
- “Monkey see, monkey do. Why? Because I’m self-taught, I’m a good observer, I’m a good listener.” — Manny Vega [10:36]
- New York is described as a "perpetual university" for those who pay attention.
Meaning & Urgency: Identity, Community, and America
- Cultural Urgency:
- Vega sees his work as part of the ongoing evolution of American identity, emphasizing El Barrio’s vital contribution to what “America” means.
- “…it’s all about reconfigurating this label called America… New York and El Barrio is a huge contribution to the conversation of homeland and America…” — Manny Vega [11:30]
Exhibit Themes: Music, Figures, Justice
- Thematic Organization:
- The show is organized around three threads found throughout Vega’s work:
- Figuras (Figures): Human body as canvas and study, appearing everywhere in his art.
- Musica (Music): “You cannot separate rhythm from the work that he does.”
- Justicia (Justice): Deep connections to spirituality, balance, and freedom.
- “What brings them all together is that sense of balance and that sense… of things happening at their proper moment, waiting for the right time with a sense of balance. And that’s a reading of justice.” — Mancho Lopez [13:09]
- The show is organized around three threads found throughout Vega’s work:
On "Bembe" and the Exhibit’s Name
- Meaning of "Bembe":
- “It means a celebration connected to your guardian entities, your spirits and your ancestors.” — Manny Vega [15:30]
- Also colloquially means “party” in Caribbean communities.
- “It’s a spiritual hipster term because, you know, spirit needs to be hip as well, especially in New York.” — Manny Vega [16:25]
Feminine Divine and Spirituality
- Championing the Feminine:
- Manny connects his Bronx upbringing and Brazilian cultural influences to an emphasis on elevating women’s power and contributions.
- Spiritual Practice:
- Grounded in tangible, everyday actions—respect, dignity, courtesy—these are spiritual acts for Vega.
- “…my spiritual Practice is actually very, very grounded in reality. You know, I demand reality from everybody, and I demand justice from everybody because it’s what I provide. Respect, dignity, morale, ethics. Back to the simple basics…” — Manny Vega [17:35]
- Intent on nurturing grace and self-respect in his viewers, especially young people:
- “I’m creating this movement with young folks not only to recognize their capacity, but to recognize the power of grace, you know, of gratitude, you know, of self respect.” — Manny Vega [18:50]
The Museum Experience vs. Public Work
- Recreating Manny’s World in the Gallery:
- The exhibit is designed to evoke the feel of Vega’s home and creative environment—colorful, lively, and workshop-like, not just a traditional “white box” gallery.
- “When people go there, they need to understand that it’s going to feel a little bit like Manny’s apartment… his work is very contextual. So it’s either on the street or it’s very intimate. It’s part of a meditative practice.” — Mancho Lopez [19:54]
- A Year of Programming:
- The exhibit is the start of a year-long, evolving set of programs—collaborative, multigenerational, and rooted in community.
- Listeners are encouraged to follow updates at mcny.org.
Notable Quotes
-
On being chosen for the residency:
“They’re saluting me for being me… and that’s a good message… I’m just busy being me, being a happy Buddha in the streets of New York.”
— Manny Vega [04:01] -
On New York and mosaics:
“Each little piece by itself, but all together, it makes the whole city. It makes the whole picture.”
— Alison Stewart [07:14] -
On process and inspiration:
“I don’t create work to be a part of an art scene. I am truly entertained by creating work… I call it hard fun. I’m just a big nene. I’m just a big kid.”
— Manny Vega [09:25] -
On “Bembe”:
“…it’s a celebration connected to your guardian entities, your spirits and your ancestors… it’s a party.”
— Manny Vega [15:30], Mancho Lopez [16:09]
Key Timestamps
- 02:03 – Introduction to Manny Vega and his connection to NYC
- 03:13 – Why Manny was chosen as artist in residence
- 04:01 – Manny’s response to the honor and his ethos
- 04:41 – The roots and appeal of mosaic as his medium
- 05:52 – Curator’s take on the unique, timeless quality of Manny’s art
- 07:14 – Comparing mosaics to the fabric of New York City
- 09:25 – Material selection and creative process
- 11:30 – Manny’s thoughts on culture and American identity
- 13:09 – The three central themes of the exhibit
- 15:30 – Definition and nuances of “Bembe”
- 16:33 – Elevating feminine power in his work
- 17:35 – Spirituality as daily practice and social example
- 19:54 – Creating a museum exhibit that feels like Manny's lived-in creative space
- 21:55 – “Byzantine Bembe” as an evolving, living experience
Episode Takeaway
The conversation is a mosaic in itself: stories of tradition, evolution, spirituality, and the relentless creative energy that powers both New York and Manny Vega’s art. Listeners are left with an appreciation for how ancient traditions can be powerfully contemporary, and how art—in its making and its meaning—embodies the living, breathing diversity of the city.
"Byzantine Bembe: New York by Manny Vega" is now open at the Museum of the City of New York and will be evolving through the year with new programming and collaborations.
Visit mcny.org for more information.