The Art of Cold Process Soap Making

🧼 The Art of Cold Process Soap Making

Facilitated by Madelyn Rivera

Saturday, May 31, 2025
1:00–3:00 PM
The Children's Art Carnival
62 Hamilton Terrace
New York, NY 10031

About the Workshop:

This workshop invites participants to connect, create, and reclaim cultural wellness through the art of cold process soap making. Rooted in African and Caribbean traditions, it highlights ingredients like shea butter and moringa, exploring their history and cultural significance. Participants will learn about decolonizing skincare, ethical sourcing, and the overlooked origins of natural self-care practices. Each attendee will craft a personal bar of soap, reflecting their heritage and story. Aligned with Rasanblaj, the workshop centers community, health, and cultural reclamation—offering both a creative experience and a deeper connection to ancestral knowledge, empowerment, and clean, intentional living.

🕐 Ongoing from 1:00–3:00 PM — stop by anytime to join in!

About the Facilitator:
Madelyn Rivera is the founder of Decorus Vagary, a handcrafted skincare brand specializing in small-batch, natural products. Born in Puerto Rico and inspired by her great-grandmother’s DIY spirit, Madelyn began creating her own skincare after a product recall affected her as a mother. Committed to simple, clean ingredients, she also shares her creations with those in need. Through Decorus Vagary, she blends care, craft, and community. Follow her work on Instagram: @decorusvagary.

You’re Invited to the Rasanblaj Symposium & Exhibition
Decolonizing Y/our Experience Through Art, Performance & Collective Memory

📅 May 30, 31 and June 7, 2025
📍 West Harlem, New York
Free & Open to the Public

🔥 Featured Events

🎭 Opening Night: Rasanblaj – 3-Venue Tour
🗓️ Friday, May 30 | 🕕 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 Begins at Centro Cívico Cultural Dominicano (619 W 145th St)
Join us for a multi-site experience featuring live performances by Gina Athena Ulysse, artist processionals, and interactive installations across three historic venues.

🎤 The Rasanblaj Symposium
🗓️ Saturday, May 31 | 🕛 12:00–8:30 PM
📍 The Children’s Art Carnival & Partner Venues
Panels, performances, and workshops exploring community healing, decolonial aesthetics, menstruation equity, ritual, film screening, and cultural memory.

🎨 Arts, Crafts & Health Fair
🗓️ Saturday, June 8 | 🕙 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
📍 West 145th St (Broadway to Riverside)
A day of artmaking, performances, health & wellness services, and local vendors—with live music and creative activities for all ages.

✨ Full Schedule & Map Available Here: 🔗 LINK

This is more than a symposium—it’s a gathering for regeneration. Join us as we make space for healing, joy, and imagination in the heart of West Harlem.

About the Event:

The Rasanblaj Symposium & Exhibition:

Decolonizing Y/our Experience Through Art, Performance & Collective Memory

📅 May 30, 31 and June 7, 2025
📍 West Harlem, New York
Free & Open to the Public

West Harlem Arts—a collaboration between the Children’s Art Carnival and Centro Cívico Cultural Dominicano—is proud to present the Rasanblaj Symposium & Exhibition, a weeklong celebration of art, memory, and community rooted in decolonial practice and diasporic connection.

Inspired by the seminal 2015 Caribbean Rasanblaj issue of e-misférica, guest edited by Dr. Gina Athena Ulysse, this event gathers artists, scholars, and community organizers for a powerful series of performances, installations, panels, and rituals that reimagine belonging, healing, and liberation.