MIAP APEX

We are saddened by the news of the passing of Robert Rabin, longtime Vieques activist, community organizer and director of the Vieques Historical Archive. Robert was a founding member of the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, an organization committed to the demilitarization of Vieques, an island in Puerto Rico where APEX facilitated inventory, documentation and cataloging work during its 2019 edition, and where we have continued to work since then.

Rabin spent six months in prison for participating in the mass civil disobedience campaign that helped pressure the U.S. Navy to end its bombing exercises in Vieques. Over the years, he amassed a paramount collection of materials documenting the civil-led resistance and efforts that are now part of the Museo de la Memoria Histórica de Vieques and Archivo Histórico de Vieques, and attest to his four decades of work for environmental and peace endeavors in the Puerto Rican archipelago.

Community collaborators and local archivists in Vieques and on the main island have been working towards re-establishing the archive's non-profit status, formalizing a relationship with the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and the General Archive. Throughout the pandemic, the archive has had an active presence hosting coloquios on Facebook about their collections. Carmen Meléndez Corcino, who was the archive's secretary has now become the interim archive director. Nadjah Ríos Villarini and Diana Ramos Gutiérrez, have co-edited and will publish a forthcoming book of Robert's writings. The Archivo recently received a CLIR grant to digitize the Andrés Nieves collection, and this is already part of Robert’s enduring legacy.

NYU MIAP APEX will continue efforts to support the work of our fellow colleagues in Puerto Rico and make sure that Robert’s legacy endures.
Rest in power, dear Robert!

Caroline Gil and Juana Suárez

Photo: Emily Nabasny (MIAP’14), Robert Rabin, Caroline Gil (MIAP’16), Professor Mona Jiménez, and Pamela Vizner (MIAP’14) at APEX 2018, Vieques- Puerto Rico.

Friday, October 25 we will be sharing our work from every edition of APEX, and acknowledging the work of every participant, institution, and benefactor.
Reception to follow!

Rafael de Luna, APEX 2018 Rio de Janeiro host, speaking about our work together to the AV preservation seminar participants Moving Image Archiving and Preservation

Director Juana Suárez presenting at the final APEX presentations

Talking about disc imaging and software emulation at APEX final presentations

Final presentations of APEX happening now

Daniela, Guillo, and alumna Danielle Calle working with 8mm home movies

APEX participants working with Super 8 film home movies @ Fundación Luis Muñoz Marín

Happening right now, workshop on exhibiting, promoting, and advocating for your audio visual collection