Syracuse Sun

Punto de Contacto/Point of Contact (POC), located in the Nancy Cantor Warehouse in downtown Syracuse, is marking its 50th anniversary with two special programs. POC has been a center for artistic and literary exploration within the University and local communities.

On April 2, poet Diana Marie Delgado will read from her work as part of POC’s Cruel April poetry series, which coincides with National Poetry Month. The event will be held at the Syracuse University Art Museum in Shaffer Art Building from 5 to 7 p.m. A pop-up show featuring five artist books commissioned for POC’s anniversary will accompany the reading. These works are created by POC advisory board members Juan Juárez, Pedro Roth, Matías Roth, Joseph Kugielsky, and Maritza Bautista. They draw inspiration from Delgado’s poems and selections from early POC publications, including Julio Cortázar’s “Five Erotic Sonnets.”

The 2025 Cruel April series is dedicated to Michael Burkard, a poet and associate professor emeritus who passed away in December. Burkard was a significant contributor to POC, with his work featured in “Corresponding Voices, Vol. 4.” Attendees can also view the exhibit “Joiri Minaya: Unseeing the Tropics at the Museum,” curated by Cristina Pardo Porto.

A second event celebrating POC's milestone is an exhibition titled “50 Sin Cuenta,” showcasing Latin American art from their permanent collection. It opens on September 19 at the gallery in Nancy Cantor Warehouse.

Founded by Pedro Cuperman in 1975 as an editorial project at New York University, Punto de Contacto evolved into a broader cultural initiative after moving to Syracuse in 1976. Cuperman taught Latin American literature and semiotics for over four decades before his passing in 2016.

Teresita Paniagua ’82 reflects on her experience with POC: “I’ve always felt that Point of Contact is sort of a rare, hidden gem—a fiercely creative space where voices correspond across borders, disciplines and cultures.” She adds that many students trained there have become arts administrators and curators nationwide.

For more details about Punto de Contacto/Point of Contact and upcoming events, visit puntopoint.org.