Art Travels Beyond Cuban Barriers

So as we all know, I am an art fan, an art historian technically, but mostly just a gal who finds inspiration in the creative; a tried and true believer in the cultural world. Being of Cuban descent I am pleased to see the progress being made to break down the physical barriers currently in place in the name of art.

Below is a great article about the collaboration of Chelsea Galleries in NY with the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Havana, Cuba.

This exhibition: ground breaking really...speaks to the idea that art is able to travel legally beyond barriers when it's artists can not. The higher concept is about ideas and creative works of art being made in one world and through travel, time, or political sanctions these works will continue on to new audiences.

Cuban beat: Loretta Lux, The Drummer, 2004

Chelsea galleries visit Havana

US dealers challenge Cuba embargo in test of new president’s cultural policies

By Charmaine Picard

NEW YORK. Twenty-eight US art galleries have been invited to show work at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Havana, Cuba, for the first time since 1986. Organised by New York art dealers Alberto Magnan and Dara Metz, “Chelsea Visits Havana” opens on 28 March, with the participation of dealers including Andrea Rosen, Sean Kelly, Barbara Gladstone, Mary Boone and Matthew Marks.

The organisers approached Cuban officials nearly two years ago with a proposal for a comprehensive survey of contemporary art from the Chelsea gallery district in New York. In January, Mr Magnan and Ms Metz were notified that the project had officially become part of the Tenth Havana Biennial, which opens on 27 March. The Chelsea show is part of a wider programme of exhibitions throughout Havana and presents a selection of 35 international artists including Marina Abramovic, Will Cotton, Loretta Lux, Matthew Barney, and Guy Ben-Ner.

Mr Magnan says: “We’ve been under the harsh policies of the Bush administration for such a long time, and the reintroduction of cultural exchanges will hopefully move both sides closer to dialogue.” In mid-2004, President Bush strengthened the US trade embargo on Cuba by imposing tougher restrictions on travel, effectively ending all travel-related cultural exchange programmes. Since then, Cuban artists have regularly been denied visas to attend exhibitions or claim prizes and fellowships in the US.

Abelardo Mena, curator of contemporary international art at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, told The Art Newspaper that efforts to bring US artists to Cuba have frequently been blocked by the US Interests Section in Havana, an office that functions de facto as an embassy and represents US interests in the country. Mr Mena, who is coordinating “Chelsea Visits Havana” for the Cuban national museum, says the institution has a small collection of contemporary American art, which was donated by artists who participated in the 1986 exhibition, “Por Encima del Bloqueo/ Surpassing the Embargo”, organised by the Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Centre. The collection includes works by Mel Edwards, Carl Andre, Lawrence Weiner, Nancy Spero, Leon Golub, Miriam Shapiro, Kiki Smith, and Tim Rollins and K.O.S. After 23 years, Rollins and K.O.S. will again be showing their work in Havana with the Lehmann Maupin Gallery as part of the Chelsea project.

Although artists have regularly been denied visas, according to Christopher Klatell, an attorney at Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, Krinsky & Lieberman in New York, “the export of artworks to Cuba is exempt from the embargo under both statute and regulation”. He said that the Berman Amendment of 1988, also known as the Free Trade in Ideas Act, does not allow the US government to regulate or prohibit the exportation of art. This means that art can legally travel between the two countries, even when artists cannot.

Mr Magnan and Ms Metz have enlisted the help of the non-profit Fundación Amistad, which brings humanitarian aid to Cuba and sponsors art-related projects in the US and abroad. According to Luly Duke, president and founder, the organisation is raising funds to pay for the shipping and insurance of the art, as well as a catalogue. It is linked to academic, cultural and humanitarian institutions in Cuba, and will coordinate the complex shipment of work from the US to Havana and back. Mr Magnan, a Cuban American and the director of Magnan Projects gallery, said: “I’m not making any money from this and none of the art pieces are for sale. This is about exchanging culture. I couldn’t do this without the foundation’s help.”

President Obama has promised changes in US foreign policy towards Cuba, pledging to lift travel restrictions and limits on remittances to relatives on the island. Mr Mena said: “I don’t believe the exhibition would have been possible under the Bush administration. I hope the new president and his secretary of state recognise the value of cultural diplomacy based on mutual respect, and the free exchange of cultural goods.”

Obama signs Recovery and Reinvestment Act with reinstated support for the arts

It is great to know that my baby boo Obama is thinking about the entire population.



As the ArtNewspaper reports:
NEW YORK. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Smithsonian Institution have secured a small allotment of federal funding as part of the $787bn American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by President Obama on 17 February, following fears that arts groups would be completely excluded from the stimulus package. A committee comprising members of both houses of Congress reached an agreement on the final spending bill, which was notably smaller than the versions passed by either the House or the Senate, with a number of cuts made to education and health programmes to secure the sliver of Republican support needed (three votes) to pass the bill. The NEA will receive $50m to distribute to non-profit arts organisations while the Smithsonian gets $25m to repair its facilities.

For the whole story check out:
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/article.asp?id=16946

Everybody always thinks they are right

Artist: Stefan Sagmeister
Installation Locations: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and Stirling.

Mayan Priestess

Mayan Spirituality dates back to over 5000 years. This is the begging of a prayer ritual from a Mayan Priestess, only to be preformed on full moons.

Pacaya--- El Volcan es muy peligroso

The warning to the volcano entrance. Everyone should listen.

The lava craters at the initial ascent to the top of Pacaya. The other hikers climbing up Pacaya. See how jagged the rocks are imagine if someone was to fall on them.
Some of the hotest parts of the volcano were white from bacteria. This bacteria only grows in the hotest parts of lava rocks. About 200degree C.

¿Que quieres?

In the central market you can get everything from soccer shoes to beans. Check the assortment. Beans anyone?

A taste of Tikal

The howler monkey is the landmark of Tikal. They are everywhere. They are called howler monkeys because they roar like a lion. This was taken from outside of my hotel room. Tikal is the home of the largest restored Mayan civilization. The park has over 10 temples and numerous town structures.

The hiking crew.

The Canopy tour Tikal. Zipline course 60ft in the air attached to trees.

Los Primero Dias en Antigua, Guatemala

This is Colonia Candelaria. This is the ruin that marks the title of my neighborhood in Antigua. Right in front is a little basketball court. Every morning students can be found playing basketball before school. This is from the walk way right outside of my house. I live with Dona Ruth de Estrada.

In Antigua this is La semana del Expression "the week of expression". This is where all the kids and students all over Antigua celebrate their creativity. They have parades, art sessions on display, dance parties all day at school, music shows etc. This is the week to celebrate the art of expression. ¨I think i came at the right time"

This picture is from Sunday where there was the introduction parades where every age child dresses up in homemade costumes and parades in the street. This group is the 12 year old mummys.

These are the younger children in home made cardboard ships, space ships, taxi´s etc.

The teenagers are each representing a different nation. These are the Greeks. There were Chinese dancers, Spaniards, Brazilian carnival dancers, and many more. This a the central park of Antigua. With a real entrepreneur, if you would like a rid on a horse around the park it will only cost you Q25 (about $3) This is the inside view of La Proyecto Linguistico de Francisco Marroquin. This is my Spanish school. In the center of the school is a path, notice the students of every age, on each side of mini huts with desks and chairs (the classrooms).
On the left side are the ruins of what used to be a church. They are now classrooms. This is where I take my class, out in the middle of the garden. Desk number 29. I can also hear the local high school celebrations near by. They love to lite firecrackers during la semana del expression.
These are the other huts where other students take classes.
Just a sample of one of the streets in Antigua. This is the way to my dance classes.

This is the San Francisco of Antigua. This is the church of San Francisco, otherwise just know as San Francisco. Be sure to clarify where you are from here, because to just say " I am from San Francisco" They will then ask you if you were born in this church, for humor of course.

Love is a color only the blind can see

Got to love the street art in San Francisco. It can make anyone a poet.

Graduation 2007

But I'm making the next step.