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Artist Statement
Cuba's long, tumultuous, and politically vacillating history since its colonization
has brought about waves of change in the philosophical and artistic thought
and expression of the island's people. Cuban artists have experienced and dealt
with changes in the regulations imposed on their artistic expression, ranging
from enduring or rebelling against strict censorship to having "freedoms" of
creative expression where other public arenas may have experienced creative
oppression. What have remained constant, however, through various regime and
censorship changes, have been the peculiarly identifiable Cuban characteristics
of national identity and resilience.
Having traveled to Cuba, I was able to experience this culture, which is marked
by warmth and optimism despite its physical decay and proud, yet stagnant, ideology.
Each artist that I had the privilege of meeting had a different story behind
his or her work, but there was always an underlying common thread that expressed
something of the nature of the modern artist inside and outside of his or her
native Cuba.
I created a work of art that came about through seeking out
the evolving identities of the Cuban artist which, in effect, has evolved my
own sense of artistic expression. With this piece, I seek to bring attention
to both the powerful barriers and the strong linkages that exist between Cuba
and the United States and the people who are in the middle of this paradoxical
relationship. The main structure of this sculptural representation is a
raft, constructed in the fashion of the "Balserosâ" to signify the precarious
hope that I have for Cubans and Americans to have a more open relationship while
allowing Cubans to retain their unique identity.