Santiago de Cuba: City of Sculptures
Photo feature by Janis Hernandez
HAVANA TIMES — In December of 2010, the city of Santiago de Cuba held its first Rene Valdes Cedeño Public Sculpture Symposium, an homage to an artist and teacher who authored works as important as the Cuba’s Abel Santamaria Monument.
Sponsored by the Caguayo Foundation and the Advisory Council for the Development of Public Sculptures and Monuments, the symposium seeks to promote sculpting in marble and metals.
During the first symposium, Cuban artists and US sculptor Melvin Edwards sculpted pieces which were installed in several public spaces around the city.
In November of 2013, the 2nd Symposium saw the participation of renowned Cuban artists. The works of Japanese artist Yoshida Mitsumasa were also exhibited.
This time around, the 12 pieces produced were also installed at several, highly frequented places around the city. Here are some photos of this marvelous sculptures that enrich the urban environment of my city.
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This is the city where my gr grand mom was sold as a slave to the family one of Fidels greatest companeros Camilo Cienfuegos R.I.P
At risk of being accused of being sectarian, no region or area in Cuba has the unique, rich, historical and cultural characteristic of this beloved city. From the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, Santiago de Cuba has given to our nation, the best of its people in the creation of the Cuban nation.
Although for many years, Santiago de Cuba has been portrayed as the second city in Cuba, this has more to do with a myth than reality. Tens of thousands of people of my generation and after assumed, that because of the unparallel and incomparable sacrifices this city contributed to the defeat of General Batista and his henchmen, that it would achieve the socio-economic and cultural development it so much deserves.
Rather, few places in Cuba exemplifies better the pain, suffering, destruction, stagnation of these trying years of embargo, invasions, terror. Only the citizens of Santiago de Cuba with their pride and history, has been able to withstand the financial onslaught and official neglect without cracking.
Those who have been forced to move west in search of a better life, have been abused, harassed and called Palestinos in a derogatory way.
Today that Cuba is introducing new forms of development, especially with the new investment laws and the Special Zone of Development in Mariel, Cuba has a pending debt of gratitude with southern Oriente, where the insurrection began, where they fought harder than any other area of the country, contributed the best of its youths, saw the surrender of Batista’s government, the landing of Teddy Roosevelt with his Rough Riders, the sinking of Admiral Cervera fleet and the capitulation of the Spanish occupying forces, cannot postpone any longer the future the children of this region deserves.
Integrating southern Oriente which is composed of Santiago de Cuba, Granma and Guantanamo with its natural allies in the Caribbean, must be the next step, to transform this area into the capital of the Caribbean and the center of gathering of all peoples of this vibrant region.