La Tortuga y El Malecón
11”x14”
Acrylics
Visiting El Malecón with my father is one of my earliest and fondest childhood memories. We visited this iconic seawall quite often when I was a child in Cuba as this was one of my father’s favorite places in La Habana Vieja (Old Havana). My father would let me stand on top of the iconic, concrete seawall and I would walk along the wall while holding his hand. Many times we would spot a giant tortoise that somehow had made its way onto the sand from the ocean. I would be overwhelmed by the enormity of these giant tortoises and the beautiful patterns on their shells. This was one of the many adventures that I would embark on with my father as he enjoyed showing me the natural beauty of the island. I loved looking out to the turquoise sea from this seawall, feeling the warmth of the Caribbean sun and experiencing the adventuresome freedom that I felt while walking high on the seawall.
Kingston Jamaica 1962
16”x20”
Acrylics & Collage
My departure from Cuba on June 9, 1962 was filled with fear, turmoil, uncertainty, sadness and loss. As a family, we were only allowed a suitcase that was filled with a limited amount of unit pounds of weight per family member. My little plastic bear, Tony was one of the two toys that I was allowed to bring with me. In addition to the family suitcase, my mom was permitted to take her sacred religious statue with her . I later found out that this statue was clandestinely filled a few items of jewelry and a roll of money and was shocked at this act of defiance. From Cuba we were flown to Jamaica where we spent four weeks living in a boarding house with other Cuban refugee families. The hilly green sections surrounding our boarding house were always curiously inviting to me. This mixed media painting contains the memories of the painful departure that I made from Cuba.
Mami’s Kitchen
36”x48”
Acrylics
Mami’s kitchen in our apartment in Union City, NJ served many different purposes. My mom was an incredible cook and for her cooking was truly a labor of love. I loved watching her and was enthralled by the ritual of it all as she clanked the pots, cleaned the meats, washed the rice before placing it in the rice cooker, and chopped her onions, garlic and peppers for the “sofrito” whose aroma eventually enveloped the entire apartment. The table in this painting is filled with an array of quintessential Cuban peasant foods that she would so easily prepare. In addition to the many meals that we shared as a family in this kitchen, this table also served as a place for us to play our favorite Cuban games, a place to watch our favorite TV shows and a space for me to work on all of my art assignments. This painting is dedicated to my mom and the beautiful memories that were allowed to be created in her love filled kitchen.
Guantanamera
24”x30”
Acrylics & Collage
This mixed media painting is dedicated to my father who was always a tremendous role model for me. His energy, resourcefulness, work ethic and motivation to achieve all that he accomplished as a Cuban immigrant to his country was second to none. My father was forever grateful to this country for all the opportunities that were afforded to him and his family. This was evident in his love for the city of New York where he would make all his wholesale purchases for his store. His love for his native Cuba, however, never left his heart and was evident in the Latin culture that he held onto in his everyday life. From the traditional foods he enjoyed, to the espresso that he would ritualistically make every morning, the dominoes that he enjoyed, to the many stories of his bare back horse riding days in Cuba, my father was always holding onto memories he left behind and knew he would never see again. His favorite song was the nostalgic Guantanamera whose soulful rendition by Celia Cruz would bring tears to his eyes.
La Habanera
18”x24”
Acrylics
In 1965, after three years of working long hours in a chair factory in Hoboken and selling jewelry, my father was able to rent a storefront in Union City, NJ. La Habanera is a representation of his American dream. The top section of the painting depicts the original storefront he rented. In time, my parents were able to save enough money to buy a two story building with a storefront on the bottom. They eventually moved La Habanera Gift Shop to 4310 Bergenline Avenue a few years later. I was always awe struck by their undying commitment to realizing their dream of opening up their own business. The respect that I had for them while experiencing it all and now that they are both gone is immeasurable and beyond words. My parents’ resolve, their willingness to work long, demanding hours, their combined business sense and savviness and the respect, kindness and honesty they extended to everyone was their formula for success in acquiring their American Dream. They truly embodied the dauntless entrepreneurial spirit of immigrants.
JCSC
36”x36”
Acrylics & Collage
For me attending college was part of achieving our American Dream. My acceptance to Jersey City State College would make it affordable for my parents who were determined to provide me with an education. I can still recall how joyful I felt when I received my letter of acceptance. In retrospect, I made the very best out of my college years. To this day, I continue to feel extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to work with art professors that were passionate about their craft and authentically spirited about their own work. This had a tremendous impact on me and I consequently made the decision to become a teacher. As a result, my professors at JCSC will always hold a special place in my heart and I attribute many of the things I was able to accomplish to them. This painting symbolically encapsulates the myriad of experiences, influences, coursework and memories that I associate with my college years and the profound impact they had on my life.