The School at Church Farm in Exton, Pennsylvania follows one of its teachers through a week of arts exploration in Havana, Cuba. Students have prepared artwork to send to Havana, and now get a chance to follow their teacher via pictures, journal entries and video. Many questions will be asked and answered! Go here to submit:
http://cfs-arts-in-havana.tumblr.com/submit
Lots of questions from Wednesday all answered here…
Chris Lopez
What kind of art do they draw? What’s so significant about art over there? How different are art classes in Cuba than in the United States?
Art classes are very intense. The students who are good can go to a special school after 9th grade. Their artwork is quite good in general and the students do a lot of artworks of people, and some political stuff too.
JohnDerek Daniels
QUESTION
What is the weather like down there.
JD and others, so far the weather is very nice. Warm but not crazy humid, and these enormous downpours come through once or twice each day.
Doolun Anyam
Arts as a career in Cuba
How do artist get to sell their art works in Cuba? and How is the socio-economic situation in Cuba.
Doolun, the artists can sell in a state-run studio or from private homes. We also see a LOT of tiny shops in tourist areas. Yesterday we went to a huge open market just for artists and craftspeople. A lot of tourist trinkets, but some good painting and prints too. I bought 2 nice serigraphs that reminded me of the posters we looked at last week. The socio-economic situation is hard to explain here, but in short, they have 2 separate economies. Nobody gets enough to eat officially, so they all have to have some sort of hustle on the side. There are 2 kinds of money, but foreigners can only use one of these.
David
IS AN IDIOT”, how many seconds will you live until they shoot you down?
Please try it I need it for academic reasons.
-David.
There is not much screaming here. There are no guns like in the states. A lot of you guys asked if I would be captured or arrested. I feel the streets are safer here than Philly. People will talk about Castro but only quietly. He is still a hero for many.
John & Uche
What Is Day To Day Life Like In Cuba ?
John and Uche, this is a huge question and I do not think I could ever get it right. For everyone it is different, just like in America, but in general they work hard for less money than we do, but there is also a LOT of hanging around and talking, playing dominoes, and playing music all the time. It seems everyone owns a guitar or bongos.
Ethan
Mr. Aaron, i was wondering if the natives of Cuba welcomed your stay? Are they treating you weird?
Ethan we are VERY welcome here. In the neighborhood where the hotel is, though, all the people keep trying to get money from us, for taxi ride, music, cigars, you name it.
Jordan:
Mr. Aaron are you getting your daily dose of Fred?
Mike, I saw Fred at the buffet this morning. Luckily I was in line in front of him.
Dontae Johnson
How are the women in Cuba? what are their cultural dances like?
Dontae and all the CFS boys: I have some special videos you will enjoy when I return that will answer this question for you!
Andy Jose Aguilar
Los Animales
Qué tipos de animales usted ha visto?
Lots of stray dogs in the streets, but no other wild or exotic animals in the city. Our tour will not bring us out of the city at all.
Are you buying any Cubans’ artworks while your there?
I have bought some, but I want to buy it all!
Adam Centeno
Housing
How do the housing structure differentiate from that here in America? Do the houses represent the culture of the nation more than they do here?
The houses are either falling into the street or very well-kept. Many do not own their homes, so we think that is why they are crumbling. However, there is some interesting architecture that has been well maintained. I am taking as many pictures as I can to show you the houses.
