cfs arts in havana

Choice photos from the final day in Cuba. Hemingway, a broken...

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:46:23 -0400

Choice photos from the final day in Cuba. Hemingway, a broken down car, the flags flying outside the “unofficial” US Embassy, and more!

Mas preguntas de Espanol 3

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:38:42 -0400

Senor S.

1. ¿Cómo pasan los estudiantes su tiempo libre? (What do the students/ children do in their free time?)

I am not sure what they do, but they have a longer school day, and from what I have seen, they walk around with friends, play baseball and soccer in the streets, buy sugar snacks on the street, and do NOT carry portable gaming devices like a DS everywhere they go!

2. ¿Qué estudian? ¿Qué tipo de asignaturas tienen en las escuelas? (What are the subjects that the students do in school?

Same subjects as we study, there was not a lot missing from the curriculum at any grade level. When they reach 10th grade, they are usually in a track towards Arts, Sciences, Writing, or some vocation.

3. ¿Cómo son las clases y las escuelas? What are the classes/schools like?

This is a VERY long answer I will explain more later…

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?

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:34:50 -0400

Adam

Adam, the housing here is insane. You will see many pics of the crumbling old buildings, contrasted with similar buildings in excellent condition right next door. Some people live in basic windowless shacks (I mean no window GLASS) and barely a front door, and the neighbor could be an Armani clothing store. After the Revolution, housing was redistributed. Many upper class people fled Cuba because they thought they would have no part in the new society. Their opulent homes were subdivided and given to the people. I do not know what system was used to decide who gets what house.

How are the women in Cuba?

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:31:26 -0400

Howard

Mookie-

Very important question, and I plan on getting a lot of attention from you all on this topic. The woman are beautiful here, of course, and very confidant and talented. We met dancers and painters who were amazing in what they could create. Women are not treated equally, many do not drive, and if 2 people want the same job, and have the same experience and schooling, the man will get the job almost every time. Our tour guide was an incredible woman. She has a 4 year old at home and she was able to stay with our group for 8-10 hours each day, doing an enormous amount of translating about complicated topics. She seemed to know everything and was not afraid to tell us the truth about Cuba. Woman are burdened with providing food for the family on less than most people need each month. Each family gets a ration book and it never is enough per month, so the women are the ones who have to figure out how to get more money and food to feed the family each month.

Are the pictures we made in class vastly different from the native Cuban art pictures?

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:26:46 -0400

John Schultz

Schultz-

The art we made in the Design class was VERY similar to many poster styles I saw. I am bringing back 2 cool movie posters in that style. They are an EXTREMELY visual and graphic society. When I gave your design posters to the elementary school, the students had JUST performed for us based on the same poet, Jose Marti.

Hey, How many museums have you visited since you get there?

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:24:29 -0400

Kemarni Munroe

Kemarni, actually very few museums. We visited a lot of artists’ studios. The only real museum was the National Art Museum I posted about. They HAVE a lot of museums, one for anything you can imagine. Even a museum of the boat that Fidel Castro took to Cuba when he started the Revolution!

What do the people do in their free time?

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:22:38 -0400

Feroz-

There seems to be a LOT of free time. But everyone has a small hustle on the side to make ends meet. They love to sit and talk, sing, play music, flirt, fish, argue baseball, play chess, smoke, and often we would see older people just sitting on a front stoop doing nothing.

What similarities and differences do you see among the students in Cuba and the students in CFS.

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:20:36 -0400

Pushpinder,

There are not a lot of similarities. I will explain the school system when I return. They have a similar school calendar (but longer). Many go on to some sort of college or training after 9th grade, but you pretty much need to know what you want to do by then. There are a lot of children begging.

Hey Mr. S, I think you should ask the kids in Cuba if they are interested in other types of arts other than drawing or painting, like making music or playing an instrument.

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:18:41 -0400

Kizar

Kizar, they LOVE their music and dance. I am bringing lots of videos to prove it. Everyone seems to play guitar or bongos. On the seawall late at night, we sit and talk with Cubans and boys keep walking by offering to “sell a song”, but unfortunately a lot of these musicians only know 3-4 songs. At every restaurant, even in the morning, there are musicians, combos of 3 or 4 people, playing for our enjoyment.

Back in the States!

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:14:52 -0400

Guys you have had a LOT of good questions and I tried to answer as much as I could. Some nights the internet in Havana was almost nonexistent. Bap, look at the bottom of the Thursday posting and you will see I DID answer a question from you. If you did not post anything here yet, this weekend is your last chance to get credit for that.

Friday in Havana was free time. We went back to the National Museum of Art and enjoyed the incredibly edgy modern collection. Everything they make here is HUGE. And I DID see a piece from Los Carpinteros named “Dos Pesos” it was a giant carved 2-peso note with small oil paintings inserted all in it.

My roommate and I followed our noses and got WAY off the tourist track, into some old alleys of Havana, meeting with people and buying small artworks and I paid 1 peso to shoot 20 pellets in a shooting gallery! I was a terrible shot. I think I hit one soda can.

We saw the bar where Ernest Hemingway spent most of his time. There is a bronze Hemingway sitting in the corner. Finally we took our last “motocab” ride through the streets and the driver had to stop four times in heavy traffic to replace the oil plug. We almost missed the bus to the airport. Unfortunately our group had to wait in the airport for 5 hours yesterday afternoon, and now that I am back in Miami, it is pouring rain and there is really nothing to do.

Miami can be seen as a “compression chamber” that allows Americans to reaclimate after leaving Cuba. The shower doesn’t work, the breakfast was in someone’s cramped kitchen, everyone speaks Spanish, and the building is crumbling. I will return to Philly by Saturday night if the storm doesn’t interrupt that.

Enjoy the photos!!!!

OK this is almost the end of my time in Cuba. The questions you...

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:47:00 -0400

OK this is almost the end of my time in Cuba. The questions you guys are sending are GREAT!

Make sure you post a question by Friday afternoon if you have not yet!

Today I followed my nose to the old synagogue, which was a bit of a letdown, but they gave me a free haircut in the basement, which was a funny random event!

We saw the national art museum today and I hope to return tomorrow. We also saw an artist’s studio and we relaxed in the sun a little. Tomorrow I hope to do a lot of sightseeing and photography, and maybe not so much tourist “buying”… so much cool work here!

This photo is part of the dance routine we saw from the college age boys and girls. I cannot wait to show you the rest of these…

Make sure you post if you have not. If you DID post already, you do not need to post again.

Thursday's questions and answers

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:37:00 -0400

HOW MANY ART MUSEUMS HAVE YOU SEEN IN CUBA AND DID YOU SEE LOS CARPENTIROS SCULPTURES

KEMARNI

We went only to the main museum (today) and we were there for too short a time. I will try tomorrow when I have more free time. We did NOT see Los Carpenteros, but I did see the school they went too!

Gus Morales

Are the people in Cuba very passionate about Art or do they just do it for a hobby?

Gus they are very passionate. I think the State has art and music and dance as part of the program to make people “happy” just like in the states we have good roads to make people happy.

Uche

Have you been getting any artistic inspirations from Cuba?

I have been getting a lot of inspiration! For sure, I believe there will be a way to create an exchange using printmaking between CFS and the high school in Havana.

Mr. Aaron I was thinking have you been spreading the good word about the farm?

Bap: I have been telling the teachers on this trip about the Farm and they are very interested in who you all are. I told them you are ALL extremely talented.

Lots of questions from Wednesday all answered here...

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:17:00 -0400

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 9^th 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.

Wednesday Oct 5 Thanks for your great questions, I am trying to...

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 02:51:00 -0400

Wednesday Oct 5

Thanks for your great questions, I am trying to answer as many as I can each day!

Today was less intense than Tuesday. We visited a school for children with special needs- mental handicaps, physical limitations, and we learned how they are cared for and what sort of classes and therapy they get. I continue to be amazed by the style of campus here- very open so that the outside and the inside are almost indistinguishable. There are many courtyards and the breeze comes in and out of all the buildings. Most campuses have a central open area with many trees and plants growing, but it feels like you are still inside the building. The special needs students performed a choreographed dance very well, and we looked at examples from their art therapy classes.

Next we met with a LARGE number of university teachers who specialize in teacher training. This was a bit annoying, because they all wanted to give 10 minute introductions of themselves, which needed to be translated, and then the head of the school gave ten minute descriptions of EVERY department in the education school, which was more or less a repeat of the introductions. There were way too many people in the room and nobody’s questions really got answered, and our poor translator looked beat up by the time it all disintegrated into chaos.

In the afternoon we visited a high school where kids your age are given a chance to specialize in art, dance, music. The work they are doing is very serious and for the most part very large. All of this is paid for by the State, and more then 90% of the kids go on to the art university I posted about yesterday, or a similar art college. The photos today are from that high school.

Can the people in cuba speak English?

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:36:43 -0400

Two people asked about language. I have found everything from NO English to a young girl your age today who spoke so well I thought she was American. Most people here know a few phrases, and then once in a while you will find someone fluently bilingual. My Spanish is improving a lot, but not fast enough to get by with the more complicated conversations people want to have. We met a Cuban last night who wanted to talk about politics, but he was very nervous too.

cafe

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:34:08 -0400

Hey mr. s did u get general art section2 our coffee.

ps: people in our class- sean- pushpinder- jd- khizar- jadan.

are you having a good time

Hey guys I have learned that I CANNOT bring back anything consumable. Coffee, or anything else. Yes having a good time but getting tired….

Dudes: Today was an amazing experience, I wish you could have...

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:41:00 -0400

Dudes:

Today was an amazing experience, I wish you could have all been here. I cannot really post more than a minimal amount of photos and videos. The internet is too slow to post video anymore. Please keep sending QUESTIONS and I will answer them in this blog.

Today we went to an elementary school, and the children sang, danced, and showed us their school. I presented the library with the graphic design posters you did, based on the Jose Marti poem. Marti is SUCH a national hero here, that it seems every park, school and street is named Marti. The students even did a dance performance based off the SAME poem you used!

Then we traveled to the homes and studios of some amazing painters, printmakers, and sculptors. They are permitted by the government to sell art from their homes for extra income, and as you saw in the video about Los Carpenteros, the artists can actually do well financially. These homes were MUCH nicer than the average.

Finally we saw an amazing art university- the national Cuban school for the arts. We saw an incredible dance performance, you will see the video when I return. We visited huge art studio spaces made of rounded brick domes. This is the SAME school that Los Carpinteros attended, built on the grounds of the former Havana Country Club.

I am posting an image that I hope gives you an idea of the art studios. What a country!

What kinds of handmade sculpture are there in Cubamost of the work

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:39:16 -0400

Cedric Barfield

Cedric, most of the work we have seen so far is 2D, but at the art school today I saw some wicked cool ceramic sculpture and also a 7 foot high cardboard transformer (maybe Megatron, it was hard to tell)

Have you been to or seen some form of Cuban festivity or party? If not, will you? -Aidan Go

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:37:50 -0400

Aidan, on the first night we stumbled into a a private performance by 4 musicians in a tiny restaurant. They played for me and 3 other teachers, and then gave dance lessons. There are a lot of people “hanging out” but not any obvious parties.

How does the art compare to that of the US? What do they do to sell it and how do they make money from it?

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:36:06 -0400

Michael Brown

Awesome question, Mike. This is too complicated to answer here, but the work is incredible and very cutting edge. A lot of what I have seen would be scandalous in the states.