Remember the Time
Fall is upon us and winter will follow soon, but for some reason I'm remembering spring of 2010 when a small group of Catfish Friday artists traveled to Havana, Cuba to participate in a cultural exchange exhibit. I had made my first visit to Cuba in 2009 when I travelled with a group of artists, educators and the like guided by artist Ben Jones to see the 2009 Havana Biennial. It was an international art event that blew my mind. I had never witnessed such a variety of international fine artists like I had during that week of exhibitions. It was such an impressive event I find myself still haunted by some of the art I saw there. I wanted to connect with those people who embraced their visual artists with enthusiasm, admiration and respect - artists, like Manuel Mendive, treated as if they were rock stars. A few artists in the group had an exhibit at a local gallery in Havana and I knew I wanted to have the same opportunity for myself and other Catfish Friday artists. I was able to meet the gallery director and through many emails we were able to arrange an exhibit at the Belkis Ayón Galería at El Centro Experimental de Artes Visuales in the spring of 2010. At the reception the Cuban people welcomed us with open arms and the artists that were able to take the trip to Havana at that time were treated like celebrities. People were interested in our work and the artwork needed no interpretation to reach our audience. The language was a universal one. It proved once again that art communicates across cultures and borders. It is a language without words just as impactful. For a few hours during that reception and while the exhibit was on display we were cultural ambassadors making connections and friendships through our visual art. It was an experience I don't think any of us that took that journey to Havana, Cuba in 2010 will ever forget.
— Toni Thomas
House Rent Party - Artists at Home
Saturday, November 13 @ 7PM
Use the link below to purchase tickets for our Zoom event.
Eventbrite.com https://www.eventbrite.com/e/house-rent-party-artists-at-home-2-tickets-187466727027?aff=ebdssbeac
