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museumsUnbroken Ties: Dialogues in Cuban ArtMuseum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, CaliforniaWith the world’s eyes on Cuba and the now-unpredictable reign of theBrothers Castro, an art exhibition featuring art by Cuban residentsand émigrés living in the United States appears to be timely.The Museum of Latin American Art’s exhibition titled Unbroken Ties: Dialoguesin Cuban Art attempts to bring together a people who, although divided by ideologyand locale, have never really broken connections of bloodlines, religion(Catholicism and Santaria), culture and correspondence.Thus, what politics have torn asunder, art may well put back together.Jorge H. Santis, Curator and Director of Collection Research at the Museumof Art in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, selected the original 75 works that CynthiaMacMullin, Director of Exhibitions at MoLAA has narrowed down to 50 for theshow’s run in Long Beach. The show features works done both by Cuba-basedartists and by a number of Cuban expatriates. It examines the historic, political, andsocial events that have taken place since 1959’s revolution.Although not yet shown at his own MoAFL, Santis likens Unbroken Ties to aGreek tragedy, divided into three parts.Part 1, Paradise Lost, exposes the underbelly of romanticism that still surroundsthe island’s history. It includes magical realist paintings that offer a nostalgic glimpse of“old” Cuba and current photographs of Havana crumbling from the effects of neglect.Part 2, Risking Life and Limb, addresses the physical and psychological perils ofescape across a strait that may look narrow on nautical charts but is wide enoughto be an arbitrator between life and death.Lydia Rubio, El encuentro (The Encounter), 1992. Oil on canvas. Collection ofMoAFL. Gift of an Anonymous Donor, 95.14. Image courtesy MoLAA.Finally, Unbroken Ties/New Reality illuminates realities of expatriate life in theUnited States where—alas—the sidewalks are not paved with gold.“The artists that remained in Cuba are not as politically critical as the exiles butstill present diverse points of view, with some seeing the revolution in terms of salvationand heroism and others as pure oppression,” says MacMullin. Daniella WalshNovember 9, 2006 – March 4, 2007628 Los Alamitos Avenue, Long Beach, California562.437.1689 • www.molaa.orgCarlos Luna, 1, 2, 3 Se acabótu conteo (1, 2, 3 YourCountdown is Over), 2006.Gouache and charcoal onhandmade paper. Gift of JamesBlanchard Cisneros, 2006.13.Image courtesy MoLAA.24 2006 Issue 4