Case Western Reserve University's latest celebration of diversity features art as an ambassador.

The University has tapped the talent of two Cuban painters—Alejandro Calzada and Roaidi Cartaya—to create a multicultural mural outside the entrance to the new Center for Women on the third floor of Thwing Center.

"Culture is a good ambassador between countries," Cartaya said in his native Spanish through an interpreter. "And art is one of the best ambassadors between cultures and communities."

Called "Reflections," the mural will be dedicated September 25 as part of the University's Hispanic Heritage Day in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. The festivities from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. will include Caribbean and Latin American music, dance performances and food at the Kelvin Smith Library, with the mural reception on the third floor of Thwing.

"The mural goes a long way toward celebrating women and the new Center for Women at the University," said Dorothy Miller, director of the center. "One part of the mission of the Center for Women is to celebrate multiculturalism. The fact that this mural is painted by Cuban artists is especially fitting."

Piece of art

The mural, which covers a wall about 10 feet high and 20 feet wide adjacent to the glassed window overlooking the Thwing ballroom, evolved from an original sketch by Calzada. The painting features images of shadowed, diverse women in the foreground who are "reflected" in another series of larger images of varied women in the background.

"The mural proposes a dialogue between all cultures and opportunities for equality among all people, with women as symbolic of the achievement of that equality," Calzada said, also through an interpreter.

The artists painted the work all in sepia tones, not only to conform to the space but also because the deep reddish-brown pigment furthers the notion of equality or "color blindness," according to Calzada.

In addition to covering this one wall, the artists said they also had hoped to paint another, larger wall around the door to the suite where the Center for Women is located, so the mural would be reflected more directly in the arched window overlooking the ballroom. But they had only about a week before they had to return to their homeland, and the University's master plan calls for a new student center along Euclid Avenue.

No matter the fate of the building, the mural will be preserved. Cartaya said the wall on which they chose to paint is made of sheet-rock and can be moved intact.

"Depending on how this work is received, we hope we can come back next year or when the new building is ready to complete the mural," Cartaya said.

Case-Cuban connections

The Case-Cuban connections that led to the mural started last year when Zaida del Rio, one of Cuba's foremost contemporary artists, was scheduled to exhibit her work at Mallery Gallery. She—and Calzada and Cartaya—were three of four Cuban artists invited to Cleveland last year by Robin Van Lear of the Cleveland Museum of Art to create artwork for Parade the Circle.

Del Rio, however, was unable to return to the United States for the Mather exhibit.

The three artists, all from the town of Remedios in Cuba, were invited to University Circle again this year, but only Calzada, who works for an extension office of the Instituto Superior del Artes in Havana, and Cartaya, who restores old Havana houses with the city's Offices of Conservation and Restoration, were issued visas.

Cuba, which retains much of the original customs and religious identities brought by West African slaves working on Spanish plantations—creating a unique Afro-Cuban culture-is home to many distinctive artistic treasures. But because of politics, cultural exchanges between the Caribbean country and the United States have not been easy.

"Despite the whole political situation with Cuba, there is a willingness on the part of both countries to want to contribute
to cross-cultural education," said Jacqueline Nanfito, associate professor of Spanish in the department of modern languages and literatures. "I hope that exchanges like this one will help to further those ties."

Right place, right time

In addition to working on Parade the Circle this year, the two Cuban artists, who have both studied their craft since elementary school, also created floats for Cleveland's Puerto Rican parade and participated in art and theater projects with the Mi Pueblo and Passport exchange programs during their stay in Northeast Ohio. After their work on these projects, the painters had some spare time before they were scheduled to return to Cuba.

When Nanfito learned the two artists might be available, she worked with Case Vice President of Student Affairs Glenn Nicholls, the Office of the President and Provost and Miller to seize the opportunity.

"We are delighted that the artists were able to do this mural for the center," Miller said. "They came to this country for other projects, and Case has been very fortunate to be able to share in their talents."

In addition to taking advantage of underutilized space on the third floor of Thwing and giving the new Center for Women and its mission a higher profile, Nanfito said the mural is a tribute to the University's vision.

"My hope is that this mural will serve as a testament to the University's commitment to diversity, partnerships and the celebration of women and multiculturalism," she said.

The artists are modest about their contributions to the University's culture and, instead, said they are overwhelmed by what the Case and Cleveland communities have given them.

"We have been enriched learning more about the University's culture," Cartaya said, "and we hope the University community now knows a little more about Cuba and Cuban culture,"

"This has been a very emotional experience for us," Calzada said. "We want to thank everyone who has helped make it possible, and we hope exchanges between Cuba and the University continue to grow."

Return to the online edition of the 9-18-03 Campus News.