Artists and Teachers

Jessica García

Original written in Spanish

La Lisa and La Concepción, two neighborhoods steeped in art and education

Two projects that embrace art in its various forms, two projects in neighborhoods of Havana, whose common thread is their commitment to the community they are part of. Women and men struggling to ensure that children in their community learn about their land through art. 

Some of the paintings on exhibition at the Saulo Serrano Gallery, in the La Concepción neighborhood

Anti-racist and anti-imperialist art in Havana: a visit to La Muñeca Negra

We arrived in the La Lisa neighborhood after noon, at the hottest time of the day. Some of the women and children who are part of the Muñeca Negra project were waiting for us there. The small covered patio, with colorful cardboard fish hanging from the ceiling, colorful cushions on the floor, and chairs around the patio, made it clear that we had arrived at the artists' house. 

Visit to La Muñeca Negra

Once everyone is settled in their chairs or cushions, they tell us how this family project came about. Its first coordinator, Margarita Montalvo, is at this meeting alongside Tatiana Martínez, another of the project's leaders and current director of Afropoderosas, a project that also originated in this community and aims to empower the black women who are part of it.

Martí tried to show the story of the most vulnerable. From this idea, the project was born, to beautify the image of black women.

Maritza and Tatiana tell us about La Muñeca Negra (The Black Doll)

The name La Muñeca Negra (The Black Doll) comes from a story by José Martí (an anti-imperialist and anti-racist Cuban leader), which tells the story of a white girl named Piedad who had a black doll. Piedad talked and played with her all the time. Until one day, her father gave her a white doll and asked the slaves to hide the black doll named Leonor. Martí tried to show the story of the most vulnerable. From this idea, the project was born, to enhance the image of Black women, tell us its promoters.

The project began during the Special Period, when there were no dolls. So it was born with a dual purpose: to provide dolls to the community, but black dolls with whom girls could identify.

The project began during the Special Period, when there were no dolls. So it was born with a dual purpose: to provide dolls to the community, but black dolls with whom girls could identify. Currently, other crafts such as fans and earrings are also made. It is also an ecological project, as it works with fabric scraps, eggshells, cardboard, and other elements that can be recycled and reused in this work.

The art that decorates the courtyard of La Muñeca Negra, La Lisa neighborhood

Today, Muñeca Negra includes not only girls and women but also some boys. New projects have been born in this space, and others are in the works, in pursuit of recognition of the African roots of the Cuban people. 

Painting Cuba: a visit to Saulo Serrano's studio

“Art is synthesis,” says Saulo. When asked if he has different styles in his work, he says no, “I haven't changed my style, but the artist evolves.” Saulo Serrano is a Cuban artist who is well known in his country and proud to have been visited in his studio by Fidel Castro himself. 

Some of the paintings on exhibition at the Saulo Serrano Gallery, La Concepción neighborhood

His studio has also been an art school for years. Children from his neighborhood, La Concepción, go there to paint. Some of his works are on display in the studio, which he says is how he “teaches by example.” Next door is the gallery where they are housed and where you can admire the works of his students. “This is a gallery, believe it or not.” It certainly is a gallery, only a small one. 

On the way to Saulo's house, in the La Concepción neighborhood

A few blocks away is Saulo's house, where he lives with his elderly mother and his works painted over the years. There, under the constant loving gaze of this woman, Saulo shows us some of his works and tells us how he came to create them, his journey across the island, his love for the Cuban countryside, and his deep need to portray the land that saw him born in its different expressions. 

Saulo Serrano at home telling us about his work

Saulo Serrano is not only a great artist, but also a teacher passionate about teaching and a great love for Cuba. “Art is synthesis,” he says. His art is clearly a great synthesis of Cuba and its processes of social transformation.