Cuban Art – Trinkets and Travel Memories #12

Challenge Outline

Being a big fan of several Photo Challenges, I am going to try and host one myself. I am not sure how long it will last but would love it if you could take part!  Please click here for the challenge outline. Please post a link to your post on this page and I will make sure I put it on my challenge page for others to see too!

I look forward to checking out your posts!

So without further adieu here is my 12th trinket.

2010 – Cuba – Painting by Martha Jimenez

Cuba was one of my favourite places and a highlight of my 2010 world trip. It was a last minute surprise inclusion. I was meant to be leaving the states for the Middle East however the 2010 Spring Uprising happened days before my departure and my travel plans were hastily rearranged. I ended up travelling up through Central America. one of the countries I visited was Cuba.

Cuba and its people have been shaped by domestic and international politics. Human rights are of concern to this day, As a tourist only there  for a short time I can not claim to fully understand the implications or to have necessarily seen the real Cuba. I was there in 2010. It was and still is a Socialist State but from what I could gather from the people I talked to, life was slowly changing with regard to the restrictions on everyday life. Life was still very simple in terms of commercialism and technology.

My outstanding memories are the warmth of the people, the sense of community, the music, the dance and the art. Neighbours gathered in the streets and chatted, Bands played on street corners, children were out playing catch, riding bikes or swimming.

Women Gossiping By Martha Jimenez. Bought in Camuguey, Cuba 2010

Camuguey was a town with great artist’s studios. Martha Jimenez is an artist and sculptor. She has some beautiful sculptures in the Plaza del Carmen. I visited her studio and bought this small painting. It reminds me of the ladies out and chatting to neighbours or dancing and singing, One of Martha’s lovely sculptures is called 3 gossiping women and this painting brings back memories of the plaza, the sculpture and a lovely family I chatted with and whose children I played with.

Recently Cuba and America have resumed ties. I hope the people of  Cuba find doors open for them but can maintain their own special identity and integrity.

Yoroshiku Onegai shimasu

Leanne