 |
Yemaya |
A Heart Imagining Itself and other Tropical Dreams
The Heart Imagining Itself images were created in the spring of 1992. I had just moved back to New York City from Puerto Rico, where I had spent 10 years making art and dear friends. I moved alone to pursue my art dreams once again in the city where I grew up, after leaving Cuba at the age of seven. I was lonely, elated, and scared. I missed my beautiful island home, and New York City was being its usual oblivious self.
The act of creating these images helped me through this very important but difficult time. Also during this time, I began to fill up my fifth-floor East Village walk-up with small paintings of every tropical being I could summon to my aid. On this page you can see some of them.
I had always been drawn to Yemaya, the Afro-Cuban goddess of caring and compassion, and never found an image that seemed true to what I understood she represented. So I painted her. To this day, her image brings me comfort, warmth, and life.
The Heart imagining Series
1. Un corazón imaginandose arbol en el primer día de primavera
A heart imagining itself to be a tree on the first day of spring
2. Un corazón imaginandose sol en espera de las flores de abril
A heart imagining itself to be the sun while waiting for the flowers of April.
3. Un corazon imaginandose luna en una noche llena de mar
A heart imagining itself to be the moon on a night full of sea
4. Un corazón imaginandose nube en busqueda de otros viajeros flotantes
A heart imagining itself to be a cloud in search of other floating travelers
5. Un corazón imaginandose mundo para sentir la belleza de todo
A heart imagining itself to be the world to experience the beauty of all
6. Un corazón imaginandose estrella para ayudar adornar el techo de la tierra
A heart imagining itself to be a star in order to help decorate the earth’s roof
7. Un corazón imaginandose cactus para disfrutar de una noche en el desierto
A heart imagining itself to be a cactus to enjoy a night out in the desert
Click on the title below the images to see larger.
|
 |
La mano todopoderosa
(The All-powerful hand) |
 |
Piña, platano, papaya |
 |
Entre Cielo y Tierra
Between heaven and earth |
 |
Visionary, David Luis Santos
(David is not an imaginary creature though here he is orange and purple. He's a friend and a photographer with whom I shared many wonderful conversations sitting across from me at my kitchen counter during this period in my life. He looked particular beautiful one evening in his white turtleneck.) |
 |
La Sirena Bolerista
The Mermaid sings songs of love |
|
For print purchases go to Shop for prints and cards. |
|
