STEALING BASE: Cuba at Bat聽is a visual exploration of baseball through the varied perspectives of Cuban-born artists, and will be on view at the through December 7, 2014.
The exhibition, part of the聽, features works by 16聽established and emerging artists:聽Jesoviel Abstengo-Chaviano, Alejandro Aguilera, Carlos C谩rdenas, Yunier Hern谩ndez Figueroa, Duniesky Mart铆n, Frank Ernesto Mart铆nez Gonz谩lez, Bernardo Navarro Tomas, Juan Padr贸n, Douglas P茅rez Castro, Arl茅s del Rio, Perfecto Romero, Reynerio Tamayo, Jos茅 Angel Toirac, Harold V谩zquez Ley, Villalvilla, and Quisqueya Henr铆quez. 聽Mr. Rubin is a 1956 alumnus of K体育 University.
The exhibition is curated by Rachel Perera Weingeist, director and curator of The 8th聽Floor in New York, and Elizabeth Peterson, director of the OU Museum of Art, with an exhibition essay by Orlando Hern谩ndez, a Havana-based curator. The original exhibition concept was the result of a long collaboration between Weingeist and Hern谩ndez that culminated in the summer of 2013 at The 8th聽Floor Gallery in New York.
鈥�Baseball is today, without distinction of classes, age and sex,
the preferred diversion of all [Cubans].鈥�
鈥� El Sport (Havana), Sept. 2, 1886
The arrival of baseball in Cuba coincided with the emergence of the independence movement in 1868. The sport quickly became a collective emblem of national identity. A love for baseball connects Cubans across race, religion, politics and geography. Pop-flys, stolen bases, and home runs provide meaningful and accessible imagery for Cuban artists. Responding not only to the sport as national pastime, their work has further sought to convey larger complexities within Cuban society.聽Stealing Base presents the work of a diverse range of contemporary artists, living in Cuba and in the U.S., who have found potency in the imagery of the sport.
鈥淲ithout question, baseball is a great generator of meanings,鈥� writes Orlando Hern谩ndez in his exhibition essay. 鈥淭he game can and should be used as a grand metaphor to express or to understand not only art but the very reality in which we live.鈥�
鈥淏aseball has played an important role in the impugning, critical, and revolutionary spirit that Cuban artists have demonstrated when faced with acts of dogmatism, official intolerance, and censorship,鈥� Hern谩ndez concludes. 鈥淭hanks to these brave artists, we realize that the game is not over yet.鈥�
A series of events celebrating baseball and Cuban culture will accompany the exhibition:
- September 17, 7:00 p.m.,聽鈥淎rt, Activism & Social Justice,鈥澛燽y聽Elizabeth Peterson, Director, K体育 University Museum of Art. Ms. Peterson who is also an adjunct professor for a CORE Art & Culture class at OU, will explore the use of art in propaganda and protest in both Cuba and elsewhere.
- October 1, 7:00 p.m.,聽鈥淚deas & Inspirations,鈥澛燽y Atlanta-based artist聽Alejandro Aguilera. 聽Mr. Aguilera is an Atlanta-based artist creating a special installation in聽Stealing Base.聽 He will talk about his personal connections to the island and how his memories play out in his art.
- October 15, 7:00 p.m.,聽鈥淏aseball:聽 A Bridge for Reconciliation鈥澛燽y聽Hoji Silva Miret, a freelance consultant in leisure travel and tourism.聽 Mr. Miret immigrated to the U.S. recently and is living in New York City.聽 He will be talking about travel and tourism and U.S./Cuba relations.
- October 22, 7:00 p.m.,聽鈥淔rom Peter Pan to Atlanta,鈥澛燽y聽Jorge Fernandez, Vice President, Global Commerce, Metro Atlanta Chamber. Mr. Fernandez came to the U.S. via Miami at the age of 10 through Operation Peter Pan.聽 He was a command pilot for the United States Air Force for 22 years, a Vice President for Delta Air Lines, and is now a Vice President for MAC.聽 He will discuss his personal story.
- October 29, 7:00 p.m.,聽鈥淪nowplows in Havana: Irony in Cuban Art,鈥澛燽y Dr. Gail Gelburd, Professor of Art History, Eastern Connecticut State University. Dr. Gelburd curated聽Aijaco: Stirrings of the Cuban Soul. Her research projects focus on socio-political discourse, environmental issues, global perspectives and non-Eurocentricities.
- November 5, 7:00 p.m.,聽鈥淩undown between Spain and the USA: Cuban Independence and National Identity,鈥澛燽y聽Dr. Nicholas Maher, Associate Professor of History, K体育 University. Dr. Maher will lecture about the late 19th聽century Cuban Independence Movement and the background to Cuban national identity in navigating a path between Spanish and U.S. cultures.
OUMA is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 12 noon – 5 p.m. General admission is $5 or free with a Petrel Pass and for OUMA members and children 12 and under.
