Fans Forever- The Sequel. With Actual Fans. Day 17 of SMCSF 30 day blog challenge

In actuality the title should be- My Last Day in Miami Part 3a Fans Forever  Day 17 of SMCSF 30 day challenge, but that would be too over the top even for BB.  Queee?  JU SO FONII!!!  Ok si, nothings too over the top for BB; I just like this title better.  And I like sharing better, especially when it's beauty. So, without further ado, my favorite fans from the Fans Forever exhibition currently showing at the Miami Dade College Museum of Art & Design.  Bueno, not all of my favorites because the lighting didn't always work well with my camera, but a lot of my favorites.  I could have scanned in the pics of my favs because of the marvelous book Mr.Jeremy M. Mikolajczak bestowed me, but that would have taken away the look of Plebian Pride Babushka so likes to compartir with y'all. Of course you have no idea what I'm talking about if you haven't read the first part.  Go on, it's here and we'll be here.  Heje  BB being BB and playing the tease again. But really, it does make more sense if you read the first part.  Ok, ok. Continuing.

From the introduction pages-

MORE THAN JUST SOME CUBAN FANS...

A fan is much more than a tool to cool oneself.  It is the means for a woman to say something special to a man.  Also, it is an object that, for its beauty, constitutes a work of art.  These days, fans are used less frequently than in the past, a sign of advancements fut also a reflection of the lack of gentleness and charm that surrounds us.

In 1943, the splendid Paris Church of Santa Maria del Rosario, a jewel of Cuban Baroque, held an exhibition and auction of fans to raise funds for the church's care and maintenance.  The event was memorable because of the quality of the works exhibited.  Almost seven decades later, with the title Fans Forever, today's exhibition not only recalls that event but also rescues the magic and beauty of the Cuban fans.

In this exhibition, we have fans painted by some of the artists who exhibited in that historic occasion.  Fortunately, we also have fans painted by artist of later generation, both on the island and in exile.  At a time when the world of creativity seems dominated by works that are primarily destined to oblivion, Fans Forever is a most appropriate title.  This exhibition is worthy of enjoyment and celebration.

Armando Alvarez Bravo

And now in no particular order, except the order in which they were photographed, 

the Fabulous Fans Favored by this Fanatic. 

Descriptions taken almost directly from the book because they've said it all oh so well.

TONY LOPEZ  1918-2011

And So It All Began

One of his last compositions, filled with a marvelous tenderness and innocence: Adam and Even in Paradise.

MIGUEL ORDOQUI  1939

"colorful fictional characters, humor and sensuality"

PEDRO DE ORAA  1931

"Symbols of the inexhaustible mystery of the aesthetic genius."

CESAR SANTOS  1982

Cesar's artristic energy always inspires him to design figures and objets that are believable and convincing.

TOMAS SANCHEZ 1948

Tomas suggests that we look at others through nature, as a a fair way of looking at and respecting ourselves.

PEDRO PABLO OLIVA  1949

Sweet dreams, a large dose of humanity and a message of hope.

EMILIO SAUMA   1961

"with a brilliant explosion of blazing colors and beautiful silhouettes"

CARLOS ACOSTANEYRA  1962

"with his creative capacity, comes with fish and travelers, and with other elements that denote his arduous work."

ISMAEL GOMEZ PERALTA  1966

"fills a great void of remembrances and absences, rescuing the hopes that he immortalizes forever."

CARLOS ESTEVEZ  1969

"an artist of great spiritual and mystical gentleness, always engaged in an infinite quest across the universe"

ORESTES GAULHIAC  1960

" a painstaking composition by the artist, like his circus scenes, that he paints not as they truly are but as he interprets them."

ERNESTO CAPDEVILA 1970

His works, according to the artist himself, represent an unexpected path. 

 Lies and truths that bare themselves on the same stage.

Of course my Plebian photos can not compare to seeing the fans in person, nor the photographs in the book.  As a matter of fact, the pictures of the artists are also in the book, giving further glimpses into their souls, and they are works of art within themselves. BB wholeheartedly states you see the exhibition and/or buy the book- for the history, the beauty, and the art. Por supuesto y sin duda, I emphatically agree with Mr. Bravo-

"This exhibition is worthy of enjoyment and celebration." 

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S.  The museum is open Tuesday - Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.

  Si quieren ver los abanios, corrrrrrreeeeennnnnn the exhibits last day is November 2.

P.P.S.  Fotos on Feibu of My Last Day in Miami, con abrazotes a todos and hoping you found it as fascinating as BB did and well worth the wait.

My Last Day in Miami Part 3 -Fans Forever Day 15 of SMCSF 30 day blog challenge

Hola Hola Hola My Beautifuls!  Today I am finishing the "My Last Day in Miami" series with the original intention of the viaje- the Fans Forever exhibit.  Ever since my brother had mentioned it to me I knew I had to go, I mean, how perfectly Babushka verdad?

Housed in the famous Freedom Tower, the Miami Dade College Museum of Art and Design always has ongoing exhibits, performances and events.  

The entrance to the museum itself is free and open from Tuesday to Saturday noon to 5 p.m. 

Of course the price is right and BB would be making the trip for the love of art, pero this trip is specifically for the love of fans.  

"The fan is not an accessory, but a perfect whole, a work of art in miniature and, as such, must be respected." 

~Dulce Maria Loynaz  Cuban poet and writer

Naturally I was enchanted by the fans and BB, being BB, had to find out more and express her appreciation. Babushka had the good fortune of speaking with Mr.Jeremy M. Mikolajczak, Executive Director & Chief Curator of the MDC Museum & Galleries of Art + Design who graciously gave me a more in depth history of the exhibit and a copy of the official book.  (Swag!!) From this publication- which is a work of art in itself- is where BB found the names of the artists and the titles of the fans.  However, again, BB being BB, had further questions on the decision of artists contributing in the exhibit, if there were any restrictions given to the artists and how long they had to complete their submission. Here I was put in contact with Mr. Gustavo Orta, the curator of Fans Forever who via email went into specifics.  Following is the Google translation of Mr. Ortas' reply: 

Bohemiam Babushka:

The project Fans Forever, recalls an exhibition held in Havana in July 1943, where distinguished Cuban artists painted fans to sell in  benefit of  the Church of Santa Maria del Rosario that needed restoration.

For this new exhibition of Fans Forever it was necessary, if possible, to get fans painted by artists who participated in that exhibition of 1943, as Wifredo Lam, Cundo Bermúdez, René Portocarrero, which we got.

Also spoke with relatives of deceased Cuban artists for us to facilitate their works on loan, as is the case for the fans of Cuban artist Mariano Rodriguez.

Then the next step was to get fans of later generations of artists, up to contemporary artists. What also could get (with living artists) in Cuba and in exile, to whom we sent fans unpainted, and explaining the project, encouraging them to participate in this exhibition.

Cuban artists began thinking of which fans we already had in our collection, works of art, and whose work we already knew, and then went to private collectors including other friends.

We thought initially that would entail a total of 30, and was then increased to 50 fans.

We would have liked to include many more, which also could have been on display, but we deliver the catalog which had 116 pages, and the space facilitated by MDC's Freedom Tower didn't have the  room for more .

There were no restrictions except those mentioned above (and catalog space already reached 116 pages).

The time it took to perform the show (since it was conceived) until the day of the opening was 2 years and 2 months.

If any additional information is necessary you can contact me by this route.

Thank you for your interest and attention.

Sincerely,

Gustavo Orta

Curator. - 

Woah. 

How generous were both gentlemen with their time and how great was that answer?  Almost as great as the fans and the art themselves. 

Queee? It took over two years for the opening of Fans Forever,  and you think BB will show you her favorites in one post?

JU SO FONII!!! 

Ok si, esta bien. Here's the signature piece of the exhibit. 

Wilfredo Lam  1902- 1982

Painted in the 1940's this piece was a likely participant of the original 1943 exhibit.  

The female figure is his wife, Helena Holzer.

And here's BB's signature piece.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

; )

P.S.  The exhibit runs until November 2 and the blog challenge for another 15 days...

 y'all let me know when you want to see the fans.

P.P.S.  Each of the different colored "Fans Forever" links takes you to a different webpage. 

One is the MDC event, another their Feibu page, and one an article written on the exhibit. heje 

 And the suspense continues...