Summer Highlights
"PROJECT IN UNDERSTANDING AND CREATIVITY" AT CCY
The Center for Creative Youth, CREC, Wesleyan University and Plowshares Institute extended the hand of friendship to two Cuban artists at CCY's summer program. The artists were in residence for five weeks at CCY with 215 other selected young artists from Connecticut as well as other states, Korea, West Germany and Somalia, East Africa.
Cuban-Americans Armando Verea, head of the Wesleyan Campus Center, and Judith and Daniel Merida, whose son attended CCY in the summer of 1989, as well as director B. Joan Hickey, dreamed of hosting two young artists from Cuba as a way of enhancing global awareness, understanding and peace in the young artists who attend CCY each year.
Through the efforts of many dedicated people and organizations, an invitation was issued to Jose R. Fernandez Alvarez, Vice-President and Minister of Education in the Republic of Cuba, to nominate two young artists to participate in what became the "Project in Understanding and Creativity. "Thanks to the support of several members of the Connecticut congressional delegation, the Department of State granted visas for the first time in many years.
Yoel Almaguer Carralero, 19, is a recent graduate of the Professional School of Art in Las Tunas, Cuba. He is now a teacher of ceramics at his alma mater and works in both artistic and industrial ceramics. His companion, Joaquín Jorge Tornes, 17, is an engraver and painter and a graduate of the Professíonal School of Art in Holguín, Cuba
In addition to a full schedule of activities at the Center, Hickey arranged day trips to Hartford, Boston and New York City muse ums. Instructor Paul Paturzo recalled their awe at seeing original Picassos and Van Goghs, and their pride in seeing a work by Cuban artist Wilfredo Lam.
The sponsoring organizations joined together in what they hope will be the first year of an ongoing project to promote understanding and peace through the talent and creativity of young artists and the bonds of friendship that emerge from a summer residency in the arts
Crec Insider. volumen 5. No. 1. Verano 1990
