Traveling to Cuba? Postcard Project 2014-2017
Normalizing relations between the United States and Cuba tend to go in fits and starts; President Obamaβs historic order in 2014 to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba after more than 53 years greatly expanded travel opportunities for Cuba bound visitors. A couple of years ago Tampa and St. Petersburg were competing for the prospect of a Cuban consulate. But in 2017, the Trump administration expelled 15 Cuban diplomats, and current laws are making it more difficult for Cuba bound travelers again.
ββThrough the use of postcards, this project documents the natural human communication and exchange that is increasing between people who live in the United States and Cuba. On December 17th, 2014, President Obamaβs order to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba encouraged more contact which greatly expanded travel opportunities for Cuba bound visitors. From 2014-2017, I invited travelers throughout Miami and across the US to participate in this project by asking them to mail from Cuba a postcard that I designed (Cuban postage included). This can take anywhere from three to eighteen weeks. In the course of the project, I distributed over 500 postcards and 252.
βThe invitation to participate in the project revealed my intent, which was for each individually written postcard to reflect unique voices, each with its own individual gesture, touch, and feelings, together creating a collective message of love. Over 250 people participated in the exchange via these postcards from across the United States, i.e. New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Florida, California and Cubans who were temporarily visiting the United States.
βThis project was possible with the support of Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator
ΒΏVas a Cuba? Proyecto de postales 2014β2017
La normalizaciΓ³n de las relaciones entre los Estados Unidos y Cuba tiende a avanzar con pasos lentos e irregulares; la histΓ³rica orden del presidente Obama en 2014 de restablecer relaciones diplomΓ‘ticas con Cuba despuΓ©s de mΓ‘s de 53 aΓ±os ampliΓ³ enormemente las oportunidades de viaje para las personas que visitaban Cuba. Hace algunos aΓ±os, Tampa y St. Petersburg competΓan por la posibilidad de tener un consulado cubano. Pero en 2017, la administraciΓ³n Trump expulsΓ³ a 15 diplomΓ‘ticos cubanos y las leyes actuales han vuelto a dificultar los viajes hacia Cuba.
A travΓ©s del uso de postales, este proyecto documenta la comunicaciΓ³n e intercambio humano natural que estΓ‘ aumentando entre las personas que viven en los Estados Unidos y Cuba. El 17 de diciembre de 2014, la orden del presidente Obama de restablecer relaciones diplomΓ‘ticas con Cuba fomentΓ³ un mayor contacto y ampliΓ³ considerablemente las oportunidades de viaje para quienes se dirigΓan a Cuba. Entre 2014 y 2017, invitΓ© a viajeros de Miami y de todo Estados Unidos a participar en este proyecto pidiΓ©ndoles que enviaran desde Cuba una postal diseΓ±ada por mΓ (con franqueo cubano incluido). El proceso de envΓo podΓa tardar entre tres y dieciocho semanas. Durante el proyecto, distribuΓ mΓ‘s de 1000 postales y recibΓ 252 de regreso.
La invitaciΓ³n a participar en el proyecto revelaba mi intenciΓ³n: que cada postal escrita individualmente reflejara voces ΓΊnicas, cada una con su propio gesto, huella y sentimientos, creando juntas un mensaje colectivo de amor. MΓ‘s de 250 personas participaron en este intercambio de postales desde diferentes partes de los Estados Unidos, incluyendo Nueva York, Filadelfia, Washington D.C., Florida, California, asΓ como cubanos que se encontraban temporalmente visitando los Estados Unidos.
Este proyecto fue posible gracias al apoyo de Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator.
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Traveling to Cuba: Postcard Project
Exhibition and postcard making workshop at the Hispanic Library, Miami, FL
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Traveling to Cuba: Postcard Project
Traveling to Cuba, postcard project, Art @ the Library-West-Regional Library, Miami, FL
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Traveling to Cuba: Postcard Project
Postcard projections at Alternate Currents | New Art, DVCAI, 18th International Cultural Exchange, LβArtocarpe Contemporary Space, Guadeloupe.
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Traveling to Cuba: Postcard Project
Presentation at Art Center South/Florida for Fieldwork, Miami Beach, FL
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Traveling to Cuba: Postcard Project
Digital outdoor projection of postcards at the 12th Havana Biennial, Cuba