More Cubans head to jail

Emboldened by the Obama Administration's diplomatic recognition -- and its pledge of inconditionality -- the Castro regime continues to arrest political dissidents.

Yesterday it arrested Lisandra Robert, Miraida Martin and Yamile Rodriguez -- all members of the Cuban Patriotic Union (UNPACU) in Santiago de Cuba -- and Melkis Faure and Emilio Serrano in Havana.

Faure and Serrano were arrested as they inquired about Sonia de la Caridad Gonzalez Mejias, who was arrested on December 28th. Gonzalez Mejia is currently on a hunger strike protesting her unjust imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Cuban artist Danilo Maldonado ("El Sexto"), arrested on Christmas Day, was transferred to the Valle Grande prison. His crime? Intending to attend artist Tania Bruguera's performance, which never took place, as she was also arrested!

And Marcelino Abreu Bonora, arrested on December 26th, was beaten and placed in a "special" punishment cell for conducting a hunger strike.

Tragically, there are already more political prisoners in Cuba today than on December 17th.

SELECT 2015: WPA Art Auction Exhibition and Gala

SELECT 2015: WPA Art Auction Exhibition and Gala   

GALA: March 7, 2015, 7-11pm   

EXHIBITION: January 29 through March 6, 2015 

OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, January 29, 7-9pm 

CURATOR TALKS: Thursday, February 12 and Thursday, February 19, 6:30-8pm

   

at Artisphere: 1101 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 

Free parking with validation on evenings (after 5pm) and all day on weekends 

Metro: Rosslyn 

Circulator: Georgetown - Dupont  

Exhibition, opening reception, and curator talks are free and open to the public.

For Auction ticket information, please CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE or contact
Nathalie von Veh at 202.234.7103 x5 or nvonveh@wpadc.org

  

WPA's Annual Art Auction Gala is the highlight of DC's contemporary art world season! DC's longest running and most-established contemporary art auction, SELECT is an annually anticipated event that supports WPA and the artist community.  

SELECT 2015 features works available for purchase chosen by 8 of the region's top and emerging curators as well as selections by WPA's Board of Directors. Featuring works by established and emerging artists from DC, Baltimore, Richmond, and beyond, WPA's selection of exquisite, engaging, and exciting art works offer something for collectors both seasoned and aspiring.  

    

Auction Co-Chairs: Jessica Naresh, Judy & Andrew Sherman, and Robert Shields

Auction Host Committee: Martha Blalock, Heather Davis, Ayanna Dunn, Eric Hilton, Dr. Giselle Huberman, Jessica Naresh, Jill Pearlman, Amanda Phillips, Judy Sherman, Robert Shields, Henri Siblesz, Jessica Stafford-Davis, Vikki Tobak, and Blair Wunderlich

Opportunity for Artists

26th National Drawing and Print Competitive Exhibition

Gormley Gallery-Notre Dame of Maryland University

Eligibility and media
Drawings and prints (not photography) in any medium are eligible with no limitations as to color, surface or materials. All drawings and prints must be original works of art. Each artist may submit up to 3 works on online only. No mailed or emailed entries will be accepted.

Juror

Brian Young
Curator, Arts Program,
University of Maryland University College  

Awards
A minimum of $1,500 available in purchase prize money.

Enter online at:

https://artndm.slideroom.com

Additional Information:

www.ndm.edu/gormleygallery

Entry fee

A non­refundable entry fee of $36 entitles the artist to submit up to three entries.

Selection process

Initial jury will be of online submissions received by January 31, 2015. Notification will be by email. Be sure to add gormleygallery@ndm.edu to your contacts so that notification email is not sent to your spam folder. Accepted drawings and prints received by March 2 will be juried for purchase prize awards at the value set by the artist. Works selected for purchase prize awards will become the property of Notre Dame of Maryland University.

Calendar
Entries due	January 31, 2015
Notification of acceptance	February 13, 2015
Work due at gallery	March 2, 2015
Exhibition Dates	March 23 through April 24, 2015
Reception and Gallery Talk	Saturday, March 28 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Shipping

All accepted works must be ready to exhibit: framed with plexiglass (no glass), wired and ready to hang. Ship by either UPS, no FedEx, using strong, re­usable crates or cardboard cartons. No packing peanuts please. Include return shipping document with a scannable barcode. Ship prepaid to: Drawing and Print Competitive Exhibition, Notre Dame of Maryland University, 4701 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210.

Hand delivery drop-off dates TBA

Email: gormleygallery@ndm.edu

No phone calls please

List of detained Cuban artists

This is the list of artists detained in the Castro Brothers' Workers Paradise; remember this the next time that you think our own "political art" has cojones... these heroes put their freedom on the line for their beliefs in the simple rights of humankind.

1. Tania Bruguera
2. Antonio G Rodiles
3. Ailer Gonzalez
4. Eva Baquero
5. Boris González Arenas
6. Camilo Ernesto Olivera
7. Andrés Pérez Suárez
8. Carlos Manuel Hernández Jiménez
9. Vicente Coll Campagnioli
10. Joisis García
11. Nelson Rodríguez
12. Agustín López Canino
13. Ernesto Santana
14. Delio Rodríguez Díaz
15. Pablo Pascual Méndez Piña
16. Waldo Fernández Cuenca
17. Raúl Borges
18. Yaneisi Herrera Cabrales
19. Ariovel Castillo Villalba
20. Carlos Manuel Hernández
21. Miguel Daniel Borroto
22. Raisel Rodríguez Rivero
23. Lázaro Montesino Hernández.
24. Oscar Casanella Saint Blancard
25. Dayron Moisés Torres
26. Danilo Maldonado Machado, el Sexto

Update on Tania

From Tania's sister:

URGENT // ‪#‎Cuba‬ ‪#‎TaniaBruguera‬ released by State Security.

Tania would not leave until all detainees because of the artistic performance were released. She was held at the Police Station Acosta y Diez de Octubre.

"I can not allow people remain prisoners on my account. I can not accept that the public of a work of political art be repressed, censored and suffering for my sake," said the artist.

Bruguera is already at the apartment of her family in El Vedado. She will take a rest immediately and to share some time with her mother. By the time she will do no additional statements, and appreciates the immense support and affection she received. According to sources in the family, she is psychologically exhausted.

Security agents themselves have acknowledged in talks with Tania the echo and support obtained. Not yet she has been returned her passport. Her case will be heard by a prosecutor in the days to come.

Looking for a job in the arts?

Job Posting: Visual Arts Program Facilitator, Arts Seasonal/Intermittent Position

The Visual Arts Program Facilitator position is a part-time position, up to 30 hours per week, as needed, for the Arts and Cultural Heritage Division of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County.  This position develops approximately 20 exhibitions per year highlighting artists who live, work or study in Prince George’s County for public Parks and Recreation sites.  The work also includes managing the Department’s art collection, as well as providing Visual Arts programs and services for the professional development of artists and to enhance cultural education and recreation opportunities for the general community.  Candidates need to have a strong background in the visual arts, public programming and/or exhibition development.  Candidates should also have the following skills: strong knowledge of art handling and installation techniques, ability to multi-task and meet deadlines, excellent communication and customer service, writing and editing, marketing, and promotion. Basic knowledge in the Adobe Creative Suite is preferred.  Experience leading or administering arts education programs is a plus. The job holder should be able to lift and move up to 25 lbs unassisted. Please see the application link below for more about the position, and http://arts.pgparks.com/Home.htm for more about the Arts and Cultural Heritage Division.

 How to Apply

To apply, send a cover letter and resume to Kirsten Hein, Countywide Arts Coordinator, at kirsten.hein@pgparks.com, and apply online at http://bit.ly/1vG8vO9 for the position of “Arts Seasonal/Intermittent Positions – PG55555S.”  You must apply by both email and the website application.  Position is open until filled.

Cuban artist Tania Bruguera detained

Cuban performance artist Tania Bruguera was detained by authorities in Havana before a controversial planned performance, according to the artist's sister. The piece was to consist of installing a podium and an open microphone in Havana's Revolution Square, allowing any interested individuals the opportunity to speak their minds for exactly one minute.

Read the whole story by the LAT Carolina Miranda here. It should come to no surprise that this brave artist, who's been in trouble with the Cuban dictatorship many time before, has been detained by the goons of the Castro Brothers' Workers Paradise.

I am told that Castro's secret police showed up at her apartment around 5AM and detained her; her whereabouts are unknown - they also detained about a dozen other people whose crime was apparently that they had expressed interest in attending Bruguera's performance.

This brutal and racist dictatorship has little room for any artistic dissidence. Let us hope that international pressure on the dictatorship turns out well and that this brave artist is released unharmed.