#12 Muraleando

WHERE I WENT AND WHY
Muraleando was a stop on our Arts and Architecture tour of Cuba.  It is an example of how one or two folks can make a difference in a community.  Not only is it a collection of murals, but it has become a community center with more than 60 artists, musicians, and instructors.  It serves 262 children in after school programs including 32 children with special needs.

WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO
Muraleando is the in the Lawton neighborhood of 10 de Octubre, a suburb of Havana.   It seemed hard to find.  Get a map and a trustworthy taxi driver if it is not on your tour!  Make an appointment and ask for Victor to be your tourguide.  If you google images of Muraleando, he even comes up on them!  He is their best cheerleader and speaks great English.

Victor, making sure we all had fun at Muraleando

WHAT I SAW
Muraleando is a spectacular collection of murals, sculptures from found materials, artists' collective, a venue for performance art, and a cultural center for children's art classes afterschool.  We were entertained by a salsa band and dancers (and invited to dance!) while we ate an especially prepared lunch.  Then Victor gave us a tour of the classrooms, galleries, sculptures and murals.

Salsa dancing at Muraleando

Owls made from '52 Buick parts!
Murals in the background - they are working on
embellishing them (similar to the one at the top of the blog)

Victor ends his tour by giving Maxine a gallant kiss!

WHAT I LEARNED
Muraleando began about 20 years ago as a project to improve the neighborhood.  Manuel Diaz Baldrich and Ernesto Quirch Paz were able to secure an old defunct water tower (used for steam trains).  Over-flowing with garbage, they hauled off 65 truckloads of garbage and salvaged many car parts and other items to use in their "found art" sculptures.  Using "sweat equity" they started the arduous task of transforming the tower into a community center.  Today it is a vibrant place and a monument to how a few people with vision can change their environment.  What was a poor suburb is now a vibrant community.

Every part of Muraleando is decorated with art

IF MON$Y WERE NO OBJECT...

I loved the sculptures from found objects!  I'm not sure if they were for sale, but this would not exactly fit in my suitcase and shipping was not an option!  Victor explained to us how expensive and hard acrylic paint was to get for their murals.  We of course made a donation.