A community member adds the concept of light and shadow during the current art exhibit at La Casita in Syracuse, N.Y.
Artist Abisay Puentes says he changed the concept several times as the deadline approached for the opening of his exhibit “Mist.”
On opening night last week in the newly refurbished La Casita in Syracuse, N.Y., community members slowly walked past his final result.
It was an interesting display. Part mural, part gallery.
The native of Cuba had taken a handful of his paintings and carefully hung them on the white walls. Then he took out the colorful tools of his trade and worked around those hanging paintings.
Puentes’ work brings the space to life.
And that’s the goal for La Casita, says executive director Tere Paniagua. It’s part of a Syracuse University-guided project to enrich and inform the Latin American community of Syracuse, N.Y., about the richness of their culture.
There’s art and music and dance.
Everybody’s welcome.
If you’d like to read my entire story about La Casita on waer.org, the site for Syracuse Public Media, click the link below.
http://waer.org/post/la-casita-welcomes-community-embrace-art-culture
Does your community offer community centers that focus on arts education? What’s your favorite form of art?
Mark Bialczak 
I like anything that I can see meaning in. For my screensaver I have an hourglass with people falling down with the sand. I ran across it somewhere on the internet. It has so much depth to me. I like things like that.
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Art stirs everybody a little differently, Kim. That’s part of the wonderful beauty.
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Agree
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I like the way the art is connected like with muscles and veins of a body. The music and art would be awesome to view and hear in person. I like Hispanic art, but not sure I would want to go to Cuba. I loved Mexico and Spain, thanks to very cheap prices and Spanish Club fundraisers! Glad you showed us some of this particular Cuban artist’s work, Mark!
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Well I’ve never been to Spain, Robin, but I kind of like the music.
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I love people who love their communities. Sigh…. I’ve always felt a bit adrift and never fully part of a community. But I really love reading this type of story. It makes me feel good. 🙂
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You live out in the country, as I recall, Colleen. There are less urban gatherings, I would assume. Don’t feel adrift! You have the good collective spirit, I can tell!
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Thanks Mark. I did indeed live in the country, for about 25 years. Now I live in “a” city. Not a large one. It’s kind of weird having neighbors. Been fortunate enough to have great neighbors. You made my day….”good collective spirit”. I like that. 🙂
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What a wonderful way to display your art. I have never seen that before.
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It is quite an interesting art installation, PJ. I liked it a lot.
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Love music Mark
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And I know you are an artist, right, K?
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Yes, I love to paint to music Mark ;D
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Nice inspiration, K.
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You are very cultured and care about people. I love this
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Very interesting. Hispanics have such a way with color. My own Mexican culture is full of color, and sometimes the art can be a little complex (my opinion), but the colors always draw me in.
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I appreciated this man’s artistic vision very much, laflor. I imagined the color of his native Cuba.
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Yes, I have visions of Cuba filled with color, lively music and beautiful people. Thank you for sharing his art
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I love hearing about this! Thanks for sharing the link to your write up. I commented on that side of the fence. Nice work!
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I knew this Latin America cultural center would interest you, Sandra. I really enjoyed talking to the artist who came here from Cuba.
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wonderful and great first shot, mark, i love the community and art communion, it really enriches a place i think. i love the cuban arts, and it cuba is one of the places on my bucket list to visit, with the art being one of the reasons )
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I think Cuba would be a sizzling destination for sure, Beth. When I visited a friend two keys north of Key West, we listened to some Cuban radio stations sitting on his back deck, which overlooked a canal full of manatees. I loved the vibe all around.
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yep, i love everything about it and cannot wait to get there )
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