... I get inspired. Which is exactly what happened when the Adiós Utopia: Dreams and Deceptions in Cuban Art Since 1950 exhibit landed in none other than my (new) backyard - the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH). On view until May 21st, it showcases works in different mediums by more than 50 Cuban artists. Each piece is presented chronologically and portrays representations of how the promise of Utopia was conceived, birthed and extinguished on the island my family traces its roots to (de donde crece la palma, people). Having never visited, my only real relationship is with the idea of Cuba: my father's and grandparents' birthplace, the setting of their childhood memories and passed down stories, and the place they will never return to. I am quite literally the fruit of their disillusionment with Utopia and am the better for it - so ex-squeeze me for having a "ermahgerd this really speaks to me" moment over here.
And while I can go a hundred and one different directions with this post (to talk about my BAMF grandparents? the linguistic mystery that is the Spanglish spoken by a native Miamian? the pickle you find yourself in when you marry a Texan and make two sets of wedding invites - one on Cuban time, one on the-rest-of-the-world time?), I choose to save that drama for another day (hey!) and mimic the artistic performance with one of my own. And with the world wide web of retail as my paint, my shopping addiction as my paintbrush, and Adiós Utopia as my canvas - I give you three looks that fit a Cuban Cocktail dress code with como se dice chispa? (a word a day).
Tania Bruguera, Estadística (Statistics), 1995–2000, cardboard, human hair, and fabric.
Palm Top - Moda Zeta// Pants - Isolda// Earrings - ACB// Tortoise Clutch - Tuckernuck//
Red Flats - Aquazzura
Raúl Martínez, Sin título (Untitled), 1969–70, oil on canvas.
Woven Purse in Plexiglass - 711// White Crochet Top & Pants - Mara Hoffman// Fringe Pink Sandals - Moschino// Palm Tree Earrings - Lucy Folk// Wood Sunglasses - Panamera
Raúl Corrales, La caballería (Cavalry), 1960, gelatin silver print.
Crop Top - Del Pozo// Pineapple Culottes - House of Holland// Drop Earrings - J. Crew// Cigar Box Purse - eBay// Raffia Heels - Dolce & Gabbana
For those especially interested, MFAH is offering a series of tours, concerts and shows related to the exhibit - get all the deets you need here.
