After twelve years without being carried out, the Cuban Fund of Cultural Assets in Matanzas rescued the CERVAR event, whose genesis dates from 1993 as an initiative of the Commander in Chief Fidel Castro to boost pottery production in the tourist pole.
For five days consecrated potters and novice exponents of this event gathered in the artistic ceramic workshop gallery of Varadero, promoting the necessary generational confluences and exchanges around the aesthetic and conceptual trends of the art of clay in Cuba.
“We wanted to dedicate the rescue of the event to the 40 years of the Cuban Fund of Cultural Assets (FCBC). This fact is of great importance due to the growing importance of artistic ceramics. The dialogue between the founders and young people has been constant these days, which has led to confrontations and confluences between techniques, currents, trends and dialogues that are currently established through this event.
“For the FCBC it is fundamental, because it has managed to rescue an event with the importance that CERVAR has as an option to develop this art in the province and beyond with the participation of creators of the country,” said Lázaro Muñoz Moré, commercial deputy director of the Cultural Assets Fund in Matanzas.
Artists like Nelson Domínguez, Manuel Hernández, Agustín Drake and Ernesto García Peña contributed with their experiences, vital to understand the fruitful exercise for the creation of works of ideoesthetic value, the updating in the matter of languages and poetics and the technological foundations of the ceramic.
“This is an emblematic place because in it conspired many intellectuals and artists to transcend time and geography. It was founded with the intention of bringing together the most outstanding personalities, potters and non-potters to come and make their art here and really turn it into an art workshop.
“The objectives have been fulfilled as far as possible, although we know the limitations and difficulties of the province and the country. However, I think they are on the right path to take up these initiatives with force in order to make it a reference site, in accordance with the objectives of tourism and Cuban cultural policy, so that both complement each other.
“The efforts made by the Fund’s Matanzas subsidiary and the workshop workers are evident and I believe that the artistic result, which is already exposed, confirms this. My augury is that next year will be superior, “said Ernesto García Peña from Matanzas.
Collective dish created by the participating artists in CERVAR 2018
They were joined by renowned Matanceros artists such as Osmany Betancourt, Edel Arencibia and Lázaro Zulueta Ortega, founder of CERVAR.
“Ceramic is part of my life. I have dedicated more than 20 years to work in this workshop where I have interacted with several generations of potters. Alfredo Sosabravo, Nelson Domínguez, Pedro Pablo Oliva, Roberto Fabelo, Zaida del Río and Ernesto García Peña have been my teachers here.
“It is an honor to return to CERVAR after twelve years, to see the remodeling of the workshop, to enjoy the visit of my classmates and of trade, to open the doors to new people, young people to whom we have taught what we know. about this ancient art and we have learned from them.
“The exchange has been fruitful with artists from Isla de la Juventud, Granma, Pinar del Rio, Ciego de Avila, in the country. The existence of this workshop, with a great prestige at national level, in a very central place of Varadero, allows a greater approach between foreigners who enjoy the spa with the best of our art and I think that it is very healthy for the national culture . “
With a theoretical event that included lectures Ceramic workshop at the Higher Institute of Art and Contemporary Cuban artistic ceramics; the night of Raku; a promotional fashion show by designer Mariela Alemán; production, exhibitions and sales of works, CERVAR demonstrated its importance as an effective platform for the development of artistic ceramics.
When it is 25 years since its first edition, CERVAR remains a unique opportunity for young artists who are always looking for new spaces to dialogue, learn and gain experience. Such is the case of Dariel Martínez Corteguera.
“I had come earlier but I had never worked, for me this experience is new and impressive. The decoration of plates demands a lot and I have been able to learn it these days. The experience among so many colleagues is magnificent. The event did not develop a long time ago and I think it must continue because it is important for Cuba and, especially, for Matanzas. “
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