Full Description
Handmade in Cuba is an in-depth examination of Ediciones Vigía, an artisanal press that published exquisite books crafted from simple supplies during some of Cuba's most dire economic periods. Vividly illustrated, this volume shows how the publishing collective responded to the nation's changing historical and political situation from the margins of society, representing Cuban culture across the boundaries of race, age, gender, and genre.In this volume, poets and scholars reflect on the unique artistic direction of Rolando Estévez, who oversaw the creation of over 500 handmade books and magazines between 1985 and 2014. They highlight the beautiful designs and unusual materials selected, including fabric, metals, wood, feathers, and discarded items. Through diverse perspectives, including an interview with Estévez himself, the essays showcase the unlimited inventive possibilities of books as objects, as sculptural pieces, and as installations. Even in the age of technology, Estévez generated enormous excitement and admiration for these hand-crafted books, and this volume offers the first inside view of this important alternative publishing space.Contributors: Ruth Behar | Juanamaría Cordones-Cook | Gwendolyn Díaz | Erin Finzer | William Luis | Nancy Morejón | Kim Nochi | Carina Pino Santos | Soleida Ríos | Kristin Schwain | Elzbieta Sklodowska
Contents
1. For the Love of Beautiful Books: An Ode to the Work of Rolando Estévez for Ediciones Vigía — Ruth Behar
2. Estévez Always Walking on the Grass — Nancy Morejón
3. The Artist's Voice: Rolando Estévez Jordán Interviewed by Juanamaría Cordones-Cook
4. Estévez's Artistic Journey — Juanamaría Cordones-Cook
Enchantments
5. Tracing the Tracks of Time in Natural Love: Nancy Morejón's Cántico de la huella — Gwendolyn Díaz
6. "Vigía es Elegua:" Crossing and Dwelling in Barquitos del San Juan (2007) — Kristin Schwain
7. An Enchanting Exchange: The Gift Economy of Vigía Books — Erin S. Finzer
8. The Brilliant Poverty of Vigía — Carina Pino Santos
Histories
9. Vigía Iconography and the Construction of a Cuban Identity — Kim Larson
10. Between Wonder and Resonance: Ediciones Vigía and the Archives of the Special Period in Cuba — Elzbieta Sklodowska
11. Vigía and the Cuban Nation — William Luis
Bibliography
Filmography
Contributors
Index
