The Colors of Cuba

Curated by:
Martha De Perez

Dates:
April 23 –May  25, 2009
Artist Reception:   Gallery is open April 25, 2009 7-9p m  Gallery will be open  May 2, 2009 7-9pm for the Phantom Galleries Long Beach Art Walk Night  and  by appointment.

Artist Contact:
http://www.viredo.com/
or
Martha De Perez
201 S Santa Fe Ave # 207
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-604-3634

As one of a group of artist known as "The Eleven" Viredo Espinosa influenced a generation of contemporary Cuban painters in the 1950's with his abstract expressionist works. But recognition has largely elude him. So the painter, now 70 and living in Irvine, has turned to the internet to bring his works to the world."I would like for him to receive some recognition, which he deserves." said Mariano Sanchez, a friend who created Viredo's Web Site. "All this stuff you hear about artists 50 years after they're dead - that's nice and all. But I would like for him to get the recognition, so that he can see there are people who appreciate his work."

Viredo showed early promise - training at The School of Fine Art in Havana and exhibiting his paintings in the prestigious Salon de Pintura y Excultura. After his first one-man show, he joined a group of 10 artist who exhibited their work together. - As the political climate changed in the late 1950s, Viredo said the group disbanded and many fled the country.

When he left Cuba in 1969, Viredo left it all behind. "I could not take nothing with me," he said Viredo and his wife move to Miami, and later to Southern California, where he worked as a commercial artist to pay the bills. Only recently have his works attracted the attention of the art community at exhibitions in Florida, New York and California. The internet has heightened that recognition. "We've received E-Mail from unbelievable places... places in Spain, Australia. It's incredible," Viredo said.

— DAWN CHMIELEWSKI, Orange County Register

Partners:

The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency is proud to partner with Phantom Galleries LA, not only to revive empty storefronts along our major corridors, but also to showcase the arts and build a sense of community and culture in our Downtown," said Craig Beck, Executive Director of the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency. LongBeachRDA.org