After following the Unpack residency from afar for years and keeping it on my bucket
list, I finally found the time to attend—and it proved to be one of the best residency
experiences I have ever had. The program that Alexandra Majerus, Omar Estrada, and
Dannys Montes de Oca have built is nothing short of remarkable – a crucial platform for exchange between artists in Cuba and the Unpack residents. The formula is simple:
bring people together who wouldn’t otherwise meet, and magic happens. As a
programmer, I’m often reminded that the simplest arrangements are best.
From the very first night, I was immersed in Cuba’s vibrant art scene. I arrived just in time for an exhibition opening featuring Daylene Rodriguez Moreno’s haunting large-
scale photographs and video work. The evening was buzzing with conversation,
connection, and unexpected moments of joy – including an impromptu performance by
one of Daylene’s subjects, singing to the guests wholeheartedly. The music continued
later as our host Omar Estrada gathered everyone for a collective singalong of classic
Cuban songs, some familiar, others new to me but no less moving. I witnessed how
collective memory operates at art openings not just in theory but as lived, breathed, and shared experience.
The incomparable Dannys Montes de Oca, became Maya Wilson Sanchez (my house
mate and fellow resident) and I’s guides through Havana’s rich artistic landscape,
introducing us to an impressive array of artists, their studios, and galleries. A highlight was our visit to ISA, Universidad de las Artes, one of the world’s most architecturally unique art universities I have ever seen. The circular spaces where students work, reminiscent of honeycomb hives, came as a refreshing surprise that an arts institution’s architecture can inspire.
What made me most happy was meeting generations of artists– parents and children each contributing to and upholding Cuban arts and culture with fierce pride. Artists like Maria De Lourdes Santana, Levi Orta, sisters Greta and Gabriella Reyna, Felipe Dulzaides, and Lazaro Saavedra Gonzalez (along with his whole family of artists, who impressed me the most), and the many more artists we met, demonstrated an unwavering commitment to their practice. The artists in Cuba approach their work with an intensity and dedication that transcends the commercial considerations often prevalent in Toronto’s art scene. Their focus on content and context, their investment in speaking about their lives and experiences, revealed a raw authenticity that was both extraordinarily inspiring and refreshingly challenging.
The success of my Unpack residency experience is a testament to the vision and dedication of Alex, Omar, and Dannys. They’ve created more than just an artist residency; they’ve built a bridge between cultures and artistic communities. Special mention must go to Mike Vichot, whose extraordinary hospitality and coordination made my month-long stay feel like home.
I should also mention that the residency provided me with a studio space perched on the top floor, where I would steal moments to work during the early morning hours, between artist visits, and in the quietude of evening. My project, centered around images of children contemplating which led me to explore the historic Cristóbal Colón Cemetery. I found myself grappling with the question: “How does a child look when they mourn, when they lose something?” This investigation manifested in a large-scale installation using paper, ink, and cutouts, depicting various children in states of contemplation. This studio space and time to explore was icing on the already sweet cake.
My time at Unpack was an immersion in a community where art isn’t just created – it’s lived, breathed, and celebrated with a passion that makes me question everything I thought I knew about artistic practice. It stands as a powerful reminder of art’s capacity to make authentic culture, challenge perspectives, and create lasting concrete change.
