Chicago Art Deco Society Havana Magazine
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March 2013 Special Issue A Meeting in Havana: A Preview of the 12th World Congress on Art Deco Havana Art Deco Bacardi Building Buenos Aires Art Deco Puerto Rican Art Deco Aracaju, Brazil Art Deco Art Deco Graphics Coolidge Corner-Deco Theatre CADS Board of Directors Joe Loundy/President President´s message Conrad Miczko/Vice President Robert Blanford/Secretary The Chicago Art Deco Society is pleased to collaborate with Habana Deco to bring you this Mary Miller/Treasurer Ruth Dearborn special World Congress supplement of the Chicago Art Deco Society Magazine. The articles Amy Keller highlight many of the Art Deco treasures in Havana and other parts of Cuba included on the Susan Levand Kevin Palmer itinerary for the 12th World Congress on Art Deco. CADS greatly appreciates Habana Deco’s Glenn Rogers Bill Sandstrom commitment to the organization of what promises to be a unique and outstanding conference. CADS Advisory Board Joseph Loundy / President, Chicago Art Deco Society. Richard Goisman Katherine Hamilton-Smith Seymour Persky INDEX Steve Starr A gift to my country 3 Social, a Pioneer 43 in Cuban Graphic Arts CADS Magazine Special World Congress Issue A Meeting in Havana: 4 Chief Editor: Geo Darder A Preview of the 12th World Eusebio Leal: 44 General Editorial Coordinator: Past, Present, and Future Mónica Palenque Congress on Art Deco Editor: Kathleen Murphy Skolnik Copy Editor: Linda Levendusky Art Deco in Havana: 6 The Coolidge Corner Theatre 45 Graphic Designer: Luis Alonso Brookline, Massachusetts Translations: Vivian Figueredo, An Historical and Cultural Context Mónica Palenque Editorial Assistant: Casa de las Américas, 46 Joelle Louise Orr The National Museum 9 of Decorative Arts - Headquarters a House for all! Contributing Writers: of Habana Deco Geo Darder Art Deco Catalog Buenos Aires 48 Gustavo López Architecture Alejandro Alonso Art Deco in Education 10 Luz Merino and Health Care María Elena Martín Sociedad Puertorriqueña 52 Adriana Piastrellini de Arquitectura Histórica (SPAH) María Victoria Zardoya The forgotten glamour of 13 Wilfredo Rodríguez García Cabrera Eduardo Luis Rodríguez Art Deco in the Ecclesiastical 55 Vivian Figueredo Vicki Gold Levi Cuban Art Deco Architecture: 20 Architecture of Cuba Mario Coyula A Heritage of Undeniable Value Pilar Fernández Locally Universal: 56 Susan Quinn Juan García Art Deco in Havana Housing: 24 A Trend in the Art Deco Era Camilo López Tropical Deco and Streamline Wolney Unes Aracajú, a hidden Art Deco 58 Pepe Menéndez Camilo Valls An Art Deco Square in Havana 28 treasure Honoring a Renowned Cuban Front cover: Books summary 61 Designed by Luis Alonso from original sketch García Cabrera. A Pioneer of Modernity 30 Deco Delights 63 © Copyright Chicago Art Deco So- Leonardo Morales and the ciety 2013. All material is subject to copyright Beginnings of Cuban Art Deco 32 The Festival’s House 71 and cannot be reproduced without Cuba’s Cristóbal Colón Cemetery: prior written permission from the Come to see, love and save 74 publisher. An Open-Air Museum The Chicago Art Deco Society (CADS) is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 Art Deco: Style, Trend, or Fashion? 33 The Argüelles House: 78 tax exempt organizaton chartered A pioneer landmark of in the State of Illinois in 1982 for the purpose of education, perservation The Champagnat School 36 Cuban Art Deco architecture and fellowship. in Camagüey Art Deco Architecture 80 Catalina Lasa and Juan Pedro Baró, 38 in Holguín a Havana Legend of Love and Chicago Art Deco Society Santiago de Cuba 83 P.O. Box 1116 a Story of Two Art Deco Monuments Evanston, IL 60204-16 at the Gates of Modernity 312-280-9097 www.chicagoartdecosociety.com Discovering Art Deco in Havana: 40 A Personal Revelation Spanish text 90 1 collectors, architects and historians from A gift to my country the United States interested in visiting this wonderful city. This began a 13-year By: Geo Darder quest to reach the dream of international recognition of this unique Art Deco heritage. Even though a tough labor, most I owe my happiness and love of country American playground and home to fashion of the time anonymous. I suffered my to a style that was introduced years models, Miami Vice, Versace and me. family’s incomprehension and some of my before my creation. I was born in Havana friend’s rejection, while gaining support Cuba in1963. Soon after my parents I met Kathy Hausman who introduced me of others. left to Miami before I could claim any to the Deco mecca of the world, NYC, childhood memories. Recollection of my with its skyscrapers Rockefeller, Chrysler 2001 was the next step forward early years in Miami was visits to see my and Empire Buildings. I participated in Art toward my dream when a small Cuban great grandmother Margarita, mother Deco lectures, exhibits and congresses. delegation, headed by architect Juan of Abuela Dora, on an island across the I experienced a new understanding and Garcia and Patricia Semidey assisted causeway called Miami Beach. These monumental admiration to the deco style. the Art Deco World Congress held in trips were always scary for me because Oklahoma. During this meeting the I had to stay in the car while my parents But it is was not until my first return academic exchanges strengthened and went in for a quick visit. Waiting in the visit to my native Island nation at the age made possible in 2003, the second Cuba/ car I would observe the old people sitting 30 that I would learn of my passion for US encounter. Habana Deco Conference in rocking chairs on porches of funny my country and Habana Deco. This trip was held at the National Museum of buildings with odd shapes and neon lights. ignited a new passion to reconnect with Decorative Arts, which lead to the This would be my first introduction to my Cuban family, culture and heritage. forming of Habana Deco Group in 2009. Art Deco. Little did I know then it would Habana Deco awareness became my become such a big part of my life. mission: to let the world know of the true Many conferences followed and it was treasures my island held. true progress when deco societies I spent my teens working at Miami acknowledged and welcomed Latin Beach hotels, sunbathing during work In the year 2000 the first conference to American countries like Brazil, Argentina breaks and lunches at David’s Café and promote the Deco heritage took place in and Uruguay. This lead to the new Puerto Sagua. I fell deeply in love for Cuba and the National Union of Cuban creation of Deco groups for ICADS the streamline style and knew someday Writers and Artists (UNEAC) served and an approval to Rio de Janiero, Brazil South Beach would be home. I was as the meeting venue. Thanks to the as the first Latin American country fortunate to be part of the renaissance collaboration of Dr. Graziela Pogolotti and to host a World Congress. Now the of SoBe thanks to Barbara Capitman.I architect Juan Garcia. Caribbean Island Nation of Cuba will enjoyed Art Deco weekends with never finally have the opportunity to share ending openings and inaugurations of From that moment on I was committed with the world its Art Deco heritage renovated deco landmarks. South Beach to help build a bridge of better with this 12th ICADS Congress, its 250 Art Deco District became the new understanding by organizing groups of international participants and 15 countries in attendance. Thank you to so many that made this World Congress a reality. This gathering is not just a congress it is a celebration! I am positive that this Congress will serve as a stage to create restoration projects and resurgence to the interest of the cultural heritage of Cuba for the world. I just turned 50 and my commitment to this Island, which I never gave up, remains intact. My true cause transcends gods and borders, governments and laws, family and friends; because no matter where I am, I am also Cuba. I dedicate this issue to my mother María Teresa Darder López who taught me the true essence of conviction and the Sacred Mother of all Cubans, La Caridad del Cobre, for guiding me back to my home.■ 3 Windsor, film stars Ava Gardner and Frank A Meeting in Havana: Sinatra, crime boss Santo Trafficante, th singer Nat King Cole, and model Naomi A Preview of the 12 World Campbell. Congress on Art Deco The program designed by the Congress By: Lic. Gustavo López González Organizing Committee features both Pictures: Arch. Félix Eduardo Borges Ibáñez lectures and visits to Havana’s Art Deco buildings and monuments. The Once again, Art Deco scholars and Official headquarters of the Congress will presentations will take place at Hotel devotees will meet in an exciting venue be the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, a historic Nacional de Cuba with special lectures for the biennial World Congress on Art institution with a more than eighty-year held at Casa de Las Americas, a Cuban Deco. The location for the 12th World tradition of hosting visitors to Havana. cultural institution for more than half a Congress, scheduled to take place March Since 1930, the Nacional has welcomed century and one of the most attractive 14 through 21, 2013, is Havana, Cuba. such diverse guests as the Duke of Art Deco buildings in the city. Papers will examine such topics as the characteristics of Art Deco in Havana and other Cuban cities; the societal influence of Art Deco and its adaptation to different social levels; the typology of Havana cinemas and theaters; the magnificent Art Deco residences in the neighborhoods of Vedado and Miramar; and Cuban graphic arts and films of the Art Deco period.