AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY presents ECCLESIASTICUS: Emilio Héctor Rodríguez’s Paintings

“Color is a power which directly influences the soul.” -, Concerning the Spiritual in Art

CANIZARO LIBRARY September 7 - November 15, 2015 ECCLESIASTICUS: Emilio Héctor Rodríguez’s Paintings

y voyage into BIOGRAPHY the books Emilio Héctor Rodríguez was born in the colonial village of of Wisdom Sancti Spíritus, , in 1950. His family moved to M before he reached the age of three. His encounter with art was and their teachings began early in 2010 in his early childhood, when he visited different museums in as I was preparing for Havana and other cities in Cuba. Since his early childhood he my exhibition “There exhibited a talent for painting and drawing. He started drawing is an appointed time and experimenting with oil paint and tempera at the age of 12. for everything”. Then He began studying classical guitar at 18 and did so for 3 years. I tried to connect my While a student at the Instituto Pre-Universitario de Marian- artwork to the book of ao (Marianao Senior High School), he participated in several Ecclesiastes. I am now workshops sponsored by San Alejandro Arts Academy. Be- inviting the viewer to tween 1969 and 1970 he worked under the guidance of Cuban another exciting journey, painter Jesús Antonio Valdovino Diaz at a center for the visual this time into the book arts run by Consejo Nacional de Cultura (National Council of Ecclesiasticus and its of Culture) located in El Vedado, La Habana. In 1971 he en- teachings. rolled in the University The Book of Ecclesiasticus, which means “a of Havana to study Pure preacher” in Greek, is also known as “The Book Mathematics, but after of Sirach”. It was written by Jesus, son of Sirach, two years he changed sometime between 190 and 170 BC. The book the field to Computer was used in ancient synagogue services. The early Science, obtaining his Christian Church in both the East and West degree in 1976. After revered this book and read it as well as did graduation he worked as before the Incarnation of Christ. a software specialist. In The essence of the book is that wisdom, identified 1978 he began signing with the Law, is granted only to those who his artwork as “Emilio fear the Lord. There is much in Sirach that is Héctor”. He left Cuba just common sense, and there is much that is permanently in 1981. spiritually uplifting. He moved to , By means of this new art-Scriptures recreation, Florida, in 1982, where I attempt to transmit a message of practical life he currently resides with which I hope is well received and understood his family. Upon arrival in Miami, he completed a series of drawings and by everyone. I hope that it becomes an inspiring started working as a computer analyst/programmer. He has been working for message to Christians, Jews and Muslims without Miami-Dade County since 1984 until present. He began painting with acryl- excluding non-believers. ic guided by the experienced Cuban painter Dominica Alcántara in 2005 at After enjoying the artworks I encourage you to the “Latin Quarter Cultural Center” in Miami. Abstract painting is his latest pick up a copy of the Ecclesiasticus/Sirach and interest and passion. He has been painting abstracts since 2007. Emilio Héc- read it. You will be richly blessed. tor is very dedicated to his art and has been participating in the workshops of renowned Cuban-American painters and professors Baruj Salinas and Yovani Bauta at Miami Dade College. His work can be found in private and public collections in Florida as well as in other states and countries of Learn more about South America, Europe and Asia. Emilio Héctor In 2010 Emilio Héctor gathered a group of abstract artists to commemorate a century since the first abstract artwork by Wassily Kandinsky. This initia- tive later continued to become the “7 Plus One Art Project” which has been Rodríguez’s work presenting exhibitions in diverse institutions such as Miami Dade College, the Koubek Center and the Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center. Currently, Emilio Hector conducts this project as its founder and director.