The Florida International University’s Cuban Research Institute [CRI] and Spain’s Legua Editorial co-sponsored the official presentation of a new Cuban research anthology at the FIU Modesto Maidique campus on April 25, 2011. The anthology gathers selected texts that were originally presented at the IV Congreso Internacional sobre creación y exilio “Con Cuba en la Distancia,” held in Valencia, Spain, November 17-21, 2008. The anthology is divided into six chapters detailing the poetic career of Manuel Díaz Martínez, ideological and cultural issues, Afro-Cuban and Chinese-Cuban cultural expressions, theater and cinema, creativeness in exile, and the contemporary scene in art and communications.
Speaking from the podium of the MARC International Pavillion, Prof. Uva de Aragón officially welcomed the anthology on behalf of Florida International University and the Cuban Research Institute. She was followed by Director of Legua Editorial, Grace Piney, who reviewed past Asociación Cultural Con Cuba en la Distancia congresses and seminars, held in Cádiz and Valencia since the year 2000; and who offered the publishing services of Legua Editorial in supporting academic research on Cuban and Latin American issues. Prof. James Pancrazio, co-editor of the anthology, reviewed the selection and editing processes; while Prof. Madeline Cámara commented on its unique features; such as, Chinese elements in Cuban art and literature, AIDS, and the blogosphere. Finally, the well-known journalist, Carlos Alberto Montaner, reminded the audience that Cuban literature has had a marked historical tendency toward its being written abroad, as evidenced by the very anthology. Given the half century schism that separates Cubans in and out of the island, Montaner went on to ponder if Cuban culture is splitting into two distinct manifestations. Questions such as these were discussed in a lively Q & A segment that followed the presentation.
Prof. Madeline Camara, Grace Piney Roche, Prof. James Pancrazio, Carlos Alberto Montaner
Carlos Alberto Montaner
Prof. Uva de Aragon
Prof. Yanira Angulo-Cano, Prof. Sonia Bravo Utrera, Prof. Uva de Aragon, Grace Piney Roche, Prof. Madeline Camara, Prof. Gabriel Cartaya Front row: Prof. Carlos J. Cano, Prof James J. Pancrazio
*Piney, Grace y Pancrazio, James. Cuba: arte y literatura en exilio. Legua Editorial: Valencia, España, 2011. ISBN: 978-84-938358-6-6 pedidos@leguaeditorial.es
