New York State of Mind No.28

Cepp Selgas / "Icon" / Enamel on lead / 18X18X3ins. - 1999-2013 (Mercedes Mestre Collection)

Back in 1999, when I was working on a series of ‘Saints’ on folded paper, I decided to ‘play’ with these two square of flat pieces of lead, same way I was doing with paper.  Since I was not able to figured-out an easy way to connect both pieces, I abandoned the project and rolled it like an ancient papyrus scroll, put it away and forgot the whole matter. 

I didn’t realize when I was moving out to my new place mid-2012, the ‘scroll’ was left behind in a hidden conner of a closet.  A week after, the forgotten piece was found and brought to my attention by someone very close to a famous cuban art collector, with a surprising question... -Would you mind if I show this to Mercedes Mestre? 

Not at all…lucky me!

Before Night Falls / Reinaldo Arenas

Jorge Martin, Cepp Selgas and Mercedes Mestre.

For famous Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas, his 'fiction' character Clara Mortera was his 'evil' alter ego.
In real life Clara Mortera is the magnificent Cuban painter: Clara Morera.
By the 70's decade Reinaldo was my next block neighbor in Havana.  My neighbor across the street in Manhattan by the 80's.
Just by chance I was involved in making possible the historic meeting with Clara and renowned American artist-and-filmmaker Julian Schnabel at Gustavo Valdés NJ'ARS Atelier Galleries, when "Before Night Falls" (the movie) was about to hit production. "Before Night Falls" was Reinaldo's autobiographical novel, later becoming a movie and also an opera.
And just by chance again (at a recent party) I had the pleasure of meeting Cuban-born composer Jorge Martin, the musician and author of the beautiful and successful opera, based on "Before Night Falls".

Reinaldo Arenas committed suicide on December 7, 1990. A day like today, twenty two years ago.