Although the two Cuban artists spoke little English, through a translator Heriberto Acanda Ramos said, "Culture has no language."
Mr. Acanda was accompanied by fellow artist Raúl Jesús Garcia Hernández and cultural centre manager Mayda Hernández Morejón. The group brought 20 pieces of art from their home in Pinar del Rio. The pieces were on display at the Lunenburg Art Gallery and at Pier 21 in Halifax.
The Nova Scotia and the Pinar del Rio cultural exchange began in 2003 when Lunenburg County artist Ruth Wilton hosted a Cuban supervisor through the Canada World Youth Project. After developing a friendship, Ms Wilton and her husband visited Cuba in 2004. During their stay, they met with Ms Hernández Morejón and the idea for the art and culture exchange resulted.
Mr. Acanda, the curator for the art gallery Arturo Regueiro, visited Ms Wilton and invited her to return to Cuba with an art show in Pinar del Rio.
In 2005, Ms Wilton and two Lunenburg County artists travelled to Cuba with 36 pieces of art for a show titled "Buena Vista, Nueva Escocia."
The following year, Ms Wilton was invited to teach a workshop in watercolours. Ms Wilton and Halifax County-based artist Jude Caborn formed the Nova Scotia Cuba Artists Collective. The small group began fundraising to bring the Cubans and their art to Nova Scotia.
The three arrived on September 20 and returned on November 4. During their stay, they held two shows. The group spent their time visiting and learning about Canadian culture and in particular, Canadian art.
"It has been a great experience. Cuba and Canada are very friendly," said Mr. Acanda through a translator.
Mr. Acanda said it was history that changed both countries' cultural evolution. He said the act of Cuba being colonized by Spain and Canadians by the English is what created the divide in language and culture. But, he said, the similarities have withstood the test of time.
"Mainly we are different in some aspects concerning culture. But we have seen many, many tied relations. Because, there is only one culture," he added. "What we see with Cuban and Canadian people is the solidarity. Every place where we visited in Canada, they are so friendly to show the truth of Canada to know how you are living. ... This is important for us because we have learned a lot how you work."
Artist Raúl Jesús Garcia Hernández said the exchange of talent in Cuba and in Canada was an important experience for him. He said he witnessed how Canadian artists are each attempting to stand out.
"Most of the time they are different. ... We can see that each person here is trying to do something special for the community and the society. It's important," he said.
In an effort to continue the exchange and help the artists, Ms Wilton and Ms Caborn plan to continue to raise money to help purchase materials in Pinar del Rio.
"All their cultural stuff in the centre is free. ... But they're limited by the lack of supplies of materials," said Ms Wilton. For more information, visit http://cubansart.com.