Monday, April 7, 2008

Oscar García Rivera


Oscar García Rivera, a painter who like Rockwell here in America, illustrated everyday life in Cuba; thought he received broad recognition during the 40s and 50s, both in Cuba and here in the United States, seemed to disappear into thin air. The reason is an unbelievable as what the Castro regime did to him.

Acording to his family in Havana, García Rivera continued to paint during the 60s, everyday life in Cuba, but he did it in a way that didn't please the new government. His was sent to the baseman of The Museo de Bellas Artes, where it remains since then. He was incarcerated and his hands were broken and his tendons damaged so he couldn't paint anymore.

In the 1960s his festive and colorful peaceful urban depictions of that beautiful Island were replaced by the new reality of a people who's life's had been changed forever, and that was unacceptable to the regime. Oscar García Rivera died in 1971, alone and forgotten; he is believe to have committed suicide.

This is just one tragic story out of thousands coming out of Cuba.

Add to Technorati Favorites
A1 Web Links - Caribbean Resources