Exhibit background:
Reflections of Cuba, Reflexiones de Cuba series reflects Leslie’s significant first impressions of Cuba. Cuba is not only a site for scholarly exploration for Leslie, but is also a part of her heritage, informing who she is, by way of her Cuban mother. Leslie had the opportunity to meet her maternal family for the first time through a trip to Cuba in June, 2011. Reflections of Cuba, reflexiones de Cuba is born from her strong conviction that through history, lived experience, the honoring of her roots and cultures; she is who she is today. Reflections in this series explore her curiosity of self-discovery, and identity as a Latina, academic and artist.
•“…I sit here in the sunroom with the window open – the breeze- the sounds- so peaceful.”
»Excerpt from my journal from La Habana…..June, 2011
I went to Cuba in June of this past summer. It is a place I have wanted to go as far back as I can remember-yet part of me was apprehensive about going. I have had so many different reasons for loving Cuba and so many for hating her too. This has always been accompanied by a strong sense of curiosity, nostalgia, imprints throughout my life of my mother’s life and memories, and a reality of my roots and my family that I wasn’t sure I could handle. The unknown can be inviting but also frightening.
I feel that by no means have I come to a place of understanding Cuba, the culture and all of its implications, however I feel that I am slowly chipping away at a part of my life that has always existed and is coming into focus, into visibility in its own time and space. It is growing from an authentic place that is composed of various facets through my evolving identities as woman, wife, mother, daughter, friend, student and artist. These doors and openings are pockets and gateways to realities and possibilities I yet have to dream of but the anticipation of these things is my inspiration and passion driving me forward. From these places is where this series comes from, a place of trying to understand through different lens; the tourist, the academic, the artist, the outsider
