Xavier Cortada, “Open Garden | Fruta Bomba,” charcoal on canvas, 6′ x 18′, (2014)
The work, inspired by Cortada’s interaction with Cuban artists during his stay in Key West, is to depict a series of fruits falling upon the the island of Cuba. Each fruit– the product of a flower– represents the fruits of an open society that will come to Cuba when it is finally free: a thriving economy, equal justice for all, rule of law, free and fair elections, freedom of assembly, speech, worship, and travel, human rights, etc.