Havana’s Folk Art Museum had an exhibition of folk art dolls from Latin America on display, and this beauty from Mexico caught my eye.
Free museums (or low cost) ones were plentiful in Cuba; many even came with a private tour guide who were delighted with a nice tip after they showed you around. It’s wonderful seeing old former palatial homes and buildings reused in this manner. There was an archaeology museum also nearby on the waterfront as well as oodles of small art galleries and exhibitions, if you peek in the doors or windows along Cuba street. (Many are not marked too clearly)
Saints like Guadalupe were also represented, and coupled with the beautiful architectural detailing of the building itself, it was quite a striking “find” of a museum. In addition, one wall boasted a collage style mural of Mexican cultural heritage on one side, Cuban on the other. It took up nearly a whole wall and I probably spent 20 minutes just looking at all the colorful imagery and messages.
Often, it is the little places NOT mentioned in the guidebooks that yield the most intimate and surprising discoveries in a city, so wander off the tourist path and look for them!
What a little cutie patootie she was, posing with her grandma´s dolls for sale in Havana. They have an art fair on Sundays from 10-2 every week on the Prado; it is a great place to see and buy unique and wonderful artwork in all mediums. Bring a bag of art supplies in your luggage to donate to the teachers and the art center association. I brought watercolor palettes, brushes, paper, crayons, scissors, glue sticks, paint, markers, stickers and more.
