Year1998

Hand Signed 

Condition Excellent 

Framed without Glass 

Purchased fromArtist 1999 

Provenance / HistoryThe piece was created to help launch the opening of the Key West Museum of Art and History in the new millennium. The exhibit of the collection "Who is Key West" was scheduled for 4 months. Due to is popularity the museum requested an extension of a decade and a half.  

Story / Additional InfoBalseros, the courageous humans who enter the torrential ocean water in Cuba to seek a better life while willing to risk their lives on make shifts rafts. rnWe are offered an intimate glimpse into the souls of these brave survivors immortalizing for history. Arturo Cobo, the founder of the Cuban Transit Home in Key West and Purita Martin, West Miami Commissioner, helped to preserve history with a reenactment of triumphant human act. With the use of an authentic raft that survived the voyage and real survivors, we depicted the final moments of overwhelming emotion when they realized that had made it to the United States. Eduardo Diaz said when he entered the water and climbed on the raft at Smather’s beach, he relived the tragedy of the journey. Maria Molena, remembered her nine-year-old son she left behind in Cuba to portray her emotions. Sergio Perodin senior and his son Sergio junior were survivors of a tugboat attack by Cuban gunboats. Heartbreakingly, Sergio Perodin senior lost his wife and eldest son during the attack. With the help of Purita Martin, director of the Cuban Transit Home and West Miami Commissioner, Arturo Cobo, founder of the Transit Home allowed raft from the museum to reenact this triumphant human history.The price for freedom given to some is not always the case, many of them sadly are denied. 

Certificate of AuthenticityArt Brokerage 

LID120844