Camagüey city will celebrate its 500th anniversary in 2014. On the occasion of this celebration, major construction and restoration works are underway in the birthplace of pro-independence hero Ignacio Agramonte, primarily within the area declared a World Heritage Site.
Not only cultural institutions of this "soft land of shepherds and hats" are working hard to give the town a great celebration, but also its inhabitants are doing their best pursuing the same goal. This is the case of young artist David Sánchez Prieto and his project "500 and More."
For the first time, landmarks of the city of Camagüey are recreated in stained glass windows, an ancient art which demands extreme sensitivity. The idea is to pay tribute to the five centuries of existence of the former village of Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe by enhancing its architectural values, but this time using glass as a pretext.
Thus, buildings from the 19th and the early 20th centuries belonging to diverse styles and movements have been recreated in this exhibition, composed so far of seven artworks, but the number might grow, given the valuable architectural assets of Camagüey.
This is undoubtedly a very ambitious project, on one hand, it is joining the initiatives for the 500th anniversary of the city -hence its name- on the other hand, it also attempts to immortalize and preserve the city through art.
The reproduction of Agramonte Park, with a design which dates back to the days when it was the former Plaza de Armas, is an everlasting symbol of one of the most popular sites of Camagüey. The city has a rich history that lacks graphic testimonies, so this stained glass window will be a great contributor to graphic history.
Meanwhile, projects as "Plazuela en silencio” and “Casa típica camagüeyana " seek to reflect the building style of private dwellings from the 19th century, and raise people’s awareness about the rescue of our architectural values, even when both buildings met different fates.
One completely demolished because it had gone to rack and ruin; the other restored following the canons of its original design.
The other three buildings represented in glass are today culture-bound institutions: the Principal Theater, "La Popular" building and the studio-workshop of the well-known fine artist Joel Jover, located in the heart of Plaza de San Juan de Dios, an icon of the city of Camagüey and a National Monument.
In this regard it is worth noting that all these pieces, conceived between 2011 and 2013, have been awarded in competitions.
It is noteworthy that much of the glass used in the arworks - mostly opalescent and translucent – was recycled from doors and glass windows, whereupon, the spirit of the city is reflected.
The technique corresponds to a contemporary trend within the stained glass art because it incorporates elements in relief to the pieces creating a three-dimensional effect.
The project "500 and More" is an example of how the inhabitants of Camagüey identify themselves with their city and of how much they can do for it. (Photos: courtesy of the artist)
