Connecticut is hosting two celebrations of Latin American culture.
An exhibition currently running at Eastern Connecticut State University explores the relationship between art, ecology, and spirituality. It features work by several artists including Cuban printmaker Isolina Limonata. The vibrant colors and textures in her prints reflect the influence of the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria.
The exhibition "Guardians of Nature" runs at ECSU in Willimantic through December 8.
Meanwhile in New Haven, the Latin American and Iberian Film Festival at Yale is underway through Sunday, November 13. It features a wealth of rarely-seen independent films that celebrate the diversity of Latino cultures throughout Latin American and the Caribbean; also from Spain and Portugal.
The festival is open to the public and all films have English subtitles.
Festival director Margherita Tortora said more than 20 filmmakers, actors, and directors will be in New Haven for the festival – and there are opportunities to meet and talk with them.
"Javier Espada who is coming directly from Spain is probably the world expert on the work of Spanish/Mexican surrealist Luis Bunuel," said Tortora. "Also, a Dominican filmmaker, Ernesto Alemany, his film La Gunguna was the record hit of all time in the Dominican Republic last year. We have two younger Cuban filmmakers showing their short films. And then one feature film, new from Cuba is called Espejuelos Negros, Dark Glasses.”
There are also films from Colombia about the civil war in that country, a children’s film from Chile, and others.