Reinaldo González is one of the most important Cuban writers alive. And it is not just because he’s the recipient of the National Literature Prize. This is one of those tireless intellectuals who share his creativity between fiction, essays, publishing, cultural management.
Now Insolencias del barroco (insolence of Baroque)-a new book by Reinaldo-culminate a series of successful performances in Spain. This Thursday, June 20, at half past seven in the evening, large crowds will surely meet in the library + Bernat in the central street of Buenos Aires, in the city of Barcelona.
Those of us who attended the recent Madrid presentation of the sage text enjoyed an afternoon that became a luxury culture class. Mayda Bustamente-up now manager and producer of formidable dance and theater shows that can be seen in the Spanish capital and in many other places, has been put in charge of Ediciones Cumbres, responsible for the appearance of these welcome insolence.
Projects that start to dream big-even in the midst of an economic crisis that has become fashionable in Spain-and discouragement are set aside by passion, often have high class accomplices. In what became cozy get-together in the Book House of Fuencarral, the critic and brilliant cultural commentator on other issues, the witty narrator Roger Salas introduced Gonzalez and his research on the classic Baroque dance.
The Cuban specialist started by remembering the long personal friendship and professional relationship with Reinaldo and-with a sharpness that pleased the packed hall where there were many compatriots of different generations – made it clear that this friendship was not broken but rather nuanced, enriched by the political or aesthetic differences.
Salas emphasized the originality and sharpness of Reinaldo tour through some of the most significant works of visual arts of the Baroque.
In the end, Gonzalez said that rather than continue with academic rigor or the future historicist art movement, he was interested in search, the contradictions, and the creative urge of the great artists who he has followed and studied for many years through various museums.
Meanwhile, Eduardo Mateos Blazquez says in the preface: “The book Insolencias del Barroco is an essay powered by sublime short stories, mixed gender that enrich this magical text linking narration and reflection. The writer-creator, Reynaldo Gonzalez, has a rigorous and comprehensive history, full of poetic evocations fed by his scientific work, for his work as a researcher. Gonzalez leads to a humanist cycle from painted poetry. ”
In Barcelona there will be the presentation of the also Cuban and increasingly respected novelist and playwright Abilio Estevez. So much talent together suggests that the name the Ediciones Cumbres is much more than the selection of a sound word. Mayda Bustamante and his team point to the top and do it with good, healthy and useful aim.