Blue petals of love

By Dolores Valentino

puntana writer, residing in Juana Koslay

doloresvalentino@hotmail.com

The heart was left naked, alone,

floating in space

when you left.

Palpitating in  the flight of the

passing bird.

Leaving your heart

hollowed out with pain

where a flower had nested.

Sunrise, instead,

invited it to lie down on its bed

of white poppies.

While suspended on tiny

silver tears

it broke in abandonment.

Sick of solitude, the hapless heart left,

Muted,

among the dark entrails of the night

with the blue petals of love.


"Translated by Matilde Machiavello"

Sustainability, education and adventure

by Graciela Lucero Arrúa 

Translator 

info@words-at-work.com.ar 

by Paola Irastorza 

Director Hueney Guide 

guiahueney@hotmail.com 

When visiting Buenos Aires, last November, Guía Hueney interviewed Andy Hadland, a member of the team made up of 11 graduates and students of the Energy Futures Lab, and the Schools of Electronic Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, all members of the RGE ( Endurance Racing Green) project, a pioneer plan of the University of the Imperial College London. 

Andy is responsible for controlling the identity and image of the RGE project. 

GH: Where are you going now to promote this prototype? 

A: We have just ended up in Argentina. We have travelled from Alaska to Argentina, about 26 000 km, and we finished a few days in Ushuaia, in the south. So we're here to tell you about what we have done. 

GH: Which are the goals of the project? 

A: The project has three objectives: sustainability, education and adventure. We want to show that environmentally friendly vehicles do not have to be boring or slow, as most people think. We want to show that these cars can be fun, attractive, efficient, and cheap; in short, all these positive aspects. This is the first objective. The second objective focuses on the idea of inspiring young people to study science and engineering because this century presents many challenges! As you know, it is a course that people prefer not to study. They want to do other things, but we want to show that if you work at it, you can get many interesting things. We show young people that there are many universities where they can study science and engineering, and we hope that perhaps, someday, they decide to study science. Finally, the third objective is adventure. We want to encourage people to do things. If you have a good idea, you should follow. There is always a reason not to do something, and there is always a better and stronger reason to do something. So, if you have a good idea, follow your dreams; this is the message. 

GH: What is your role within the team? 

A: I'm in charge of promoting the project through the media and the web site. My role is basically to tell the whole world about our work. We are all engineers in the team. It is important to have engineers in a project like this, but we all do something different. Some are in charge of administration, others logistics, others finding sponsors, and we all work together. 

GH: Which companies are your sponsors? 

A: We have 35 sponsors. The project costs about US$ 750, 000. Among many other companies, KPM is helping us with the promotion in the media. We are doing very well. Other companies are sponsoring the project with the clothing. I could go on, but it’d take an hour and a half to speak only of this issue! (laughter) 

GH: How long have you been working on this project? 

A: We started the idea in January 2009, and then we got the support of companies to carry it out. We finished in March 2010; so, we designed the whole thing in nine months. 

GH: How much is the vehicle? 

A: The vehicle costs about US$ 450, 000, which is cheap for a prototype. The cost of the project is US$ 750 000 due to the money we need to invest in terms of logistics, promotion, etc. It does not appear to need that much, but it happens as with any car: if something breaks, you have to fix it; we must maintain the car and make routine checks. 

GH: Has any automaker expressed interest in the prototype? 

A: You can use the technology of this car in any other vehicle. The engine is quite small, with about 40 cm diameter, and it can be adapted to any car. Some companies have expressed interest, yes, but if we are going to make something commercial of this, it must be a success in this phase. Because if something fails now, it would fail in the future. This is the time to start thinking.

San Luis’ Riches

Las Salinas: Meet the white salt mountains.

Balde and San Geronimo: places of hot springs with healing properties. 

Sierra de Las Quijadas: Follow the footprints of dinosaurs, which tell millions of years of history. 

Juana Koslay: Meet the Monument to the Puntano People of Independence, where San Martín enlisted soldiers to cross the Andes. 

Potrero de los Funes: observe the majesty of the Quebrada de los Cóndores (Gore of Condors) and find The Cacique (a natural stone figure). Enjoy a bath in the Salto de la Moneda, with a cascade of 15 meters and a basin of crystal-clear water. 

La Punta: Visit the replica of the town council building, the movie set, the Juan G. Funes stadium and Astronomical Park. 

El Volcán: a place with lush vegetation and a famous basin that offers deep water for swimming. 

La Florida: a place where you will find a large dam, ideal for swimming and fishing. 

La Carolina and Inti Huasi Cave: a village where you will be able to observe stones, visit old gold mines and a poetry museum. See stalactites, cave paintings, and much more ... going through excellent roads with breathtaking beauty. 

Quality and warmth

by Paola Irastorza

Guía Hueney Editor-in-chief 

guiahueney@hotmail.com

During November and December I had the chance to attend superb encounters and build new relationships, which allowed me to show San Luis artists’ potential with the greatest joy. Introducing the Independent Art Walk (Paseo de Arte Independiente) to Cuba allowed me to bring new experiences and concerns in art, culture and tourism matters, which I will be sharing with you in this edition. You can see more of this event at Hueney web site. Also, we will soon have a meeting with the artists who participated in this event to bring you closer to it, and to the learning gained from such great artists.  We were pleasingly recognized as the only province in Argentina which showed its artists in an organized way. People were surprised by the quantity, quality and variety of art forms in San Luis. There was a special mention by the curator of the show, Yainet Rodríguez Rodríguez, and I was invited to deliver a speech. Though a little bit nervous, I could tell the audience with great joy about the efforts independent artists make to show their work.

Upon returning from this positive trip to Cuba, I participated as a guest in the Meeting of Writers "Tribute to Paulina Movsichoff", in Villa Mercedes, which was organized by the Arcadia Group. At this meeting, I was able to share and show the actions of this magazine, and give a gift catalog of the Independent Art Walk. In a reading round, I read one of my stories. I would like to emphasize the creativity of the mercedino writers and the pleasure one gets by listening to the poems by our author, Jerónimo Castillo. I would also like to thank all those people making the Arcadia Group, as well as the participants invited, and particularly, Dario Oliva, who carries these actions out with much effort and love.

I say goodbye to you all until the next issue, but before that, I am glad to inform you that Guía Hueney is now available in a new digital format (PDF), so that you can see the same print issue. Last, but not least, it is my pleasure to introduce Matilde Machiavello, linguist and professor of English at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), who will be in charge of the translation of literary texts from Spanish into English.

It is always our commitment to offer quality and warmth in every issue of Guía Hueney, which is possible thanks to people of the best kind.

Guía Hueney with Cuban artist Leo D'Lázaro and Curator Yainet Rodríguez Rodríguez

We delivered over 150 gifts promoting Art, Culture and Tourism in San Luis.

Guía Hueney and Susan Kusa give the art sample to Professor Ana María Paredes, Director of the Centro Provincial de Casas de Cultura de Cuba (Provincial Center of Cuba Culture Department).

Echoes from CulTurAr Habana

by Joseph Pomelapocha¹

Cuban artist and writer

pomelapocha1@gmail.com 

"A tango flies in Copa Airlines 

and stays at Habana Libre ... "

I will use the first lines of the poem "Brindis Inolvidable" (Unforgettable Toast) to start my comment, which is no more than the echo of what happened in the Cuban capital last November. I was lucky to join the event just the day Cuenta Habana (Havana Tells a Story) began. A group of storytellers led by Argentine Claudio Ledesma exchanged the experiences of the old art of words with Cuban counterparts. The Casa de la Obra Pía (Pius Charitable Organization), the Casa de África (African House ), and the Casa Simón Bolívar (Simón Bolívar House) are cultural institutions embedded in the historical center of Havana which caught Patakies (Yoruba stories), fables and legends of Cuban literature; South American literature was also very well represented. Through their narratives, each visitor seemed to evoke those classic lines of the stave, that reads "vení, volá, vení, trai, lai, la larará” (come, fly, come, la, la, la larara*), which was reflected in the applause, in the smiles, the sighs and thoughts stolen to the audience, grateful happy children and adults. A special moment came when Cubans and Argentines decided to stand up to give a warm and prolonged applause to the lady of the stories, the Cuban storyteller, Aide Arteaga, who is celebrating her 95 years of age these days, and does so as any minstrel would- telling stories. 

After that, a bus crossing the streets of Havana introduced the participants to the Seafront, from where they could also observe the bay and forts that used to defend the city from pirates attacks, and where an old cannon is still giving its loud greetings at nine every night ... and just at that time, “Tangos and Milongas ruled November”¹ – again, the parody of a verse from the same book expresses what I mean accurately.

The Hall of the Habana Libre Hotel, Las Cañitas, was the venue where the popular dance of Buenos Aires found its place on November 26^th. On that night, it was clear that tango exists as a ballroom dance in Cuba as well. And as long as the cultural exchange exits between the island of the cigar and San Luis artists, tango will attract more people, since Cubans are romantic, erotic and like living “the synopsis of vehemence” (borrowed from another verse). That night there was evidence that many people from the audience became apprentices of these master classes taught to learn the dance of whispers, and where the lips of a young woman, Carolina Cingolani, won the reverence of silence with the charm of the tango itself and the seduction power of a bolero. A still unknown magazine at that moment – Hueney -, gave the audience a burst of laughter and it was caught by them; after reading it that same night, a Cuban poet and storyteller said, "San Luis / lends its rain / to the streets of Havana." 

On Friday morning, the visiting friends knew more than a five-star hotel, much more than Havana Seafront, and more than a beautiful blue beach called Varadero. Together with Elvia Perez and other storytellers, they visited the Arroyo Naranjo town, the birthplace of José Antonio Méndez, author of “Novia mía, si me comprendieras” (Bride of mine, if you understood me) and “La gloria eres tú”. (The glory is you). This time the Argentine participants gave their art in the Municipal Museum La Güinera, and ended up in the Hurón Azul (Blue Huron) Museum, former home of the famous painter Carlos Enríquez. 

Resuming what happened at Habana Libre Hotel, I think the sample of San Luis artists is comparable to the charm of this hotel, real gems of jewellery, sculpture, painting, photography, digital art, crafts and drawing. Mrs. Paola Irastorza proved to be an excellent cultural promoter, and also gave Cuba a literature sample from San Luis which was well-accepted. 

On Saturday, there were presentations from several countries. I would like to highlight again the work of storyteller Claudio Ledesma. The presentation on the defence of Afro-Argentinean culture, by young Dinah Schonhaut - “Quilombo” (“mess” in Buenos Aires slang) -, as well as the speech delivered by the Uruguayan Matilde Machiavelli on neurolinguistic programming techniques are also worth mentioning. Another Argentinean friend educated us with her experiences on visual arts for children in poorer areas. Storytellers again made headlines with their performances at the Gran Teatro de La Habana, where they shared that moment with another icon of storytelling in Cuba, Octavio Pino.

The International Meeting of Culture, Arts and Tourism closed happily with a gala at the House of A.L.B.A between artists from the land of sugar cane and artists from the Rio de la Plata. The spicy story told  by a retired woman, the story told by the master of storytellers, the compelling voice of Carolina, as well as the proof that tango, as a dance, is life, and Paola with her catalogue of the Independent Art Walk in hand , led the Cuban poet say: "Fantasy in San Luis / wears the most real dress." 

I hope there is a fourth edition of CulTurAr Habana in 2011. 

My heart is now looking South. 

¹⁾ The author is a storyteller, musical comedian, entertainer, and speaker. Member of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC), he also belongs to the Provincial Music Center Adolfo Guzmán. He is a member of the Cuban Chair of Oral Narrative. Director of Project Ozun. He has won awards in provincial and municipal meetings on literary workshops. 

His texts of poetry for children, adults, and his narratives have been published in anthologies, and in the magazine Alma Mater. Member of the literary workshop Ernest Heminway, some of his poems have been set to music. He is a member of the Cuban Agency of Musical Copyright (ACDAM) and The General Society of Authors and Publishers (SGAE) in Spain. He is also the President of the Oral Narration Show "12 hours of stories in the city of Papier Mache." 

²⁾“Reinan Tangos y Milongas en Noviembre” (Tangos and Milongas rule November)  is a book dedicated to the people of San Luis and the Narrator and Cultural Promoter, Paola Irastorza, who showed me how beautiful Argentina, San Luis and Potrero de los Funes are. I owe her the pleasure of knowing about such great creators.

*the sound one makes when humming a song.

Catalogue of San Luis Artists

Catalogue of San Luis Artists who registered at the Third Edition of Guía Hueney’s Independent Art Walk in Cuba.

Gustavo Caneda – Crafts (containers for appetizers, hangers, board for roast meat, wine barrels) – Potrero de los Funes

Ludmila Bedair – Crafts (Kaleidoscopes) – Potrero de los Funes

Ricardo Villanueva – Digital Art (filmmaking) - Potrero de los Funes

Blanca Rosa Sosa – French Art (laminated photography, silicone, varnish) – San Luis

Jorge Raúl Saibene – Sculpture (sculpture in calden wood) – Villa Mercedes

José de Cristófano – Sculpture (sculpture in guatambú, oak and palo blanco wood) – San Luis

Juanjo Becerrra – Sculpture (alpaca, silver, old cutlery, leather, coins, bronze) – Villa Mercedes

Lilian Perroni – Sculpture (wood, plaster cast, acrylic, oil painting, papier-mâché) – San Luis

Alexandra Rubiño – Sculpture and drawing (concrete, canvas, clay, iron, recycled materials) – Juana Koslay

Olemberg family – Sculpture and music (making of musical instruments – spinning and knitting with human hair) – La Toma

Osvaldo Aguilera  - Sculpture and music (carving and engraving with flagstone – guitar player and folk singer) – San Luis

Tita Alonso  - Sculpture  and painting (stone, acrylic, aerosol, paraffin, dried seeds, plaster cast, glass, recycled material) – San Luis

Sandra and Matías Molina – Dancing/ Tango (shows and classes) – San Luis

Franco Siracusa – Photography (film and digital photography – graphics - hand processing of films) – Villa Mercedes

Luis Miranda – Photography and drawing (landscape digital photography without retouching) – Potrero de los Funes

Paola Irastorza – Photography and literature (digital photography, design, art, communication, and education) – Potrero de los Funes

Nélida Olguín F.  – Photography and painting - San Luis

Dolores Valentino – Literature – Juana Koslay

Myriam Olga Mrercau – Literature – Juana Koslay

Rodolfo Otoniel Molina – Potrero de los Funes

Favio Violante – Silversmithing/goldsmithing – Juana Koslay

Adriana Toledo – Painting – Potrero de los Funes

Adriana Giuliani – Painting – Juana Koslay

Cecilia Adriana Gatica – Painting – San Luis

Flora Isabel García – Painting – Villa Mercedes

Gastón López Alcaraz – Painting - San Luis

Graciela Imperinato  -Painting – San Luis

Marita Uvilla  -Painting and sculpture – San Luis

Carina Levin – Painting and photography – Potrero de los Funes

M. Iglesias Dávila – Painting and Photography – San Luis

Dido – Painting and murals – Juana Koslay