MOCA North Miami. From Oct 18th, through Nov 8th, 2009.
Cavaletti’s Dream, a signature marionette production by Miami artist Pablo Cano, returns to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) for a series of special anniversary performances from October 18th through November 8th, 2009. The production features Cano’s enchanting marionettes and rod puppets created from found objects, and combines elements of Italian chivalry and Greek mythology as it follows an 18th century knight on his quest for immortality. When not in performance, the marionettes and set will be on view at MOCA as an exhibition during museum hours.
Cavaletti’s Dream was originally presented at MOCA during the museum’s 1998-1999 season, and was Cano’s first MOCA-commissioned production. Since then, 10 additional productions have been commissioned by the museum, and have become an annual tradition. This is the first revival of a Cano production presented at MOCA. It celebrates the 10th anniversary of collaborations between MOCA and Cano.
Marionettes and rod puppets from the original production are featured as well as new pieces Cano has created especially for this 2009 revival. Its hero, Cavaletti appears as both a young man constructed from tin, wood and umbrella parts, and an old man created from an oversized musical bass. As he embarks on his quest, Cavaletti encounters magical creatures, goddesses, and monsters including Pegasus, a silver horse who soars through the air on wings made from an old music stand; Pallas Athena who wears a spinning air ventilator as armor; and Polyphemus, an evil Cyclops, who peers at the audience through an eye created from an ice cream scoop.
Pablo Cano was born in Havana, Cuba in 1961, Cano’s influences include traditional marionette theater and performance art by the Dadaists of the 1920s. Materials for his marionettes come from Miami thrift stores and streets of his Little Havana neighborhood. Cano’s first mediums included painting, drawing, and ceramics. At the age of 18, he began his study of Cuban art and identified with the work of artists such as Enrique Riberon, Amelia Palaez, Wifredo Lam, and others. During his 20’s, he became fascinated with the work of Russian Constructivist artist Alexandra Exter. Inspired by Exter’s work and the use of found objects in Dada art, Cano began his own adventure in creating marionettes, taking advantage of the wide range of materials discarded on city streets. As a performance artist, he continually explores the challenges of space, movement, color, light and sound. In addition to MOCA, North Miami, Cano’s work has been exhibited at museums and other venues around the country, and he has performed and exhibited in New York at Lincoln Center Out of Doors and Lincoln Center Gallery. He holds a B.A. degree from Maryland Institute College of Art and an M.F.A. degree from Queens College in New York.
MOCA North Miami
770 NE 125th Street
North Miami, FL, 33161
305.893.6211
www.mocanomi.org
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