Milly West with Ernesto Fernandez, one of Cuba's most honored photographers.
Where: Milly West Tres Puertas Home Gallery at 212 Bramlett Blvd., Oxford
When: October 4th and 5th (Friday and Saturday); 10 am–6 pm each day
As former owner of Southside Gallery, Milly West feels blessed to have had a reason to collect art and promote artists from all over the South and from Cuba.
“It’s been over forty years since I first started as a photographer, exploring the South with my camera,” she said. “I made dozens of trips to Clarksdale and all over the Delta. I have traveled through small towns of Georgia and Alabama collecting art treasures by some amazing self-taught artists.”
She left the gallery “in good hands” 22 years ago, and went on to graduate school at the University of Tulsa, taught photography and writing at Ole Miss, and kept on with making and collecting art.
“My house is my gallery! Now, I am ready to let go. For this current show, I am offering most works in my collection and my own photos, and some incredible Cuban art, by that country’s most famous artists, at the lowest prices ever.”
Everything in the collection of art is either created or purchased by West, or in a few cases, on consignment.
“I have traveled to Cuba approximately forty times, and my love of that country has never waned, nor has my love of the South,” she said. “I can’t wait to welcome all art lovers to see this collection. Also, I want to thank Wayne Andrews and the great staff at YAC for their support of this exhibit and all artists in and around Oxford.”
“This first group below are rare one of a kind posters which commemorated on going promotions and history of Cuba. Double Session posters, for example were created when the school day was divided (morning and afternoon sessions) so that the older students could help for one season with the sugar cane harvest. Baseball is part of Cuban culture, too. Again, art is there for a purpose, but it’s not easily reproduced. Everyone of these was individually created with screen printing. I have seen the “studios” which are usually a nook in a house, or the dining room.
There are several that remind people to save things, such as the BETTER TO REPAIR poster. Cubans, as you know, repaired the classic cars of the 1950’s, but many other things from that era, are still functioning, such as refrigerators, furniture, kitchen sinks, linens, and so much more. I have also seen posters reminding people to turn off the lights. The tobacco poster reminds us that the tobacco harvest and cigar making are a big part of the culture. The Partagas factory in Old Havana is worth a visit!
The poster of me was made (at my request) by Suitberto Goire who was a prominent poster maker from Santiago de Cuba. His life was devoted to his art and after having met him and seen his work, I wanted him to make the poster for my show in 2000 in Havana. The show was amazing by the way. It was arranged by two women who obviously found something worth sharing about me to the larger art world of Havana.
The poet Laureate of Cuba, Pablo Armando Fernandez, presented a poem about my work, and members of the same band who are on the album of The Buena Vista Social Club played; and all my Cuban friends were there and even some of my staff from Southside. So, in “letting go,” I am reliving a lot of memories, and yet, though I stop and reminisce too much, I am very busy getting the collection ready for presentation and the weekend sale! “
– Milly Moorhead West
