RACSO Art Gallery is pleased to announce the inaugural solo show, “CUBA: Beauty and Sadness,” by photographer Sandy Stolzman. In 2016, Cuba opened its borders to the U.S. and this September, RACSO Art Gallery is opening its doors to Cuba. Stolzman’s photographs explore the aesthetic and day-to-day contradictions on the streets in Cuba, its beauty and sadness. The opening reception is Thursday, September 7, 2017 and runs through October 8, 2017. The exhibition is part of the city-wide celebration of Hispanic Heritage month. 

Racso Art Gallery is the region’s leading dealer representing contemporary Latin American artists. “Sandy is not Latin American but she approached RACSO with a Latin American subject matter worth our consideration. We are delighted to host this exhibition during Hispanic Heritage month and hope to have more guest artists to expand on our motto of being a “bridge” to the Latin American art spirit, and in this case, to one of it's individualistic cultures – Cuba,” remarked RACSO’s owner Oscar Villamil.

Photographed on a recent trip to Cuba, Stolzman’s unique perspective captures the pulse of a country rich in history, culture, and color. From the 20 photographs in the exhibition, the locations include Havana, Trinidad, Santa Clara and Vinales. The artist Sandy Stolzman shared, “Color continues to be a focal point of my work and Cuba was the perfect backdrop.” Her subjects range from Parkour and boxing athletes to sunsets over Havana’s skyline and colorful streetscapes. The photographs are produced using a dye-infused metal print process, a unique medium that the artist uses because of the depth, color, and quality it gives the image. It has been described as a glass like appearance where “the images seem to sparkle.”  

Stolzman has a sparkle herself, she is “already dreaming of returning to Cuba to once again to photograph The Instituto Superior de Arte.” The Instituto was created to be a national school of arts, designed by architects Ricardo Porro, Vittorio Garatti, and Roberto Gottardi. The architects were limited to local materials and decided to build with locally made brick and terracotta tiles. The building designs were comprised of Catalan vaults. It went unfinished in 1965 but are described as “landmarks of modernism”. It has been listed since 2003 for consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and on the 2016 World Monuments Watchlist. Her interest in this site is not surprising as Stolzman was an art student. Her love for photography began in high school and was fostered when she was chosen for a regional teaching program associated with Yale University called “The Educational Center for the Arts.” She was mentored by professional artists and Yale graduate students. She continued this path at the Philadelphia College of Art (now University of the Arts) as a Photography and Sculpture major. But her career path turned and she graduated from Drexel University with an Interior Design degree. For almost four decades running her own commercial furniture sales and marketing company, she has returned to her first passion, photography. This autumn’s exhibition at RACSO Art Gallery, “CUBA: Beauty and Sadness” will be an opportunity to introduce Sandy Stolzman and her passion for photography to a broader audience. 

Opening | Thursday, September 7, 2017 | 6:00-8:00pm 

RACSO Art Gallery | 1935 East Passyunk Avenue | Philadelphia, Pa 19148 | 215.735.3515

Exhibition Dates & Times | September 7 – October 8, 2017  
Mondays & Tuesdays by appointment 215.735.3515 | Wednesdays through Fridays 5:00-9:00pm | Saturdays 4:00-9:00pm | Sundays 2:00– 6:00pm 

ABOUT RACSO ART GALLERY | www.racsocontempoarts.com

RACSO Art Gallery exclusively represents Latin American artists. Dealing in emerging local and international contemporary Latin American art as well as the ‘Modern Masters’ of Latin American art including Botero and Villegas. Located at the gateway to East Passyunk Avenue in the heart of South Philadelphia, collectors can experience a range of works including paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, and photography. RACSO Art Gallery celebrates the beauty of the Latin American art spirit with rotating exhibitions throughout the year. INSTAGRAM @racsocontempoarts | FACEBOOK @RacsoGallery

SANDY STOLZMAN |  www.sandystolzmanphotography.com  |  INSTAGRAM @sandy_stolzman