Printmaking is a relatively unknown art form. Most people who have heard of it only know of one form – screen printing – which is used today to print things like t-shirts. The more archaic forms, like block printing, intaglio, and etching, are rarely used for functional purposes anymore in the US, but many artists prefer to use them to create artwork. For the students of Kennesaw State’s printmaking concentration, these old, outdated forms of printing are cathartic and satisfying.
On May 14, five students of the School of Art and Design, one KSU alumnus, the head of KSU’s printmaking department, and the Dean of the Arts left for Cuba on the university’s first study abroad to Cuba. As Cuba only recently opened its doors to American tourism, the group had no idea what to expect. They didn’t know whether they’d have internet, phone service, or even indoor plumbing; however the excitement of visiting a country almost completely devoid of all American influence cancelled out all fear of the unknown.
The main purpose of the trip, aside from cultural awakening, was to visit a world renowned printmaking studio called El Taller de Grafica Experimental. Just two months prior to their visit, President Obama visited the same studio, and many works of art featuring him were displayed on the walls. During their time at the studio, the group worked on stone lithography and reductive relief printing with the master printers who work there.
The group also visited a tobacco farm in the Viñales Valleys and watched organic Cuban cigars being made. In America, Cuban cigars are almost legendary, so seeing them go from the plants growing outside to the tightly rolled, honey-dipped products that many individuals would pay large sums of money for was very exciting.
One unique thing about this particular study abroad trip is that none of the students were able to contact their families from the moment they left the US until they were back on our soil. Cell phone service in Cuba is available to tourists, but it is very expensive, and the same is true for internet. Because of this, the only communication the group had with their friends and families back home was through three emails that Dean Poulter sent out intermittently. While this lack of contact was obviously stressful, the students also stated that it was a relief to be completely off the grid for ten days.
Because this was KSU’s first study abroad to Cuba, the group didn’t have any existing connections in the country. While this made organizing the trip more difficult, it also resulted in the group making a lasting impression of the people of Cuba that they encountered. They made connections that will ease future interactions between Kennesaw State and Cuba, and the School of Art and Design is already planning a second printmaking study abroad to Cuba for next semester. Students will visit the Taller de Grafica Experimental, as well as participating in the Bicentennial Art Festival that will be held in Cuba next year. This summer, Professor Valerie Dibble and her students are fundraising in order to pay off their trip. They are selling artwork, Cuban cigars, and even offering a workshop class for people who support their GoFundMe, which you can find by searching for the ART Study Abroad in Cuba.
