VENICE : Visiting Cuban Artist Leaves His Mark on L.A. by Creating Mural

Salvador Gonzalez paints at breakneck speed in the middle of the night, specks of bright yellow, red, black and blue flying from his brushes onto the huge canvas before him as music by Jean-Michel Jarre blares in the background.

By 6 the next morning, what began as an inspiration at the back space of Venice’s Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) has become a bigger-than-life mural dominated by Yemaya, the Afro-Cuban goddess of the salt waters and protector of women.

The marathon project late Friday and early Saturday was Gonzalez’s way of leaving his mark in Los Angeles during his first U.S. visit. In doing so, the Cuban muralist worked in typical fashion: alone, without sketches or drafts. The result was an 6-by-20-foot canvas that the center plans to hang in locations that have yet to be determined.

“We are just delighted he could paint this mural,” said Gail Schwartz, the program director for the center, which donated the paint, canvas and space for the project. Gonzalez “is basically single-handedly creating the Cuban mural movement.”

It is a task the 46-year-old, internationally known artist has taken to heart. Gonzalez has painted many murals on the walls of buildings in downtown Havana. Although he is critical of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, he says he mainly addresses cultural and religious themes in his work.

“All my work is inspired by the values of ancient cultures,” said the painter, who although he is half white belongs to the Afro-Cuban Yoruba religion. “Many artists re-create Hispanic cultures, but black culture has been historically disputed. I’m interested in promoting these values that are part of my people’s culture.”

So far, Gonzalez has left images of his culture on walls in New York, Arizona and New Mexico, and plans to paint murals in New Jersey and Washington as part of his three-month U.S. tour.

“This is a great country, where many cultures converge and where each place signifies a new experience,” he said. “It’s a dream come true for me to be here.”

Cuba, however, is his place in the world, he said.

Gonzalez said: “I know my country has problems . . . but I’m very much a man of Cuba, even if it’s governed by the devil.”