Artist in rescue project
After being expropriated by the Cuban government, the chapel of the University of Villa Nueva was returned to the Catholic Church in 2009. Complicated construction and restoration works have been undertaken since then to give new life to the abused property, mercilessly destroyed by the hand of man and the inclemency of nature for more than half a century. Rael Rodríguez Capote, visual artist, appreciates the invitation to be part of this work. His task consists of restoring the Italian-style arches and making two mosaics: one of the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre and the other of the Lebanese saint San Charbel. He also assumes the restoration of a Cross and a 1.60 meter high Christ, the high and eternal priest. The dream was to inaugurate the church in July 2020, but the ravages of the covid prevented the realization of what will undoubtedly be “a gift for all Catholics and for the necessary spirituality of the Cuban nation.” […]