An Eye on Art: Liset Castillo
/Untitled
Liset Castillo
2001
Silver gelatin print
Gift of Graphicstudio, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection 2001.9
Photographer Liset Castillo (b. 1974) is one of the new generation of young Cuban artists whose work is gaining worldwide recognition. A graduate of the prestigious Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Castillo has shown extensively in Cuba and Spain.
Graphicstudio collaborated with Castillo on the making of a small series of photogravures. Castillo’s minimalistic and large-scale treatment of her subject matter gives great weight and importance to items of everyday necessity and use--a handful of rice, a head of garlic, an aluminum spoon, a roll of toilet paper--both an effective aesthetic strategy and a poignant reminder of the scarcity of such items in her native Cuba.
Topic
Scarcity - In short supply.
Reflection:
Why do you think Castillo decided to take a photo of just one roll of toilet paper rather than a whole package?
If you were to take a photo of an everyday item in your home or community you consider scarce, what would it be?
Do you think we would all have the same photo to represent our homes or community? Why or why not?
What type of scarce items might change over time? Why do you suppose?
Activity
The Scarcity Cat
Supplies:
2 toilet paper rolls
Paint
Paint brush
Glue
Scissors
Directions:
Paint toilet paper rolls a color of your choice and let dry.
Cut roll #1 to the height you prefer your cat.
Make one cut down the entire length of roll #2 to create a flat sheet of material.
Use the flattened sheet to cut out a cat head & tail of your design. Embellish as desired.
Glue cat head and tail to roll #1 and voila!
Share and tag your beautiful creations with the hashtag #PMoAatHome!
Cats created by Ellen Chastain, Education Manager, and her children, Copper and Eli