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Cuban citizens and officialist profiles requested donations and support to restore an iconic sculpture erected in memory of the Spaniard Vicente Rodríguez, located in Baracoa, which was vandalized recently.
The internet user identified as Lari Mar, who often shares news from officialist profiles, has called on the public to donate money and purchase the materials needed by sculptor Abel Lobaina to create the bronze figure of Pelú after it was completely collapsed in the pedestrian walkway of downtown Baracoa.
"All individuals who wish to support this idea and want to donate for the materials needed, please communicate directly with the author of the work and donate what you can directly to him (Abel). Those who can do so may contact him through his number; to those who have written to me directly on my messenger, I once again express my gratitude for their wishes for a swift recovery of a sculptural work for our city of Baracoa," the user wrote.
According to details provided, it is necessary to restore the statue, pay its author, and find those who destroyed it. However, authorities were never held accountable for this nor were they asked to take responsibility for the restoration of the artwork.
Richard López Castellanos, who features the "Macondian profile of Baracoa," described the vandalism as pathetic and placed it within a series of similar acts, which include incidents against the statue of Oscar Montero, "Cayamba," the figure of Mariana Grajales, and other public spaces where light bulbs, lamps, poles, and electrical cables are stolen.
"Every time it's the same: no one outside the corruption of the actions sees anything, no one confronts, no one warns in time, no one reports anything, nothing, nothing. For whatever reason, total blindness. And crime, sheltered and seemingly faceless, laughs in solitude. At everything, and also, at everyone," wrote.
In this regard, it was reported that the placement of the sculpture of Enriqueta Favez, the first woman to practice medicine in America, is still owed to the people of Baracoa.
"Surely there are those who, after the incident with the Pelú statue, argue against the appropriateness of installing in a public place the sculpture that honors the first woman to practice medicine in the largest of the Antilles. It's the same as not going out into the street for fear of traffic, not walking at night because you might get mugged, not taking action because what's the point, not living because the end is death," he concluded.
Last year, the same Lari Mar, in light of the deplorable condition of the statue, had requested from organizations in the City of the First, mainly from the Lodge, to assist in donating 120 dollars, MLC or 40 thousand Cuban pesos for the restoration of the Pelú statue, "as quickly as possible."
A month later, the regime authorities were already restoring the statue for the 513th anniversary of the city.
El Pelú, known for his curly hair and his endless walks along the promenade, speaking to himself or greeting with solemnity, became a living part of the urban landscape of Barcoa.
According to legend, Vicente, a Spanish businessman residing on the island, owned an extensive list of properties in Santiago de Cuba. At one point in his life, his business failed, and he decided to head to the city of Baracoa in search of better economic opportunities.
He arrived in the town in a state of total misery. Upon arrival, he begged the local inhabitants for water, food, and shelter, but due to his peculiar and disheveled appearance, he was continuously turned away.
Faced with such behavior, the exhausted and sorrowful Spaniard knelt on the ground—presumably in the exact spot where the statue once stood—and cursed the city and all its inhabitants.
The statue that bears his name, inaugurated on the pedestrian promenade of Baracoa in 2018, was built through a collaboration between the Cuban Fund for Cultural Assets and the Caguayo Foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions about the restoration of the sculpture of El Pelú in Baracoa
Why does the sculpture of El Pelú in Baracoa need restoration?
The sculpture of El Pelú in Baracoa needs restoration because it was vandalized and is now completely collapsed on the pedestrian walkway in the city center. This act has caused outrage among citizens, who have requested donations for its repair.
How can people help restore the statue of El Pelú?
People interested in helping restore the statue of El Pelú can donate money directly to the sculptor Abel Lobaina, who is responsible for creating the bronze figure. They can contact him to coordinate the necessary donations to purchase the materials.
What does the statue of El Pelú represent for the community of Baracoa?
The statue of El Pelú is a symbol of community love and represents a beloved character from Baracoa known for his curly hair and his strolls along the waterfront. He was immortalized in bronze as part of the city's urban and cultural landscape, serving as a tribute to the marginalized and popular.
What other sculptures have been vandalized in Baracoa?
In addition to the statue of El Pelú, other sculptures in Baracoa have been vandalized, such as those of Oscar Montero "Cayamba" and Mariana Grajales. These acts contribute to other issues of vandalism in public spaces, such as the theft of light bulbs and electrical wires.
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