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A couple of sculptures that evoke the migratory drama and the pain of thousands of Cubans who have lost their lives at sea were unveiled this Friday at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre in Miami, a place that holds special significance for the Cuban exile community.
These are two bronze pieces by Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz, known as "Angels Unaware" and "Be Welcoming".
The first depicts a group of migrants in a precarious vessel, while the second shows a wandering angel at rest. Both are inspired by the biblical passage Hebrews 13:2: "Do not forget to show hospitality, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."
The sculptures were placed just a few steps away from the stained glass windows that overlook Biscayne Bay, where for decades Cubans have prayed for relatives who disappeared in the Florida Strait.
For many exiles, the gesture serves as a painful yet necessary reminder of the lives cut short at sea and of the solidarity that binds those who had to leave the island.
The Archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, emphasized that the work "Angels Unknowingly" reflects the spirit of community and hope in the midst of tragedy. “It’s a way to draw attention to the fact that we are all in the same boat,” he told Local 10.
The pieces were funded by the Fundación Familiar Miguel B. Fernández, established by the Cuban-American entrepreneur and philanthropist Michael B. Fernández, who arrived in the United States as a child after escaping repression in Cuba.
At 73 years old, Fernández is known in Florida not only for his success in business but also for his activism in support of migrants and refugees.
Video capture/Local 10.
In recent years, the president of MBF Healthcare Partners has funded campaigns that challenge Cuban-American Republican lawmakers for supporting mass deportation policies during the Trump administration.
His goal, as he himself has stated, is to "wake up the consciousness" of the Miami community regarding the reality of those seeking refuge in the United States.
When presenting the sculptures, Fernández confessed to feeling personally connected with "Angels Unknowingly." “Those people in that boat are really us today,” he stated.
Beyond their artistic value, the sculptures have become a collective tribute to the balseros who never reached solid ground, and an invitation to view with empathy the migratory experiences of those who continue to set sail in search of freedom.
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