Photo: Courtesy of the author
Visit the home of George Lucas Pereda Pérez, is immersed in the study to find work, including paintings and songs. Talking to this ariguanabense that was born on October 18th, 1959, gives us his immense work, which are mixed watercolors on cardboard which, talent, intelligence, creativity and love for art.
Like any child, George Lucas has always been immersed in school activities related to art, but it was not until 1991, which consolidated his talents as artistic plastic graduation at San Alejandro Academy in Havana.
Before this title, Pereda Perez graduated as a Planning for the National Economy and Transport Technician Automotive Operations, Bachelor of Education specializing in Art Instructors for the Visual Arts and has an average level in French language. The architecture, specializing to the arts, occupied a space in his life, but as he himself argues, needed something more free, where his talent and desire to reflect life as he lived. Definitely realized that his true calling was among brushes, oils and easels.
Major events in which your work is reflected
One of the most important works was at the IV Biennial of Havana, where I presented a collateral exhibition at Domingo Rabane Gallery, in which were many young artists Sandra Ceballos, Reinol Campbell, Lisset Gonzalez and Agustin Bejerano, among others great artists of the plastic. Also Eduardo Abela Halls, at Ariguanabo, Aristides Fernandez from Guines and Landscapes event that takes place in Cajío.
You may refer to several awards as a painter
The main prize is not recorded in any diploma, the people´s recognizing forthe worke done, but I have a lot of prizes that I take a special care, such as the Eduardo Abela in 2000 and one of While impressed, I have not certainly be included in a catalog published in 1996 which reflects the thousand faces of Cuban artists.
What are the main virtues to be met by an artist
The most important thing is creativity, regardless of the good hand, as the artists call to the connection between the human eye and hand painting. We also have to study hard, not just art, but have minimal knowledge of everything around, the canvas different themes and concepts.
The art critic Rufo Caballero, assessed you in several exhibition catalogs, as an expressionist. What is your opinion of this seasoned judgment?
I stressed that it is an honor that Rufus has put his talent in several of my catalogs. I think so, according to the concepts of linear and composition of the different elements of my paintings, I am an expressionist artist.
Why with so many results in the art of painting, decided to venture into singing?
That was by chance, in 1992 I started working on the culture house as fine arts teacher, but became scarce during the special period and the paintings, which discouraged the boys. I am a person who does not like sitting and I said, "I have to do something to keep the creativity." Since I had good relations with other instructors of theater, dance and music and visit their classes, I realized I needed to supplement the children's songs and started writing plays.
Results in musical composition
The most important of all, was the prize at the National Festival "Singing the Sun" held at Karl Marx Theater in 1996, with the piece "Today shines Amor" by Maynel Lorenzo, an issue that was award the United Nations Fund for a Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the popularity. Then came others like "Colors confused," "The Wizard of Dreams" and "Music and honey."
But it also ventures into the adult composition.
As you say, the ariguanabense Music Festivals and Boleros de Oro awards have given me that I keep with love. I can mention the theme "It's not difficult," by Lourdes Jimenez, "When joy walks", by Grisel Romero and "Forget" a song that defended Dayana Perez, as well as second and third places at these events.
Besides talent, who do you thank your success in the musical world
First Professor Rodolfo Chacón, for his confidence and interest in my performance as a singer, second to the excellent cultural promoter of our Villa, Raúl Hernández Montanarro, he gave me the space to act in the most demanding scenarios and third to Jean Carlos for his constancy and strength of volunteering for me when I thought of giving up music.
Member of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) since 1997 and the artist status assessed in the prestigious San Alejandro Academy, enabled him to work as a teacher at the Academy of Provincial Art Eduardo Abela. Could you talk about this experience?
As with the musical composition, with that of similar happened to teach me, was no accident that I started and I became Chair Head of the first year, but not before teaching subjects such as linear perspective, Letragrafía and Painting. I owe it all to María Isabel, director of the Academy, because she knew mold my love for teaching. I always said it would not be master of visual arts and look, I have eleven years in the faculty of the center and I am part of the Commission of abstractions for the different courses.
The radio has been part of your career as an artist and singer. What about the link with this media?
Thanks to the radio, is a media that is always aware of my work. I have the privilege of writing promotional spots and a theme for the Provincial Festival entitled, "Como palomas." I am a faithful follower of the different programs and I think Ariguanabo Radio station is on the people´s preference for the excellent programming and human quality of the collective bargaining agreement.
When not painting or composing, what George Lucas Pereda Perez does?
I love watching movies, especially if they are autobiographical literature, taken to the movie. I am an avid movie buff and I think the so-called Arte 7 is very good to expand the cultural knowledge of people.
Current Projects that occupy the artistic talent
I am immersed in an exhibition that I want to take to Havana and in 2013 I have planned to make an art exhibition in Havana, one of the galleries with my work and that commercialized and started to prepare the work for FIART 2012 that will be next December. Right now finished Expocuba and participate in the Trade Fair "Art for Mom" and the results were positive and rewarding.
The living room reveals a big picture with the painting of a clown sitting on a chair. This line has been explored and worked by Pereda Perez in yuor presentations. Why choose this subject?
The curator Tony Ceoanes, proposed an exhibition at Domingo Rabane Gallery and, "History of the chairs", a work relied on the song by Silvio Rodriguez, but giving life to the chairs, where they assume human positions.
And the clowns?
That was the idea of Osmar Reyes, he was immersed in an exhibition on clowns and asked me to do something. I thought a thousand times because I hate clowns, but rather, things that have life, I like nine or ten clowns and two-person with Osmar was a success.
Satisfied with the work as an artist
I'm never satisfied, always think I can give more than me and I put my work goals.
So something is done?
Yes, I need to do a giant. The greatest thing I have in boxes measuring approximately 1.70 by 1.75 and Eduardo Abela was the prize in 2000, but still small for what I do. Osmar Reyes said that a painter paints pictures done when large. Imagine I´m twenty years and still can not paint that picture.
George Lucas Pereda Perez, left open the possibility of a new meeting, to learn from his successes coming in the art of painting and enjoy his voice as a member of the cultural project "Sweet Chimera" in the next presentation of the famous ariguanabense group.