Isabel M. Estrada Portales
05/27/2005
| Bernardo Tapia, courtesy
of Omer Pardillo-Cid |
 |
| Cruz wearing a long dress during her performance
at Madison Square Garden, 1994. |
I wasn’t born here. Neither was she. I was born there where
she was prohibited, where we used to dance to her voice, without have
ever seen her.
I guess she was one of those ghostly matters that came to us from
a history only our parents knew about. But in every party you would
hear: “y volvió Celia a gritar ¡Azúcar!
No hay cama pa’ tanta gente.”
She was larger than life and larger than that Caribbean that separated
us. When she died, I somehow found time on those briefs and very expensive
minutes I speak with my mother, who lives in Havana, to mention that
Celia Cruz has died. “Celia?!” was my mother’s response
(scream, would be more accurate).
I guess the Cruz wasn’t necessary. She was Celia, and everybody
knew her, like a personal friend. Like there was only one Celia.
And to that Celia of ours the Smithsonian Institution is now devoting
a new exhibition: “Azúcar! The Life and Music of Celia
Cruz,” hosted at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of
American History.
Opened on May 18, Azúcar! explores the life and legacy of legendary
Cuban-born singer Celia (1924 - 2003) and her impressive career.
“Celia Cruz embodied the American Dream and the story of
her life and career will allow our visitors to explore the themes
of American identity and the many contributions Latinos have made
to American culture and popular music,” said museum director
Brent D. Glass.
Over the course of a career that spanned six decades and took her
from humble beginnings in Havana, Cuba, to a world-renowned artist
in the United States, Celia Cruz became the undisputed Queen of Latin
Music. Combining a piercing and powerful voice with a larger-than-life
personality and stage costumes, she was one of the few women to succeed
in the male dominated world of Salsa music.
Upon her death, she was celebrated around the world as the “Queen
of Latin Music” and the “Queen of Salsa.” Salsa
is music born in New York City of Cuban and other Afro-Latin mixed
musical genres. In her personification of Salsa, Cruz came to represent
all Latinos.
“Azúcar!” highlights important
moments in Cruz’ life and career through photographs, personal
documents, costumes, rare footage, music videos and music. The show
begins with her childhood and early appearances with the band, “La
Sonora Matancera,” in Cuba.
Among the dozen featured costumes is a dress from a 1950s performance
in Cuba and the dress she wore at her last public appearance, designed
by Narciso Rodriguez. The exhibition title is taken from her famous
rallying cry, “Azúcar” meaning sugar.
There will be a separate traveling version of the exhibition. |
