This post originally appeared on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s blog. That blog has since been deleted, but the original context is viewable on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

First and foremost, I’d like to thank the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for hosting this blog. As a museum of contemporary installation art with a heavy focus on creative process, the Mattress Factory approaches most things as experimental undertakings. Such is the case with this blog, Viajes Artisticos (translated to mean Artistic Travelers).

This coming Monday, a group of six representitives from the museum will make our way to Cuba, by way of Toronto, to attend the opening reception for a new exhibition called Queloides/Keloides. The exhibit will run at Havana’s Centro Wifredo Lam through May 31, at which time several artists will travel to Pittsburgh to work in-residence and create new work at the Mattress Factory. Queloides/Keloids will open in Pittsburgh on October 8th. I’ll post a detailed entry specifically about the show (subject matter, artists, partner organizations, etc.) this weekend.

During the week we’re in Cuba, we’ll also meet with artists and visit artists’ studios. Of course, we also have plans to take in some of the sights and sounds the city of Havana has to offer. Rest assured, we’re legit and traveling with all the necessary stamps of approval from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. I’m really excited to share this journey with you, and I hope to post at least once a day during the trip. The posts will probably resemble journal entries – loose and informal – because that’s generally how I roll.

I understand internet connectivity in Havana is reliable, but slow. Sending text-based journal-style entries will be technically possible. Including large files such as photos or video in posts will most likely be impossible. I’ll do what I can while I’m there and follow up upon my return with content I was unable to publish. I’ll also post to Twitter when I’m able, so if you fancy shorter blasts of artistic info make sure to keep your eye on that stream as well.

Thanks in advance for reading. I’m looking forward to documenting our journey and sharing our experience with you here on Viajes Artisticos. Hasta Mañana!