THE exposition "Me muero como viví" (I Will Die as I Have Lived), composed of 15 watercolors painted by Antonio (Tony) Guerrero, a decorated Hero of the Republic of Cuba, was inaugurated May 15 in the headquarters of Casa Maryland, a Latino community organization established in 1985, among the most important of its kind in the state.

In his welcoming remarks at the event, Gustavo Torres, executive director of the Casa, thanked the exposition organizers for having chosen the organization’s headquarters outside of Washington as the first location in which Tony’s watercolors have been exhibited within the United States.

During the inauguration, José R. Cabañas, head of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, noted the historical significance of the date, the anniversary of the day in 1955 when Fidel, Raúl and other participants in the Moncada Garrison assault were released from prison, as a result of popular pressure on the Fulgencio Batista dictatorship. Cabañas insisted that, just as was the case in that era, only pressure on the part of the public internationally, and particularly within the United States, will make it possible for Ramón, Gerardo, Tony and Fernando to return to Cuba.

The Cuban diplomat explained the significance of each of the 15 paintings, conceived by Tony in communication with his four imprisoned brothers, to portray 15 moments during the 16 months they spent in solitary confinement before their manipulated trial in Miami began. Cabañas described the technique Tony used and the extensive studies he completed prior to undertaking the project.

Cabañas also reported on important upcoming events organized by the International Committee for the Freedom of the Five, set to begin in Washington May 30. Attending the inauguration were young leaders of the Casa Maryland, members of the International Committee, representatives from several Latino U.S.-based organizations and diplomatic personnel from Cuba, Venezuela and El Salvador.

(Cubaminrex/Cuban Interests Section in Washington)