Exile Hangout: Cuba
by Sampsonia Way / April 2, 2014 / No comments
In September 2013 a distinguished panel of Cuban writers including Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo (moderator), Lien Carrazana Lau, Danilo Maldonado Machado “El Sexto”, and Elena Victoria Molina spoke about Cuban Newrrative, an anthology of Cuban short stories published by Sampsonia Way.
About the Writers
Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo
Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo was born in Havana City and still resides and resists there, working as a free-lance writer, photographer and blogger. He is the author of Boring Home (2009) and is the editor of the independent opinion and literary e-zine Voces.
Lien Carrazana Lau
She is the webmaster of Liencarrazana.com and La China Fuera de la Caja. She holds a BS degree in San Alejandro Fine Arts Academy.
Danilo Maldonado Machado “El Sexto”
El Sexto is currently the most persecuted of Cuban artists. The political police have arrested him multiple times just to prevent him from creating his art on the walls of Havana. They have invaded his home and seized his artwork and cans of spray paint without any legal order and without filing charges. On more than one occasion they have ripped off his clothes, right in the street, to destroy his works, which honor recent Cuban political martyrs such as Laura Pollán and Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas. In response, El Sexto tattooed their images on his skin so that no one could erase them. He is committed to “bad-painting” and to the many technical innovations he thinks up. He loves throwing flyers out to crowds, as well as modifying the Revolutionary slogans on official posters and traffic signs.
Elena Victoria Molina
Elena V. Molina is a young filmmaker, writer and photographer from Havana. She is a member of the redaction team of the digital independent literary magazine 33 y 1/3 and has performed her literary stage acts in literary festivals and public readings. She is also the author of experimental short films, organizer of the independent film club DuMMY FuEra de cAMpo and a student at the Faculty of Audiovisual Media of the National Institute of Arts in Havana.
