Fiesta de Santa Maria

Fiesta de Santa Maria

With food vendors and stories to share, the Fiesta de Santa Maria hosted by the Amelia Island Museum of History and Fernandina Farmers Market returns this month.

BY MANDY HAYNES • PHOTOS BY SHERRY CARTER

On Saturday, September 18, the Amelia Island Museum of History is hosting its third annual Fiesta de Santa Maria. The festival, in conjunction with the Fernandina Farmer’s Market, runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Pineland Bank parking lot on Centre Street.

The festival will celebrate Amelia Island’s Spanish roots with performances by Royal Amelia Dance Academy and Ballroom on Amelia as well as live Caribbean and Flamenco music by Dennis Fermín. Vendors will be offering delicious food, and stories will be shared to raise awareness of Fernandina Beach’s colorful and interesting history.

One tale that’s sure to be told is the story of Cuban revolutionary José Martí, who stayed at the Florida House Inn in the spring of 1893. Martí, a writer, poet, diplomat, painter, and journalist, was planning an invasion of his native Cuba to free it from Spanish rule and he amassed his ships in the Fernandina harbor.

In addition to the Fiesta de Santa Maria, the Amelia Island Museum of History will present a one-of-a-kind Cuban Art Exhibit from Baracoa, Cuba’s oldest city, which is connected historically to Fernandina Beach.

Why art from Baracoa? Well, I’m glad you asked because it’s a fantastic story! I met with Dr. Berta Isabel Arias at the Florida House Inn because I thought it would be a great place for a photograph. I also thought it would be a great place for a glass of lemonade and a quick chat about Fiesta de Santa Maria, but once Berta started talking about the upcoming art exhibit, I forgot all about the lemonade!

“While I was in Baracoa a few years ago doing research, I was a celebrity of sorts because I live in Fernandina. Fernandina is revered as the city where José Martí, Cuba’s hero during the Spanish American War, put together his Fernandina Plan and secured arms and supplies destined to land in the eastern part of Cuba to support the fight for independence from Spain.

“On my trip to Cuba, I met so many talented artists. They became friends, and I’m excited and honored to share their stories along with their art with everyone here in Fernandina Beach. On September 17, I’ll be giving a lecture at the Museum of History that will address Fernandina’s unique connection to Baracoa, as well as sharing some beautiful art,” says Berta.

José Martí

Given the current state of affairs between Cuba and the U.S., it is impossible to obtain original pieces of art from Baracoa, but that didn’t stop Berta. Working with Museum staff, she came up with the idea of creating posters of their art to display. The Exhibit of posters consists of 34 original 2-D and 3-D works of art that showcase a diversity of themes and styles.

Twenty-one Cuban artists overcame many obstacles to make this show happen. In Cuba, there is no reliable Internet or access to the latest smart phone to take photos of your work. In order to take the high-resolution photographs needed for the posters, the artists shared one camera. And with the gasoline shortage in Cuba, that meant travelling by foot or bicycle from house to house to get the photographs. And finding reliable Internet service to get those files to Berta was another issue. But despite those hurdles, the artists remain very excited about the project.

“Local Fernandina Beach artists have volunteered to judge and award monetary prizes from donations to their top choices. This will mean so much to the artists living in Baracoa, who have no way to share their work outside of Cuba. The exhibit will continue at the museum through November,” says Berta.

There will be a Donor Reception and Pre-Opening Cuba Art Exhibit on Friday, September 17 at the Amelia Island Museum of History from 4:00 to 5:45p.m., followed by “The Fernandina- Cuba Connection” lecture by Dr. Berta Isabel Arias. The Cuba Art Exhibit will be on display at the Museum from September 17 through November 30.