This is a bit more of the pieces I saw at the Ceramics Museum in Havana. This next group begins to give a feel for the lack of "things" in Cuba. Many ceramic artists have little or no access to the basic chemicals (not the lack of glazes on these pieces). As a result, many of them use oxides and firing methods to color their work.

A future post will deal with an artist I met at her studio in Camaguey, a city located in central Cuba. But, for now, let's get to the art, shall we?

This piece was a combination of a mural and a few three-dimensional pieces. 

I lived in Mexico for many years. A potter named Ken Edwards used iguanas as his trademark. This artist does the same thing, but takes it a little farther. I enjoy the whimsy of these three-dimensional creatures stalking the small, two-dimensional, more primitive bird painted onto the surface of the vessel.                

A lttle bit of glaze to accentate the octopus, then a matte surface as background. I'm beginning to wish I had taken notes regarding each photographed piece.     

This was quite a large piece, with a sgrafitto'ed design on it.  It has a wonderful rustic feel!                                                       

Damn the embargo! I could have bought this artist's work at a gallery in Havana la Vieja. But I was afraid it would be confiscated. You're allowed to bring in "art", but nothing of a touristic nature. Who decides? The customs agent. I didn't want to take a chance.                              

This is a large piece. I know it's difficult to tell the scale. I would say it was about 3 feet tall. It's also a vessel. The thumb is removeable so you can "use" the hand as a container. I think I looked at this piece a good long time because of the wonderful detailing the artist put into his figurative design.