"Humor from my Pen" Political Cartoons of Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo

(VENICE/May 16, 2011) The International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5, in conjunction with the Social Public Art Resource Center's (SPARC) 35th Anniversary Celebration: giving voice to art makers and building cultural bridges between communities, and Honorary Committee: Actors and Artists United for the Freedom of the Cuban 5 presents "Humor from my Pen", an exhibition of political cartoons by Gerardo Hernández Nordelo. The exhibit opens Saturday, June 4, and runs through Friday, June 17th at the Old Venice Jail Gallery, 685 N. Venice Boulevard, Venice, California and includes works by Politico's editorial Cartoonist and Illustrator, Matt Wuerker; and the creator of the nationally syndicated daily cartoon "La Cucaracha", Lalo Alcaraz.

Honorary Committee of Actors and Artists United for the Freedom of the Cuban 5 includes: Edward Asner, Jackson Browne, James Cromwell, Mike Farrell, Danny Glover, Ed Harris, Graham Nash, Susan Sarandon, Martin Sheen, Oliver Stone and others.

Opening night, June 4th from 7 to 10pm. Festivities include celebrating Gerardo's 46th birthday, and panel discussion with Judy Baca, Founder/ Artistic Director of SPARC, Emily Winters muralist and co-founder of the Venice Arts Council, and Carol A. Wells, Founder and Executive Director of the Center for the Study of Political Graphics. Alicia Jrapko, coordinator of the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5 will give an update on the Cuban 5.

Humor has accompanied Gerardo Hernández Nordelo since childhood. A great sense of responsibility, and sense of humor was always part of his philosophy of life. Even in the toughest moments, he has not given up the ability to laugh at adversity.

Gerardo is one of the Cuban Five political prisoners held in U.S. prisons since 1998. He is currently serving two life sentences at the U.S. Penitentiary in Victorville, California.

Gerardo, Ramón Labañino, Fernando Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero and René Gonzalez, internationally known as the Cuban 5, were accused of conspiracy to commit espionage. The US government never accused them of actual espionage, nor did it affirm that real acts of espionage had been carried out, as no classified document had been confiscated from the Five. Their actual mission in the United States was monitoring the activities of the groups and organizations responsible for terrorist activities against Cuba.

Event co-sponsors include: Aris Anagnos, James Cromwell, Ed Harris, Joe Perez and Susan Sarandon with support from the Venice Arts Council, KPFK, the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, Southern California Americans for Democratic Action, FILMS4Cuban5, the Los Angeles Coalition in Solidarity with Cuba, Local- SEIU United Service Workers West, James Beach, Canal Club, Danny's and ¡Sí Cuba! SoCal http://www.sicubasocal.org/en

For more information visit: www.thecuban5.org  or  www.sparcmurals.org or call (310) 822-9560 x 15.  Danny Glover comments on the Cuban 5 at 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuZRKUZX40U&feature=related

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BRINGING "HUMOR FROM MY PEN" TO YOUR CITY, PLEASE WRITE TO: [email protected]

www.thecuban5.org