Final weekend: Cuban-born artist’s creative process on full view in solo exhibit at TCAC

In “To Sky,” an exhibit at Trinity Community Art Center, visitors are invited to not just observe but touch, feel and find their own stories in the many pieces of art throughout the Main Street space. 

A visual juxtaposition of the natural and manmade world, the work of Cuban-born Ricardo Labarca calls viewers to interact with a unique in-person experience of found objects and recycled materials from the artist’s environment and daily life. 

This is the last weekend to see Labarca’s work at TCAC.  

A visual artist who graduated from the prestigious San Alejandro National Academy of Fine Arts in Havana, Cuba, Labarca is deeply passionate about the environment and wildlife. He maintains an active artistic practice, participating in numerous art exhibitions, leading community projects and driving dynamic collaborations between various artistic genres.

In Labarca's work, an interesting connection is perceived between the physical and spiritual; the artist’s creativity and use of preservation and upcycling speaks to the viewer, sharing feelings and ideas on tradition, culture, sociology and anthropology. 

The experience of having lived on the outskirts of capital cities, where industrial development converges with untamed nature, has been a constant source of inspiration for the artist. 

In late 2023, Labarca embarked on a new chapter by moving to Centerport, where he’s made a home with his wife Emma and daughter Dorothy. This transition to a new country, with its new experiences and lifestyle, has marked the beginning of a new stage in his artistic and personal career. 

“To Sky” is on view at Trinity Community Art Center, 130 Main Street in Northport, Friday and Saturday, May 22 and 23 from 12 to 6pm and Sunday, May 24 from 11am to 4pm. Learn more about and connect with Labarca and his work here.