Visual Art

‘Celia Cruz: Work’ At MDC’s Museum of Art And Design Recognizes Singer’s Labors of Love

Written By Miguel Sirgado
January 29, 2025 at 4:39 PM

The Museum of Art and Design at Miami Dade College presents “Celia Cruz: Works,” an exhibition showcasing personal items, memorabilia, and documentation of the singer’s extraordinary life and career, at MDC’s Hialeah Campus Art Gallery. Open to the public through Saturday, Feb. 15, the exhibition features local memorabilia, too. (Photo by World Red Eye/courtesy of MOAD)

If there’s any doubt of the cultural impact Celia Cruz has had over the past century, consider the following: In 1994, Cruz received the National Medal of Arts from President Bill Clinton, the highest artistic honor in the United States—a testament to her unparalleled influence. Throughout her illustrious career, she earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and honorary doctorates from Yale University and the University of Miami. Most recently, Cruz was immortalized on the U.S. Mint’s 2024 American Women Quarters™, becoming the first Afro-Latina featured in the series, which celebrates trailblazing women who have shaped the nation’s history and inspired future generations.

Celebrated not only for her immense artistic talent and moral stature, Cruz stands as a powerful symbol of the immigrant experience, representing a story of unrelenting success and resilience. Exiled from Cuba in 1960, the “Queen of Salsa” tirelessly carried the vibrant essence of Cuban culture to the world’s grandest stages, a poignant tribute to the homeland she forever held in her heart.

Visitors to MDC’s Hialeah Art Gallery look at an array of posters celebrating Celia Cruz’s concerts, collaborations, and a documentary film about her life. (Photo by World Red Eye/courtesy of MOAD)

In celebration of the centenary of Celia Cruz’s birth, the Museum of Art and Design at Miami Dade College presents “Celia Cruz: Work,” an exhibition showcasing personal items, memorabilia, and documentation of her extraordinary life and career. On display through Saturday, Feb. 15, the exhibition has been curated in collaboration with the Celia Cruz Foundation.

Amy Galpin, the executive director and chief curator of the Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) at Miami Dade College, says that the museum, usually based in downtown Miami’s Freedom Tower building is currently closed for repair, but that the stars lined up for the Cruz exhibition.

“. . .Everything aligned perfectly when the Hialeah Gallery became available for us to create a project there. With the timing of this exhibition, it felt like fate: January 2025 marks 100 years of the Freedom Tower, 100 years since Celia Cruz’s birth, and 100 years of the city of Hialeah,” says Galpin.

An Honor In Hialeah

For Omer Pardillo Cid, executor of the Celia Cruz Estate and director of the Celia Cruz Foundation, the idea of linking the three centennials was truly inspiring. It offered a unique opportunity to honor a Cuban icon in the heart of Hialeah, a city that is home to a large community of Cuban exiles and the site of countless performances by the performer.

“When I saw the space at the MDC Hialeah Campus, I loved it,” shares Pardillo. “I was captivated by the building and its educational mission. It also brought to mind something Celia used to say to me all the time: ‘Who doesn’t have an aunt in Hialeah?’”

The entertainment world welcomed Cruz with reverence typically reserved for royalty. Despite numerous challenges, she faced them with determination, always with a smile and sharing her joy. She never allowed adversity to break her spirit—not even when the Cuban government denied her entry to the island in 1961. That affront prevented her from saying goodbye to her mother, who passed away that same year.

Among the pieces on the show, the exhibition features a ceremonial key presented to Celia Cruz by the mayor of Hialeah in 1981. (Photo by World Red Eye/courtesy of MOAD)

Galpin explains that she tries to explore a unique perspective or lens for each of her projects, and this time she was drawn to the idea of work and labor—not just in the context of Cruz, but also for all pop stars, singers, and legendary icons of music, dance, and art.

“We often admire their stage personas and the glamour they project, but behind the scenes, there is immense effort: planning, rehearsals, and countless hours of hard work. Reading Cruz’s autobiography, ‘My Life’, I was struck by how tirelessly she toured, her devotion to her fans, and the sheer number of albums she recorded. This labor of love felt like an interesting angle to explore in the exhibition,” says Galpin.

Among the show’s pieces, the exhibition features three iconic dresses, shoes, wigs, and such unique memorabilia as a ceremonial key presented to Celia Cruz by the mayor of Hialeah in 1981. “This key serves as a symbolic centerpiece, tying the exhibit together. Also included is a maquette of an unbuilt sculpture by William Carmona honoring Celia, as well as an array of posters celebrating her concerts, collaborations, and a documentary film about her life. Each piece reflects her extraordinary legacy,” says Galpin.

The dresses on display are particularly special. One striking black dress was worn by Cruz at Lincoln Center in New York City in 1996. Another standout is a stunning red poncho-style dress, designed by Julio Chávez, which she donned for the VH1 Divas tribute honoring Aretha Franklin in 2001.

The exhibition shows Celia Cruz’s connection to Miami and MOAD’s home, the Freedom Tower. Her wake was held there at her request. She also performed ‘Por si acaso no regreso’ on the steps of the Freedom Tower in 2001. (Photo by World Red Eye/courtesy of MOAD)

“The show is a collaboration with the Celia Cruz Foundation. They treasured hundreds of dresses and other items and ephemera. We worked with the space we have and we thought about how we can highlight different facets of Celia’s life. What will grab the visitor’s attention? What do we want students to take away from this project? And so, we asked the foundation for something specifically tied to Hialeah. For example, she received a number of public proclamations from the city,” explains Galpin.

Appealing To An Audience

Galpin says that they hoped to accomplish two things: To make the story local and to connect with MDC Hialeah students.

“That’s our primary audience here. On the day of the opening, we welcomed hundreds of students, and there’s nothing more meaningful than to touch the lives of our students,” says the curator.

Memory is at the heart of the exhibition. Cruz evokes powerful memories for so many— of family gatherings, parents, grandparents, and shared cultural traditions. Her music transcends culture, nationality, and even time, resonating across generations.

“Let’s be honest, achieving that kind of timeless relevance is no small feat. Only a handful of musicians and performers manage to leave such an enduring impact,” says Galpin.

In the MOAD exhibition is a maquette of an unbuilt sculpture by William Carmona honoring Celia Cruz. (Photo by World Red Eye/courtesy of MOAD)

Galpin shares that while recently visiting the Dominican Republic, she witnessed a young deejay mixing Cruz’s music with contemporary dance tracks. “It was a striking reminder of how relevant she remains, even today.

Per Galpin’s account, a significant reason for this exhibition is Celia’s connection to the Freedom Tower. “Her wake, held there at her request, drew 75,000 Miamians—a testament to her immense influence. She also performed ‘Por si acaso no regreso’ on the steps of the Freedom Tower in 2001. That performance is particularly poignant, as the song encapsulates the themes of Cuba, memory, and longing. Remarkably, it was the only and the last time she ever performed that song live for an audience, making it a moment forever tied to both her legacy and the Freedom Tower,” says Galpin.

Also highlighted in the exhibition is the way Celia Cruz embodies the immigrant experience in a highly visible way. “Her story exemplifies the exceptionalism and indomitable spirit of immigrants, showcasing how perseverance and talent can overcome adversity,” says Galpin.

As the 100th anniversary of the Freedom Tower approaches, MOAD has been documenting stories of migration to create an archive that celebrates the immigrant experience. This includes not only migrants but also those born in Miami who connect deeply with these narratives.

Highlighted in the exhibition is the performer’s legacy representing resilience and determination, standing as a transcendent figure who had everything in her homeland but was forced into exile, starting anew from nothing. (Photo by World Red Eye/courtesy of MOAD)

“Through this work, we’ve heard countless stories from people of Ecuadorian, Peruvian, and other backgrounds who remember Cruz’s wake at the Freedom Tower—a moment that underscored her profound impact on the immigrant community. Celia’s ability to use joy as a form of resilience and survival is a testament to her strength. Her music embodies joy as both resistance and a lifeline, resonating deeply with immigrants and their shared experiences of overcoming hardship,” says Galpin.

Reaching Across Generations

The exhibit also features a 20-minute documentary originally made for the Smithsonian, showcasing excerpts from songs like “La Vida es un Carnaval,” “Quimbara,” and others. Additionally, a four-stop audio guide was created to enhance the visitor experience. The guide includes snippets of iconic songs such as “Por si acaso no regreso” and “Cuando salí de Cuba.”

“On the opening day, I realized that most of the young people present were probably not even born when Celia passed away. It was incredible to see their reactions—like when they commented in amazement about her wearing multiple wigs or looked at her dresses and said, ‘This is so retro!’ For example, one remark stood out about a red fringed dress, with a young woman exclaiming, ‘I would totally wear that!'” shares Pardillo Cid.

Among the pieces on the show, the exhibition features three iconic dresses, two wigs, and a pair of her iconic custom-made shoes. (Photo by World Red Eye/courtesy of MOAD)

Pardillo Cid says that the exhibition is a testament to how Cruz’s legacy endures not only through her music but also through her visual and cultural impact.

I’m thrilled that new generations can discover and admire a figure who truly transcended her time,” he says.

WHAT: “Celia Cruz: Work”

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Through Saturday, Feb. 15.

WHERE: MDC’s Hialeah Campus Art Gallery, 1780 West 49th St., Hialeah

COST: Free

INFORMATION: (305) 237-7700 or moadmdc.org/exhibitions

ArtburstMiami.com is a nonprofit media source for the arts featuring fresh and original stories by writers dedicated to theater, dance, visual arts, film, music and more. Don’t miss a story at www.artburstmiami.com.

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