José Martí Returns to Key West

On Monday, Jan 28, Cuban poet and revolutionary José Martí returns to life, and just as he did over 100 years ago, rides through the streets of Key West. Organized by The O, Miami Poetry Festival and The Studios of Key West, the recreation of Martí’s historic Key West ride commemorates the patriot’s 166th birthday.

Actor Ivan Lopez, outfitted as José Martí in a black suit and a moustache grown for the occasion, will ride Martí’s famous white steed, Bacanao, through the streets. Martí will begin his ride at 5 Brothers Coffee at 3pm, then proceed to the Cuban Martyr’s monument in the Cemetery at 3:30pm, followed by a stop at La Te Da at 4pm, reciting poems in English and Spanish along the way. Marti will conclude his ride at the San Carlos Institute at 4:30pm.

Born in Havana in 1853, José Martí spent most of his adult life in exile. He became a famous orator, known for his rousing speeches, which he delivered to invigorate and unite the exile groups that wanted to overthrow Cuba’s Spanish rulers. When he visited Key West, thousands of people would parade down Duval Street to hear him speak.

Many of his speeches were delivered from the balcony of La Te Da, which was then the home of Teodoro Perez, a cigar factory owner and friend of Martí. Thanks to the popularity of his speeches, the building came to be known as Marti’s Terrace, La Terraza de Martí, which eventually was shortened to La Te Da.

The public is invited to join Martí at any or all of the stops on his historic ride on Monday, Jan 28.

A celebration of Martí’s birthday, presented by the Key West Poetry Guild, follows at 6pm at the San Carlos Institute at 516 Duval Street.

José Martí’s historic ride is presented in conjunction with “How to take the words out of a poem,” the first-ever public retrospective of the O, Miami Poetry Festival, now on view at The Studios of Key West. Combining site-specific, cross-genre projects with poetry-in-public-space projects, O, Miami has produced over 400 events and projects over the course of their seven-year festival history in the Greater Miami area. “How to take the words…” documents the range and depth of their accomplishment with objects, photos, video and audio. The exhibition remains on view through January 28. For exhibition info and gallery hours, please visit www.tskw.org, or call 305-296-0458.

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