by Yosley Carrero
HAVANA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Located on the outskirts of the country's capital of Havana, the Artistic Laboratory of San Agustin (LASA) has found a new business model in e-commerce as businesses struggle to survive amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
First established in 2008 in Havana's San Agustin district, the community project gathers nearly 200 artists, carpenters, artisans, designers, and people from different circles who combine innovation and art during their daily working routine.
With the suspension of public activities due to the sanitary emergency, the creators started to use digital platforms to sell their products to Havana residents, including wooden chairs and tables as well as works of art for housing decoration.
At present, dozens of workers, abiding by physical distancing guidelines, continue to work at LASA's headquarters, which has already become a source of employment for locals living in the neighborhood.
Among them is 54-year-old Carlos Pomares, who feels lucky to have found a job near home amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.
"I have been working as a carpenter for more than 20 years. It is complex work. This is what I like to do," he told Xinhua during a five-minute break.
LASA provides Cuban state companies and families with different products, which are delivered to minimize the risk of contracting the virus.
In addition, the artists are transforming a vacant facility into a cultural and artistic center to be used by the community in a post-pandemic scenario, when lockdown restrictions in place are eased.
For Maria Esperanza Nunez, one of the founding members of LASA, the laboratory has not only transformed the urban space but also the mindset of people from the neighborhood of San Agustin.
A graduate in theater studies, her current work is to supervise clients' orders at the virtual store's warehouse.
"I was born and raised here," she told Xinhua. "LASA has very much changed the way people see art in San Agustin. The artists and the community have built a win-win relationship."
The creators in LASA were confident that the related measures adopted by the Cuban government could bring prosperity.
French curator Aurelie Sampeur, who founded the project with her husband Carlos Ariel Candelario, told Xinhua that she expected LASA to bring more changes to the island's cultural landscape through experimentation.
"I am living in a country where people recognize my work. I feel useful. We will continue promoting art for the benefit of people," she said.
At present, LASA members are also working at a farm covering 27 hectares of land, as part of an initiative combining local development, food production and artistic work.
"The artist should not be limited to galleries. There is a human being behind a creator. We will turn this land into an artistic work," said Ariel Candelario, director of LASA.
"We feel happy with what we are doing but not totally satisfied. To meet our goals, we need to continue working, at least for ten more years," he said. Enditem
