Kierland Resort - 2007 - Nelson Garcia Art Expedition at deseo

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Nelson Garcia Art Expedition at deseo
Feb 14, 2007

DESEO AT THE WESTIN KIERLAND RESORT & SPA SHOWCASES ARTWORK OF RENOWNED CUBAN ARTIST
Exiled from his Homeland, Nelson Garcia-Miranda also works as a Steward for the Resort

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Feb. 14, 2007) The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa’s signature restaurant, deseo, has transformed into an art gallery, showcasing the work of Cuban artist and resort associate, Nelson Garcia-Miranda.

Garcia, who works as a steward for the property, came to Phoenix in 1999 after seeking political exile from Cuba. Displacement has made him more aware of his cultural heritage which he depicts in his work in a style called, “cubanidad.”

Rich in color and complex in theme, Garcia-Miranda’s paintings embody the tales of the Cuban countryside, brining to visual representation fables and stories of cagüeiros (sorcerers who become animals), and güijes (Cuban goblins). His work is saturated with the exuberance of the tropics as his vibrant use of color may be read as visual representations of poly-rhythmic Cuban music, also conveying the forceful light of the Caribbean meridian.

Born in 1947 in the town of Holguín, Garcia-Miranda graduated from the Escuela Nacional de Instructores de Arte and later obtained a Masters degree in painting and engraving. He taught these disciplines from 1965 to 1990, founding during these years the “Taller de Grabado” (engraving workshop) in his hometown.

The artist, who works as a steward for the resort, joins the hundreds of Cuban painters and sculptors, who have found their way to other lands, where they can affirm their faith in uncompromising aesthetic expressions. His work is an eye opener for local artists interested in how to visually represent the mythological heritage of the state of Arizona.

In a twist of fate, Garcia-Miranda’s work compliments the décor of deseo perfectly, as the restaurant is a celebration of Latino cuisine and culture. Inspired by James Beard Award-winning Chef Douglas Rodriguez, deseo features a 10-item ceviche menu and a muddle bar, where cocktails are created in the style of the traditional Cuban drink, the mojito. Upon descending into deseo via the restaurant’s dramatic, candle-lined staircase, guests find awaiting their arrival a lively and passionate dining experience where pulsating Latin music fills the air and a seductive ambiance of reds and greens sets a mood for excitement.

About deseo
deseo, located at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, offers a passionate and lively dining experience like no other in Arizona. Showcasing imaginative Latin-influenced cuisine, deseo’s menu features a distinctive and skillfully blended combination of flavors to create dishes that are bold and intriguing. The innovation continues at the Muddle Bar where exotic cocktails are created by smashing together the freshest of fruits and herbs by using a wooden mallet called a “muddle” to release their intense flavors. Behind deseo’s inventive concept and menu development is James Beard Award-wining Chef Douglas Rodriguez, widely-regarded as the inventor of Nuevo Latino Cuisine. For reservations on more information, please call 480-624-1030.

About The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is a four-diamond resort located in the heart of Scottsdale, Arizona. The resort features 732 rooms, 55 suites and 32 casitas; 175,000 square-feet of indoor and outdoor function space; eight food and beverage venues; a full-service spa and; an elaborate water park; Westin Kids Club®; and the 27-hole Kierland Golf Club. As an added benefit, The Westin Kierland is adjacent to and a short walk from Kierland Commons, one of the hottest shopping and dining districts in the Valley. For more information about The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa please visit www.kierlandresort.com or call 480-624-1000.

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