About Maria Amada
Maria Amada Ruz-Touset
Born on July 4th, 1965 in Santa Clara , Cuba. Heritage : Chinese on her father’s side, French , on her mother’s. Grew up in Cuba up until the age 18 influenced by both cultures at the same time as the Hispanic-African that predominates in the island. During her first seven years of life she was exposed to art materials and basic instructions by her father Dr. Raul Ruz-Gomez(pediatrician) who realized very early in her life that she had passion and sensibility for different art forms and introduced her to music, dance, painting, ceramics and photography as well as writing and English language.
Dr. Raul Ruz-Gomez
Last Painting
1990
In 2015 the artist became a student of Maestro Demetrio Alfonso, honored with the 2nd Prize of the Florence Biennial, Italy and a graduate of higher studies in Art from the San Alejandro Institute, Havana, Cuba. Demetrio despite his traditional career in art, has become an innovative artist through the use of recyclable materials. The teacher becomes the artist's mentor and makes her discover and openly find the style she was looking for. Under his guidance was born the series “Here…from another life”, a collection of 17 works in watercolors and ink. This Series was presented at Ida Gallery, Union City, NJ in January 2016 with great pride and success. From there, a path without pauses begins in the life of Maria Amada that leads her to create the series "Panteon", in acrylic on linen canvas, 13 pieces that represent Orishas in the Yoruba Religion, interesting works because of their roots, content and color. "Panteon" has not yet been presented to the public in its entirety, it was completed in 2018 and 3 pieces have been acquired by private collectors.
During 2019, curiosity for new techniques was born and Maria Amada created her oil paintings, (5 pieces), pastels on paper (6 pieces), and in 2020 some colored pencil drawings (6 pieces).
Maria Amada expresses a state of complete achievement and this is demonstrated in her constant promise never to leave art aside again. On May 30, 2020, her mentor, the great teacher Demetrio Alfonso, passed away. This moment only marks the beginning of her continuation in Honor of the Master.
Due to personal, financial and political reasons she found herself isolated from all that world for the past 35 years. Nevertheless; she kept her early works, sketches , ideas and poems almost as a forbidden, secret treasure that she brought to the the United States when she left Cuba in 1983. In her strive for a better life in a foreign country and after being accepted in the Architecture curriculum at NJIT, New Jersey, she resigns the opportunity to then pursue a shorter and less financially demanding career in the Health field an became a Registered Dental Hygienist. This made possible her comfortable contribution to her own family and together with her husband, to raise her two daughters, Amanda and Andrea, now 24 and 21 years old.
On October 2010, she re –encounters an old friend that introduces her to the world of art, again. She decides to bring her hidden treasure out into the public by participating in various shows with a group of known artists in the area of Hoboken under the Rotating Galleries. Since then, she has been maturing her work and abilities by receiving private instructions from the world known Cuban artist Carlos A. Rodriguez Cardenas, who has also helped her curate this coming event, her first Solo exhibition. On September 21st,2012 her dream is finally come true. Her Solo exhibition at Life is Beautiful Gallery, Hoboken, New Jersey. Owned by Cid Mendez, the old friend responsible for her return to this wonderful world of art, also, a self –taught Cuban artist.
“TRACES” is a series of events in her path through life. It reflects her life at it’s best but also at it’s worst. It is a representation of places and people that left a mark in her mind and heart. It is an homage to nature and humankind. In the artist’ s own words:
“ TRACES is my way of showing eternal gratitude for my sad, depressive, frustrating moments as well as for my happy and successful ones. TRACES is a living proof that I can express and communicate with my own ideas, beliefs, feelings and means. This exhibition is simply TRACES of my path to and through freedom. It is my hymn, my prayer and my forever wish for those that have been deprived of such privilege in life.”
During the following two years she was an active participant in fundraising for Breast Cancer Awareness, also with the National Association of Cuban American Women, presenting in both her art and donating to each cause from her proceeds.
On November 28th, 2014, a new opportunity opened when Omar Hekal and Guiseppe Cacioppo invited her to present her new series at their dance studio, Allegro Arts Academy, in Carlstadt New Jersey. This time she used heavy gel and acrylic paint on canvas. "UNFOLDING LIFE" is about human kind, plants, nature and its beauty, with a touch of spirituality. It is about all of us in contact with our surroundings. It is about the urgent need to protect our plants and animals so that they do not go extinct. It is about the importance of our roots and values. It is about the smell, the beauty, and sensuality of the flowers. It is a call to look into the eyes of the animals around us and find compassion within ourselves and toward them. It is embracing the arts, the music, and the sounds of nature. It is a call to never lose our hope, to elevate our prayers and to look deep into our hearts with eternal faith.
During her high school years an art program was started in her school, implemented by two Cuban artists: Andres, el Indio, and Rolando Serpa. She became very close to Serpa, probably because of the “anti-Castro” status they shared. He definitely had strong artistic influences on her. Serpa presently resides in Panama, Central America with his family where he continues to paint and sculpt. Even though their professor/student relationship only lasted 3 years; they established such a strong bond.
