About the film

Call Me Waya is about an octogenarian, self taught “outsider” artist living in the small town of Remedios, Cuba. Despite his age, he is prolific, producing fantastical, childlike work that often incorporates found materials, a necessary approach reflecting the state of widespread scarcity in Cuba. The film shows much of Wayacón’s extensive body of work, his struggle with substance abuse, his volatile relationship with his family, and the role of Sandra Levinson of the Center for Cuban Studies in bringing Cuban art to the United States and beyond.

Call Me Waya trata sobre un artista octogenario, autodidacta y “outsider” que vive en la pequeña ciudad de Remedios, Cuba. A pesar de su edad, Wayacon es prolífico produciendo obras fantásticas y naif que a menudo incorporan materiales que va encontrando a su paso, lo cual es necesario en el contexto de escasez generalizada en Cuba. La película muestra gran parte de la extensa obra de Wayacón, su lucha contra la adicción a sustancias, y la relación volátil con su familia. El film también destaca el papel de Sandra Levinson, del Centro de Estudios Cubanos, en la difusión del arte cubano en los Estados Unidos y el mundo.

About Wayacon

Julian Espinosa Rebollido is a Cuban "primitive/outsider" artist commonly known as Wayacón. As an outsider artist, he has not had formal training, does not create for a particular audience, and often uses non-traditional or found materials. He has spent most of his life between the towns of Remedios, Santa Clara and Cienfuegos. His home in Remedios is a living gallery of his art on the outskirts of a small colonial town. He is surrounded by his dog, cat, chickens and his goat. He loves his garden and rarely leaves his home. He has always created art and does not recall a time when he did not. He often works at night and sleeps little. He reports not having schooling past third grade. Wayacón's birth year has been debated to be somewhere between 1931 and 1941, contributing to his enigmatic presence.

About the director

Charles Abelmann’s career has been primarily in international development and leading schools. With the lens of an international educator, he now directs and produces documentary films. His first documentary, English Hustle, is part of the New Day Film Collection.

Charles Abelmann se ha centrado en el desarrollo internacional y la dirección de escuelas. Con la perspectiva de un educador internacional, ahora dirige y produce documentales. Su primer documental, English Hustle, forma parte de la Colección de New Day Films.