The town of Playa Blanca has unveiled a new sculpture dedicated to the maritime tradition, with a figure modeled by the artist Cintia Machín and an old boat restored by the carpenter Luis Quintana.
The inauguration ceremony took place last Sunday in the small roundabout in the center of town, just a few meters from Playa Blanca beach, an area closely linked to the sea, where the efforts of southern sailors have allowed the development of the area.
The author of the work, Cintia Machín, emotionally reviewed her personal life experience and her conversations with the fishermen, which helped her sculpt the tribute. "It is a work that humanizes the public space and gives a sense of place, that refreshes the memory and connects more with the feeling of our people," she explains.
Also present at the event were the mayor of Yaiza, Óscar Noda, the town's parish priest, Jonathan Almeida, who blessed the work, as well as residents and several veteran southern fishermen, such as Blas Francisco Martín and Benigno Caraballo, who participated in the unveiling of the sculptural ensemble.
"The tribute to our maritime tradition through art has the virtue of personalizing. We have a nearby sculpture, art as a vehicle that reconciles us with the public space, that brings us closer to our community and the richness of our intangible heritage," the mayor highlighted.
For his part, the president of the Playa Blanca Fishermen's Association, Cristo Caraballo, expressed his emotion and happiness, saying that "it is a tribute that Playa Blanca and all the sailors and their families who today see their work recognized deserve."
Óscar Noda recalled that "fishing in Playa Blanca is artisanal and respectful of the natural environment, a fact that I want to emphasize when the world is calling for sustainability." And the City Council also wanted to highlight that fishing activity is the direct survival for about thirty families in Playa Blanca and an added value for the restaurant and tourism sector.
Finally, the mayor thanked Cinta Machín for her valuable artistic work and Councilor Rubén Arca for "his commitment so that the town could see this initiative completed."
