The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa’s restaurant, deseo, is showcasing the work of Cuban artist, Nelson Garcia-Miranda. Exiled from his homeland, resident artist Nelson Garcia-Miranda creates works of art live in the deseo lounge.
After seeking political exile from Cuba in 1999, Garcia-Miranda relocated in Phoenix. Being away from his native land has made him more aware of his cultural heritage which he depicts in his work in a style that he calls, “cubanidad.” Rich in color and complex in theme, Garcia-Miranda’s paintings embody the tales of the Cuban countryside, bringing 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.
Garcia-Miranda was born in 1947 in the town of Holguín, He 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. Garcia-Miranda describes his work as, “My paintings are like engravings”.
The artist worked as a steward for the Resort and is now part of the deseo culinary team. He 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 can be an eye opener for local artists interested in how to visually represent the mythological heritage of their own land.
Garcia-Miranda’s work compliments the décor of deseo perfectly, as the restaurant is a celebration of Latino cuisine and culture. The combination of art and cuisine has created a new trend at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa and has created a desire for Nelson’s non-traditional art, including votives, champagne flutes and wine glasses that bring the two together. Guests can watch as Garcia-Miranda brings life and color to a blank canvas, easily creating wonderful works art during deseo’s Unwind Hour Tuesday through Saturday. The combination of live art that guests can interact with all while enjoying Muddle Drinks and enticing appetizers in deseo’s Muddle Bar creates a new trend for those looking to dine out.
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.
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; 183,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space; eight food and beverage venues; a full-service spa and fitness studio; an elaborate water park including a water slide and lazy river ride; Westin Kids Club®; and the 27-hole Kierland Golf Club. As an added benefit, The Westin Kierland is adjacent to Kierland Commons, one of the hottest shopping and dining districts in the Valley.
For more information:
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
480-624-1000
www.kierlandresort.com
Scottsdale:
Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau
4343 N. Scottsdale Road, Ste. 170
Scottsdale AZ 85251
480-421-1004
www.scottsdalecvb.com
Phoenix:
Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau
400 E. Van Buren, Ste 600
Phoenix, AZ 85004-2259 602-254-6500
www.visitphoenix.com
Arizona:
http://arizonatourism.com/
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