For Immediate Release Sept. 8, 2005 - Los Angeles Art That Builds Friendship in a Politically Divided World First-Ever Display of Cuban and U.S. Collaboration at EpoxyBox in Venice, CA Artists Leading the Way Across the Political Divide. An annual international event called Shared Dreams 2005 brings together selected Cuban and U.S. artists. A groundswell of grassroots interaction is rising as American and Cuban artists build bonds of friendship and trust despite the long-standing U.S. government embargo against Cuba. Shared Dreams 2005 is a collection of unique artworks resulting from the collaboration of American and Cuban artists who shared their dreams of peace and friendship through art. This collection is unique in that it was designed and created solely through collaberation over the internet and exhibited in Havana before traveling to America. Premier: the fruits of this new cross-cultural collaboration. The West Coast premier of Shared Dreams 2005 will at the EpoxyBox Gallery in Venice, CA on October 14th. It will feature the entire original collection of Cuban and American art produced for the Conference in Havana, before heading off to Galleries in New York and Miami. Meet the Cuban Artists via Web Simulcast: The Cuban artists will be available for interview via Web Simulcast on October 14th from 5pm – 7pm. Shared Dreams is part of the 7th International Digital Design Conference held in Havana, and for the first time, the original art created for this exhibition will be shown here in the U.S.. The theme of this year’s event was, “Dreams of Peace”, and the resulting artwork provides a dramatic and passionate glimpse into the future of relations between the U.S. and Cuba. Political Differences Melt Away Behind The Smokescreen of the Embargo Through their art and design collaborations, the event participants have shown that their ideas about political and social awareness are strikingly similar. Despite the 40 year embargo by the U.S. government and the steadfast commitment by Fidel Castro to a communist regime in Cuba, the average person on the street in each country has a similar vision of what peace and security looks like for themselves and their families. MEDIA CONTACT: Larry Richard Phone: 310-228-3600 x212 Email: larry@2breakthrough.com