“I work in both wood and stone but wood is my primary medium. I feel as though wood is my first language. The diversity of color and variety of striations in the wood always speak to me. Every crack in wood is like a scar on a human body. It's like a drama to be told. My art embodies both abstract and figurative forms. Creating movement, balance, and harmony, I love to play with the visual dimensions of my pieces by creating lines that bring both shadow and light. These lines create flat surfaces that the eye can follow all throughout the sculpture. Texture is always there to complete the visual experience. My sculptures are made to be touched. Different surfaces create unique realities between the movement of the planes. This creates emotional expressions that I hope all viewers can feel.” Rusmel Mora is a Cuban born sculptor specializing in wood and stone carvings with an Afro-Cuban influence. Taking the roots of African culture and his Yoruba faith he translates expressions using language that everyone can understand. The emotions we all feel as human beings remain constant, but the stories we use to express them change with every generation and from each part of the world. Rusmel's creations play with shapes to convey these emotions, and he hopes he can leave those who view his art with a greater knowledge of the world and all those around us. Born and raised in Havana by his mother and grandparents Rusmel was exposed to art from birth by his grandfather, a commercial sculptor and painter. Realizing early on that art was his passion Rusmel started dedicating his spare time to carving and selling his pieces in local galleries. During his school years Rusmel was invited to join the group of José Fowler, under the direction of Cuban sculptor OsvaldoJancinto Llins. This group of artists exposed Rusmel to the national and international art world based in Havana. During his years in Cuba he was a member of many Cuban art associations, including Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales, and ACAA (Asociación Cubana de Artesansos y Artistas). After graduating from school, he became an art instructor at the Casa de la Cultura in Havana before coming to live in the United States with his mother and family in 2009. He has lived here in the U.S. for 9 years now, making Grand Rapids his home and selling works throughout the area from Detroit to Ludington.