Contact: Michelle Raczynski
MarketingCommunications Specialist
National Society of Hispanic MBAs
Work: (214) 596-9338 ext. 225
mraczynski@nshmba.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Xavier Cortada named “Official Artist” for the 14th Annual Conference and Career Expo in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, November 6-8, 2003

IRVING, TEXAS, October 28, 2003—The National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) is pleased to announce that Xavier Cortada, Miami artist, MBA and lawyer, will be the “Official Artist” of the 2003 Conference and Career Expo, which will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (November 6-8, 2003).

“Art is an integral part of the Hispanic cultural experience and it is an aspect that we want to recognize in our conference. We believe that Xavier Cortada’s work captures the spirit and emotions that impact so many,” explained Dr. Edwin Garcia, chief executive officer of NSHMBA

Cortada’s mural, “”We’re in the Same boat”, 60″ x 192″, mixed media on canvas, 2001, will be on display at the conference. The piece was coordinated by Hands On Miami. It is composed of four panels. The mixed media mural was created from stories, drawings, photos and poems by the senior citizens of both the Hispanic and Haitian communities.

“I am happy to present the ‘We’re in the Same Boat’ mural during this year’s NSHMBA conference. The mural addresses community relations by exploring those things that we have in common. This is a valuable lesson for all — especially for those in business, who understanding your client and developing strong relationships are what matter most in achieving success,” said Xavier Cortada.

Xavier Cortada has exhibited his works in museums, galleries, and cultural venues around the world and has pioneered the use of the Internet in collaborative art-making. The Miami-based Cuban-American artist, attorney, and activist has worked collaboratively with diverse groups across the United States, Latin America, Europe and Africa to create pro-social community murals and participant-driven art projects. Cortada has been commissioned to create murals for The White House, The World Bank, The Florida Capitol, HBO, Hershey’s, Nike, Global Health Council, International AIDS Conferences (XII & XIII), Miami-Dade County Juvenile Courthouse, Miami-Dade Art in Public Places and Miami Art Museum.

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