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The potters of art also have their day; This is why on February 18th, remembering the date that marks the birth of Olga Alonso, joy and celebration become reality for those who, from artistic instruction, not only cultivate, also give their knowledge to our amateur artists, turning them In better human beings and in excellent professionals.

Such is the case of Yonnier Torres Rodríguez; Professor and instructor of literature at the University of Informatics Sciences, who recently received the 2017 Calendar Award in the category of poetry. With responsibility and dedication, this young man tries to mold the seed of vocation for the letters and to sprout from the hard rock: a beautiful flower:

- The Origin ... The Path of Art Instruction

- I'm not a graduate of an art school, or an art instructor school. I studied sociology at the University of Havana and when I graduated and came to work for the university of Informatics  as a philosophy professor of  a school, I could not imagine that with the paths of life or the mysteries of destiny, I would become a literary instructor.

- Why did you dedicate yourself, as a professional, to this activity?

- If there is a reason, that today I dedicate myself to literary instruction, it is - as Jose Lezama Lima said - the concurrent chance. At the University I joined the literary workshop, I gradually formed as a writer and  at the first opportunity, from a call of a vacancy at  the Cultural Center, I got on the boat and with the help and support of the other instructors I learned the Vericuetos of the profession.

- How do you personally interpret the word instructor?

- Being an instructor means  a great responsibility, you have in your hands  the intentions and the will of a group of students, professors and workers who share a common element: the passion for reading and writing. The fact of being an instructor puts you in the front line  of an unparalleled spectacle, makes you a puppet and puppeteer of the professional growth of those who, once a week, come seeking advice, support, understanding and shared experience.

- The word art?

- Art is not only a way of life, it is a way to follow, a way of being, doing, and thinking.

- How did you deal with this great community? What were your challenges?

- The daily challenge is to encourage  the community the habit of reading, the passion for books, in an environment where technology offers us a wide range of cultural offerings, instruments for leisure and entertainment. We worked for cultural growth, rowed hard against the current and survived the storm of banal fun.

- Recognitions in your career?

- The main recognition is the achievements of the members of the workshop at the festivals of amateur artists, in the debates and in the various competitions, both local and national. Every award    of a workshop member  is also an instructor's recognition.

- What has the university  contributed to your  professional development?

- The university has been a key point, both for my training as a professor  and instructor, and for my training  in creative work. I still remember the first day that I approached the literary workshop with my first story; Since then it has rained a lot, but this institution  was the start, it was the twist and no doubt, will not be the end.

- How to reach a greater strengthening of the movement of amateur artists in the university?

- With greater dissemination and promotion. Although it seems incredible, there are students who reach the third or fourth year of the career , without knowing that there are workshops in all the demonstrations, that we have a theater room, a gallery or a dance hall.

- Art instructor or culture worker?

- A creator, a soldier of letters.

- Challenge as a professor  and / or as an artist?

- Trust each day in my talent and that of my students. Look at me in the mirror and say, "What the hell are you doing? Call my students and tell them: What the heck are you doing? Get down at once to write! ".