The Cuban House of Spirits

"The artists José Parlá and Claudia Hilda, his wife, live in a former fire station in Fort Greene surrounded by memories of Cuba, which Parlá's ­family fled in 1970 and where ­Hilda lived until recently. "There's a lot of magical realism here, a big mix of Cuban traditions and religion," says Parlá, pointing to an icon of la Caridad del Cobre, the island's patron saint, in the kitchen. "We cannot move her!""

"Parlá, whose "Ciclos" series is on view at the Brooklyn Museum until March, bought the 1901 two-story building in 2008. For about 20 years, it had been the home of Spike Lee's production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, before it was purchased by the Japanese photographer ­Yasuo Ihara. "He was around 98 years old," says Parlá. "It's been this artistic environment, and, for years, I had my studio downstairs.""

"Except for the vast collection of Latin American vinyl records and tropical plants, the décor is sparse. Cuban art, including Parlá's own, takes up most of the wall space. One heavy sculpture, Robert ­Overby's Concrete Screen Door, which was carried up the stairs by eight guys, has particular significance to Parlá: "I have always had an affinity for doors because my guardian angel, Eleguá, represents beginnings, crossroads, and pathways.""

José Parlá and Claudia Hilda share a home in a former 1901 Fort Greene fire station filled with memories of Cuba. Parlá's family fled Cuba in 1970 and Hilda lived on the island until recently. The residence contains Cuban art, Latin American vinyl records, tropical plants, and an icon of la Caridad del Cobre. Parlá purchased the building in 2008 after it had housed Spike Lee's production company and later owned by photographer Yasuo Ihara. Parlá moved his studio to a Gowanus warehouse, renovated the upstairs spaces, enlarged skylights, and maintains meaningful objects such as Robert Overby's Concrete Screen Door tied to Eleguá.

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