CUBA!

VICTORIA BLEWER CUBA!

July, 2015

Frog Hollow Presents

CUBA! Photographer Victoria Blewer Explores the Time Capsule that is Cuba.

Burlington, VT – Frog Hollow, the Nation's First State Craft Center presents a new body of work by photographer Victoria Blewer.

All photographs in this exhibit are professionally printed by Cone Editions, which uses only archival and eco-friendly inks and paper. The edition size is 15 prints unless indicated otherwise.

Introduction I had always wanted to visit Cuba. Its appeal? The old cars. The retro architecture and signage. And the fact that travel there was forbidden by our government. Isn’t forbidden fruit the sweetest?

Of course, the US trade embargo and travel restrictions made it difficult to get there. An American had to fly there via Canada or Mexico.

Only in 2008 did our relations slowly start thawing. That year President Obama eased the restrictions on Cuban Americans sending money to relatives in Cuba, and started allowing Cuban Americans to visit their relatives there. In 2011 and 2012, he loosened some of the constraints on travel.

In the summer of 2014, when I saw that the International Center for Photography had a group traveling to Cuba, I signed up right away.

I traveled to Miami on December 2, 2014, and flew the next day on an American Airlines jet to Havana – and my love affair with Cuba took root.

Cuba is an amazing time capsule. The 1950’s cars were gorgeous – and a point of pride for their owners. I have spent decades seeking precisely this sort of funky subject matter in America, and so Cuba is a visual paradise. Though the cars are gas-guzzlers and some are held together by duct tape, they are a delight to photograph. The older buildings in Havana are an ornate world of stone porticos and statuary; the iron and grillwork is spectacular.

Cuba is an amazing time capsule. The 1950’s cars were gorgeous – and a point of pride for their owners. I have spent decades seeking precisely this sort of funky subject matter in America, and so Cuba is a visual paradise. Though the cars are gas-guzzlers and some are held together by duct tape, they are a delight to photograph. The older buildings in Havana are an ornate world of stone porticos and statuary; the iron and grillwork is spectacular.

Sadly, many of the buildings are crumbling and unsafe.

I knew after my first trip had ended that I had to return – and I had to return soon.

The President made his historic announcement about reopening American relations with Cuba days after I arrived back in the U.S. in December. I wanted to photograph the island nation as it had been for the past fifty years, to capture this moment before progress races in and transforms it permanently.

And so in April 2015, I returned.

Outwardly, little had changed. But when I spoke with my new Cuban friends, instead of expressing their desire to see the embargo end, they were discussing instead their hopes for tomorrow – and a world without either Castro in power. I sensed some trepidation about progress coming to the island too fast, but mostly they were hopeful about their future – and their children’s future.

I share those hopes. May these images reflect the magic of the island nation before the next revolution.

- Victoria Blewer, June 2015

Apple Decal 13 ¼” x 20”, unframed/framed $650./$750

Fortune Teller 13 ¼” x 20”, unframed/framed $650./$750.

There were about seven fortunetellers lined up along the wall waiting to tell people what is in their future. Most of the women were smoking cigars.

Red Chevy

Havana, 13 ¼” X 20”, unframed/framed $650./$750

It was a slow day at the barber shop. The barber really wanted to cut our tour leader’s unruly hair.

Barber Santiago de Cuba. 20” x 13 ¼", unframed/framed $650./$750

Sweet Ride out side of Havana, 20” x 15”, unframed/framed $650./$750.

Woman on Balcony Havana, 13 ¼” x 20”, unframed/framed $650./$750.

Trapped, each image is 9 ¾” x 9 ¾” in a 60” x 16” matted and framed $1700

Two Toned Chevy, 13 ¼” x 20”, unframed/framed $650./$750.

Interior,Havana Apartment 13 ¼” x 20”, unframed/framed $650./$750.

Tobacco Farmer out side of Havana, 20” x 13 ¼”, unframed/framed $650./$750.

Eagle and Swan, 14” x 20”, unframed/framed $650./$750.

I loved seeing the retro ornaments. Someone decided to put two together. I thought it made a nice combination.

Boy with Ice Cream, Havana, 13 ¼” x 20” unframed/framed $650./$750.

I fell in love with this little guy. He was barely able to contain his joy. In Cuba where the average monthly salary is the equivalent of $25. to $35., an ice-cream cone is a very special treat.

Blue Fin out side of Havana, 13 ¾” x 20”, unframed/framed $650./$750.

Mike the Boxer Havana, 20” x 13 ¼”, unframed/framed $650./$750.

Red Car Parts, Series of three images from next three pages. Each image is 14 ½” x 9 ½” in a 60” x 16” matted and framed $1600

My heart went out to this man carrying his old dog. It is so clear he loves his dog.

Man with Dog 20 x 13 Ÿ�, unframed/framed $650./$750.

The guitarist was tuning his guitar as we passed by. He was deeply concentrating at the task at hand. Later, I passed by and he was playing to a small crowd

Blind Guitarist out side of Havana, 20” x 13 ¼”, unframed/framed $650./$750.

Two Boys, Baracoa, Cuba, 20” x 13 ¼”, unframed/framed $650./$750.

Cruising Havana, 15” x 20 ¾”, unframed/framed $650./$750.

Frog Hollow Vermont State Craft Center 85 Church Street Burlington, Vermont 802.863.6458

www.froghollow.org