This week, SVA's Emma Drew wrote a blog post with some thoughts on our most recent trip to Cuba.
Filtering by Tag: Cuba
First exhibition in Eastern Europe
I'm working on my first exhibition in Eastern Europe: recent images from Cuba at the Kaunas Photo Festival.
Vilnius and Kaunas were the two most important cities for Jewish life in Lithuania. Before the Holocaust there were more than a quarter million Jews living in the country. Vilnius alone had over 150 synagogues - of which only one was spared destruction. My own family came from Poland and Belarus, neighboring countries to the south.
So on one level, this is a photographic journey. On another, it is a personal and sentimental journey as well. Grateful for the opportunity.
If I can find cheap tix, I'm on a plane to Lithuania next week!
Next stop Havana!
Packing bags for Cuba!
Our second SVA Destinations Digital Photography Workshop sold out once again and we're heading to Havana for a week of cultural and photographic immersion. I'll be teaching this workshop in tandem with my esteemed colleague and fellow Faculty member Alex Garcia.
If you're interested in joining us in the future, drop me a line and I'll add you to our Mailing List. More info here.
Attending the New York Times Portfolio Review
Yesterday I attended the New York Times Portfolio Review with an all-Cuba portfolio. Some of the work - like this photograph of a despondent, newly-married couple - was shot barely a couple weeks ago.
Out of the 2500 photographers who applied 160 were accepted. It's truly a world-class gathering of photographers, editors and curators. Some of my colleagues came from far away as India, Africa or Asia.
Epic.
Don Nico rings my doorbell
Doorbell rings at 8AM. I get up from my cup of coffee and ask through the door who is it. "Cuba". That is, my 85 year old downstairs neighbor Don Nico, who is dressed impeccably in a button down guayabera, freshly pressed slacks and a cotton cap. He looks like he may just take a stroll to the Malecon this chilly winter morning. Except he comes bearing gifts: six tubes of Colgate and a CD he recorded for me with three albums by one of my favorite Cuban crooners Beny More.
Made my day.
Photographic Workshops in Beijing and Havana
I'm fresh back from Beijing where I led a workshop for the China Photographers Association in tandem with Shen Wei - one of my favorite photographers - and distinguished curator Ren Yue.
Next, I'm heading to Havana in March 2016. Together with Katrin Eismann, Department Chair of the Masters in Digital Photography Program at the School of Visual Arts, we will lead a week-long workshop. Applications are now open: we are looking for a few good photographers to join us in exploring this historical moment of transition for the people of Cuba.
More details here:
http://destinations.sva.edu/digital-photography-in-havana-cuba/faculty/
With best wishes for the Holiday season,
Jaime
ArtBridge Benefit Auction
One of my photographs from Cuba is included in this year's ArtBridge Benefit Auction. Also available, are wonderful works by some very esteemed colleagues and friends, Manjari Sharma, Stephen Mallon, Richard Renaldi. Irina Rozovsky, Jennifer McClure, Richard Tuschman,and Phil Toledano!
Bid here: https://paddle8.com/work/jaime-permuth/66926-untitled-cuba
Universidad de Habana
While photography is my first love, academia is a close second. One of my favorite mornings in Cuba was spent striking up random conversations with students and faculty at the University of Havana.
Oh... and I was also rebuked by an aging curmudgeon of a professor who was upset when I photographed him admonishing a truant student without asking for permission. The truth is the light was beautiful inside the auditorium and class was not in session yet. I dutifully apologized and his tone somewhat softened when I replied that I photograph because I have the misfortune of being born a photographer. His eyes seemed to consider my words and then he said to me with some conviction: I am not sure one can all that a misfortune.