Category: Cuba, 2014

Art School, More Dancing and Prayer

January 31.

Up at the crack of dawn again coffee in the lobby at 6AM, then another Dawn Patrol. Spent most of the time working on two techniques; shooting reflections of buildings and people in puddles and panning shots of cars (moving the camera to create a blurred effect). Got a few reflections that I was pretty happy with, but didn’t do so well with the panning. Need more practice on both, but they were fun to work with. I’m including a lot of them for you to see.

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Another big buffet breakfast at the hotel, then transported in rather cramped van to the campus of a highly selective arts school, called ISA, Institute for Superior Artists, designed by a famous Cuban architect in the early sixties on the grounds of the former, exclusive Havana Country Club. Of the more than 500 students who apply from around the country, sixty are invited to come for two weeks to produce art, and 15 of those sixty are selected. We were shown around by the former dean and now head of photography, who showed us lithography, painting, ceramics and photography and introduced us to several professors. There are more than eighty faculty members for 105 students, most of them not permanent faculty, but chosen to meet the needs and interests of specific students. We saw some very interesting work. Apparently, it is very rare for visitors to be allowed to see the school in the way that we did.

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After busing back to the hotel, Tony, Jodi, Joelle, Bernie, Carol and I had lunch at a nearby Italian, pizza restaurant. Looking out the window at the passing cars we feel like extras in a 1950s movie. Back at the hotel, worked on downloading photos and writing the blog again, then went down to meet with Tony and review some of the photos I’ve taken on the trip. After busing back to the hotel, Tony, Jodi, Joelle, Bernie, Carol and I had lunch at a nearby Italian, pizza restaurant. Looking out the window at the passing cars we feel like extras in a 1950s movie. Back at the hotel, worked on downloading photos and writing the blog again, then went down to meet with Tony and review some of the photos I’ve taken on the trip. He was quite complimentary about many of them, particularly some of the dance shot from yesterday and this morning’s early puddle shots, and, I think there are a fair number of reasonable photos that I can work with when I get back to Longboat Ket.

We set out to walk four or five blocks to the dance center, which houses a number of diverse Havana companies. It was quite hot, though considerably less humid than yesterday, and we had to climb four or five flights to get to the dance studio. We watched younger dancers than yesterday, in much smaller quarters, with contrasty light, so shooting was far more difficult than yesterday. Still I think there are at least a few shots, some posted and others focused on fast motion that may be worthwhile.

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After about an hour, Carol and I headed back to the hotel to shower, relax a bit and work on photos for about an hour. We met Marjorie in the hotel lobby and were taken in an old Pontiac that Jennifer had arranged for us, to Beth Shalom conservative synagogue in the Vedado area of Cuba. At the synagogue were half dozen or more Israelis, a few other Americans and a good crowd of Cubans. The service was spirited and interesting/fun. I could follow quite well in Hebrew, and Carol, Marjorie and I knew some of the prayers and melodies. Laine, who met us at the synagogue, stayed for about 45 minutes. I could also understand some of the Spanish translations to prayers rather well. Carol and I were especially glad to be there to be able to say Kaddish for Shirley Gould, a 96-year old friend and JRC congregant who died just after we left for Cuba. It was also good to feel the connection to Judaism created by being a part of the service. Both Laine and Marjorie had brought gifts to contribute to congregants. Carol and I brought a challah cover that we’d bought in Ghana and gave that to the service leader for the congregation. We were pleased to see that they used it to cover the challah in the kiddush held after the service.

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We were picked up by the driver who took us to the synagogue and taken to the very attractive Saratoga Hotel, about four blocks from our hotel, where a photo salon was being held. We saw some very good work from photographers we’d seen earlier in the week, including work by our guide, Eduardo and his twin brother, but did not buy anything (yet). Several members of our group did make purchases, however.

After the salon, Jennifer led us to a restaurant only a few blocks from our hotel, where we had a pleasant dinner and conversation with Marjorie and Bernie, who is from Cambridge. Walked back to the hotel and retired before midnight.

3 comments to Art School, More Dancing and Prayer

  • Wendy

    Great pix, Dadz! Again, can’t wait to show the girls. Did Maz get it in motion?

    So sorry to hear about Shirley.

    Love,
    W.

  • Barbara Sandler

    High there, hermano!

    Cómo estás?

    Missed comment yesterday. Due to a sleep-over with little LouE,
    who rather steadily held my attention.

    Wow! What a great trip. (Except walking up those five flights of
    stairs.) Clearly it has inspired and taught you some terrific
    photo techniques. Of course I love the little girl with braids!
    Gotta do a little boy companion piece, to go with it. Rona’s 70th.
    is in 2015.

    Glad to hear of your fluency in Spanish and Hebrew. You are,
    as always, an awesome role model!

    No, I’m serious,
    Your little sister

  • leslie

    Arnie. LOVE these pics!!! I think they are fantastic. sounds like you are really enjoying. hope Carol is feeling better.. Les

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