Photos chronicle life in Cuba
A series of visits to Cuba has been chronicled in a photo presentation that captures island culture and customs, while describing life under Communist rule.
Blue Ash resident Neal Jefferies is one of seven photographers from the Photography Club of Greater Cincinnati who will present photo collections in the annual Travel Series at Sharon Woods each Friday through April 29.
Each artist was asked to describe his presentation and the inspiration for his photos.
Describe your presentation
“I visited Cuba in 2000, 2011, and 2013. Each visit was different: one was on a cruise and we had three days in Cuba, the others were eight days each as usually permitted by the government there for exchange programs. One was with my granddaughter who is fluent in Spanish and was able to talk with all the locals there. Also I receive emails weekly from a family there which keep me up to date on what's happening now.
“I have gone each time to learn more about the island and their political and economic systems and to find out how we can help the people there.
“My pictures will show the beauty of the island and some of the music and dancing, and will show what life is like under this particular Communist system. The system works, to some extent, as you might expect as it has been in place since 1959. But it has some glaring deficiencies which may or may not improve with the new U.S. relationship.”
What was the highlight of your trip?
“Cuba is a delightful place to visit, forgetting about the politics and the human right violations. So it's fun to experience this place. And, since my highlight has been becoming close friends with a persecuted family there, I have learned much about how you can help, what works and what doesn't work.”
The programs are held at the Sharon Centre auditorium at Sharon Woods, 11450 Lebanon Road, at 7:30 p.m. They are free and open to the public, but require a Great Parks motor vehicle permit. The permits, $10 annually or $3 daily, can be purchased at the park.
The other attachment shows a monthly food ration book for a Cuba citizen (our guide's father).. It shows he gets.10 lb. of rice but several of the other food items have no allotment. This is because of frequent shortages of things like chicken, pork and beef. To get meat for the table, they often have to sell their personal possessions or have things sent from relatives in the US or Europe. If they are one of the few families (usually party members) who have some extra money, they can buy on the black market, although if they are caught they usually go to jail.
Travel Series
March 4: Cliff Turrell – Castles, Great Houses and Gardens in Britain and the Loire
March 11: Cliff Goosmann – Cruising the Bay of Biscay
March 18: Alan Lloyd – Just Imagine - Southern California
March 25: No program
April 1: Mike Rank – The Pueblos of Santa Fe and Taos
April 8: Neal Jefferies – Cuba 2014
April 15: Mike Rank – Galapagos
April 22: David Feldstein – A Ten Day Adventure Through the Western United States
April 29: Neville Duffield – Burma