I am the son of my son.
Cuba
Images by Robert Birnbaum
My lifelong fascination with Cuba took a significant turn after
my last voyage there in the Spring of 1997. Influenced in an indeterminate
way by some delicious 7 year Havana Club anejo rum—as best
as his mother and I have determined—our three year old son
Cuba was conceived on that night of my return. That's part of the
reason we named him Cuba.
My interest in Cuba stems from my first sight of Fidel Castro and
his bearded cohort during the early and triumphant moments of the
Cuban revolution. These images coupled with my then recent introduction
to Afro/Cuban/Latin Jazz seems to have sparked an interest that
has stayed with me through the ensuing years.
There is something that I am certain a lot of people find obvious
that has only recently become obvious to me. There is magic to be
found in this life—sometimes it even finds you—and there
is an ineffable benefit to that. Both Cuba the place and Cuba my
boy have given me a taste for evidence of things not seen—as
the revered Cuban poet once observed, "I am the son of my son."
Lots of people think pictures speak for themselves. I don't. I
think they usually need a little help. The Cuba fotos were taken
during two brief visits in the 90's, most in Havana and some out
in the country side. As the fotographer Marc Riboud once remarked,
"The tourist sees what he wants to see." And so, these
are images of my Cuba.
57 Chevrolet
Beisbol
Billboard III
Ceiling Detail
Che Iconography I
Che Iconography II
Che Iconography III
Che Iconography IV
Chinese Barrio
Corner Building
Cuban Boxing Crowd
Cuban in Striped Shirt
Cuban Waitress
Cuban Worker Resting
Cubana in Striped
Blouse
Downtown Smalltown
Fidel Poster
Havana Club Billboard
Havana from the Rooftop I
Havana from the Rooftop II
Havana from the Rooftop III
Havana from the Rooftop IV
Instruments without Players
Kid Chocolate Boxing Stadium
Man w. Accordian
Man Waiting
Models
More Small Town
Musicians
Ordinary Scene
Ornate Facade
Pepsodent Billboard
Prado
Rickshaw Driver
Rickshaw Driver II
Rickshaws on the Malecon
Rural Cuba Small Town
Side Street
Singer
Small Town Cuba
Street Scene
Two Guys Sitting
Tourist Police
Urban Decay
Cuba Maxwell Birnbaum
All pictures
are copyright of the artist and may not be used without the artist's
permission. Take it up with them.
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