First Portraits, Studio West, Oxford

The felt is on the wall, the tripod sits in the middle of the room. Here are the first of the photos in my trial run. Studio West Portraits. We met Thursday night before the radio show.

Pictured here are the first photos that Rest and I took of each other. Then only two of the Thursday night group. More to follow.

Keep November 26th on you calendar for the Cuba Night Art Show at the Portugese Bakery. 4-9 p.m.

06.10 California, Maggie grad., Jasmine bday

Back home....

Hi everyone. Here are a few pictures from my latest Cuba trip. Wow. It was fabulous. Cindy Grant and I left early on the morning of December 27th, 2009, and just returned on Friday, January 8. It was a great art trip. We bought from old artist friends and found new artists. I collected art for my online gallery and for a few close friends. Cindy did a bit of research on Murals and European influence. Traveling with her is always interesting when it comes to Art History.

I had fun as usual taking photos. here are just a few.

Here is a photo of the statue in the lobby of the apartment house where I always stay. It is beautiful.

I am delighted by good food when I travel (and at home)...We enjoyed great fish, beans, tomatoes, avacado, pineapple, malanga (?), mango, papaya, bananas, congri (rice and bean standard), incredible fruit desserts, things we still don't know the name of, but ate with relish. Of course we walked and walked all over Habana Vieja, Santiago and Cienfuegos (about three hour drive from Havana). We took a horse and buggy taxi along The Malacon (sea wall) to Chinatown and the art market. Ordered a grilled cheese sandwich at the Central Plaza served with fresh Orange Juice. YUM.

In Havana, we visited Jose Fuster (the Picasso of Cuba), Roberto Salas, the photographer who photographed Fidel in New York in 1960, and Ernesto Fernandez, and his son who are both renowned photographers. We bought the latest drawings by Montebravo in Cienfuegos. Monte is suffering from liver disease and has not worked for a long while. We are hopeful. I also met a new sculptor, Fidel, who made some amazing pieces from wire. Somehow, two of his largest ones made it back through the luggage compartments of two airlines--all the way back to my house here in Oxford.

Here is a typical street scene on The Malazon in Havana.



Here is an indication of a typical meal at the home of Luisa and her family in Santiago de Cuba.
What a treat to stay there.




Cindy brought lots of toys for Joaquin (her son, age 7) and I am also adding a photo of him coloring on their livingroom floor.

I took all my friends in Santiago to dinner on Sunday night at a wonderful Paladar on the rooftop of a tall house near the Casa Granda hotel. It was lovely.

Goire, the famous postermaker was there and on Monday before we flew back to Havana, we went to his house and got some good posters. We also got to see his new show at the Galerie Oriente. It was amazing. More on that later. In fact, Cindy and I are thinking of trying to bring the show here to Ole Miss. It's really an amazing show and it took him most of a year to complete. The theme is on the Afro-Cuban history of women in Cuba.

Finally, Rest met us in Mexico for a few days of R and R. In the Havana airport we met a writing teacher from Oxford, England. His name is Simon, and he hung out with us a couple of days, traveled a bit and generally had a great time.

Well, this is all for now. Enjoy the photos.
Love to all,
Milly

p.s. I'm glad to be home, even though it's freezing here.