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Photography Samples
Tornado Relief
Luyanó, Havana, Cuba
Silvio Rodríguez Concert
Los Pocitos, Havana, Cuba
Campoamor Theater
Historic Center, Havana, Cuba
The Campoamor Theater is situated next to Cuba’s Capital building, el Capitolio, and the Grand Theater of Havana Alicia Alonso, on the corner of Industria y San José. Originally built as an opera house under the name of Teatro Albisu in 1870, a fire destroyed the colonial theater in 1918 and in its place, Teatro Capitolio was inaugurated in 1921.
The theater was renamed to Teatro Campoamor a few years later, to honor the Spanish poet Ramón de Campoamor. In 1965, Teatro Campoamor’s curtains closed for the last time, apparently after a piece of the theater’s structure fell.
Teatro Campoamor featured many of the biggest names in Cuban music and dance, including Bola de Nieve, Ernesto Lecuona and Rita Monater. It served as one of Havana’s leading venues for over four decades.
The abandoned building was eventually reutilized as a storage lot for motorcycles and bicycle taxis. 30 years ago, Reynaldo started working as the guard of the storage lot and simultaneously sought shelter in the abandoned space.
Another big piece of the building fell, breaking Reynaldo's leg and closing the storage space for good, but he continues to live in the theater. He shares the large, deteriorated building with many dogs and cats, wild plants and large piles of debris.
Reynaldo has called Teatro Campoamor home for over half of his life; his personal belongings are set up in what was formally the theater’s dressing room. Reynaldo says he feels like a part of the theater. He described that even though he can’t hear the music or see the performances, they are still fully present.
In recent years, el Capitolio and the Grand Theater of Havana Alicia Alonso have undergone extensive renovation projects. Teatro Campoamor was tagged with a restoration notice a couple of years ago. Reynaldo said that he’s happy the theater will be restored rather than torn down, though he doesn’t know the details of the renovation project and when he’ll need to find a new home.
Following a tornado that tore through Eastern Havana on January 27, 2019, a community initiative focused relief efforts on long-term, psychological solace, assembling volunteers from various professions and cultural projects to lead restorative activities for children in the communities affected by the tornado.
“Children are the most affected, but they also have the highest capacity for recovery. In these communities, we hope to offer an opportunity to release trauma and express their emotions through art," described Michael Sánchez.
The 104th concert of the Gira de los Barrios took place on September 13 in Los Pocitos. Silvio Rodríguez dedicated the concert in Los Pocitos to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ 30 years of work in Cuba, honoring the UNHCR representatives and displaced families that have sought asylum on the island.
Proyecto Akokán prepared a large mural for the children of Los Pocitos, together with children of the invited refugee families, to paint during Silvio Rodríguez’s performance.
Havana, Cuba
Community Portraits
Los Pocitos, Havana, Cuba
I took the following photos of children during youth workshops that I led in Los Pocitos to demonstrate various photography concepts.
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