Two Views of Cuba: Photographs by Lou Jones and Peter Kayafas
James and Audrey Foster Galleries
January 19 – March 17, 2002
Lou Jones, Boy and Poster, Havana, Cuba, 1980, dye coupler print, 20" x 16"; Lent by the Artist
Peter Kayafas, Havana, Cuba, 2000, gelatin silver print, 20" x 16"; Lent by the Artist
DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park will heat up the winter months with Two Views of Cuba: Photographs by Lou Jones and Peter Kayafas, an exhibition of thought-provoking, educational, and beautiful imagery of a country long associated with the United States. This exhibition will showcase approximately 50 photographic artworks, in both color and black and white, by two contemporary artists with New England roots. Organized by Curatorial Fellow Jennifer Uhrhane, Two Views of Cuba is funded in part by the Stratford Foundation.
Lou Jones, Ball Game, Havana, Cuba, 1980, dye coupler print, 16" x 20"
Independently exploring Cuba through their cameras, these two accomplished photographers have acquired a deep fascination with and affection for the country. Lou Jones is a Boston photographer who first traveled to Cuba in 1980 on commercial assignment; Peter Kayafas lives in New York City and more recently made the country a photographic destination in 2000. Both were so captivated by Cuba that they returned again in 2001, separately, to make new photographs and further develop their visions of this nation and its people. They will be exhibiting this latest work along with images made during earlier trips.
Peter Kayafas, Santiago de Cuba, 2000, gelatin silver print, 16" x 20"; Lent by the Artist
The images by both Jones and Kayafas immerse the viewer into the culture, the architecture, the personality, and the overall feel for the country; yet clearly their photographs reflect artistic expressions by two different American artists of very different temperament, generation, ethnic background, and aesthetic sensibility. Besides the obvious difference of Jones' photographs being shot in color and Kayafas' in black and white, the photographers use other visual vocabulary and photographic techniques to create their distinct styles of image making. Though both photograph the same subject matter in a documentary style, they have produced contrasting bodies of work that speak to one another in an expanded dialogue about the subject of contemporary Cuba.
Lou Jones, Vendor, Havana, Cuba, 1980, dye coupler print, 16" x 20"; Lent by the Artist
Jones' punchy color is combined with dynamic composition, selective focus, and thoughtfully chosen angles to create a relationship between the Cuban people and their surrounding environment.
For more images and information on Lou Jones' recent travels to Cuba:
Kayafas' images make beautiful use of the glowing tones of the silver print surface and formal elements like texture, light, shadow, and contrast to describe the situation of the country and its people-frequently singling out solitary figures for emotional emphasis. Both photographers are careful to include shots depicting architectural details, an effective technique for conveying an overall sense of place. Jones will exhibit approximately 20 prints, Kayafas about 25 prints.
Peter Kayafas, Matanzas, Cuba, 2001, gelatin silver print, 16" x 20"; Lent by the Artist
