Contents
06.
Introduction
80. Luis Furniture Designer
178. Irolán Visual Artist
Profiles
90. Yuyú
08. Damian Visual Artist
Maydanis & Rafael
52. 56.
Alfredo & Annabelle
114. Kadir Visual Artist
36. Robin
42.
96.
110. Victor Underwater Photographer & Videographer
26. El Negro Farmer
Creative Director & Magazine Publisher
Recycled Paper Maker & Workshop Owner
Farmers
20. Nayvis Bicycle Shop Owner
138. Lila Clothing & Accessory Designer
Mattress Repair Specialists
144. Salgado
Ana Livia
Mechanic & Harley-Davidson Specialist
Ángel & Nilse
154. Nelson Graphic Designer
Jewelry Designer
Lighting Designers
162. Pancho Billiards Academy Owner & Teacher
66. Alfredo Contractor 74. Leisi Seamstress
170. Mayelín
Jewelry Designer
Made in Cuba
Essays
188. May-Ling Animal Rescue Specialist
127.
How to be an Independent Writer and Not Die Trying
194. Estévez Bookmaker & Publisher
130.
On Happiness
200. Adrián Musician
132.
Surviving & Thriving, Cuban-Style
206. Tomás
134.
Galleria Continua Goes to Cuba
Antique Collector & Restoration Specialist
212.
Felicia & Fidel
Leonardo Padura
Daymé Arocena Conner Gorry
Lorenzo Fiaschi
136.
Marcel Lueiro
222. Yusnier Visual Artist
254.
Thanks
228. Yuni
256.
Colophon
Restaurateur & Nutritionist
234. Josuhe Video Game Designer 240. José
A DIY Renaissance
Yogurt Makers
Novelty Collector & Restoration Specialist
246. Orestes Winemaker
Contents
06.
Introduction
80. Luis Furniture Designer
178. Irolán Visual Artist
Profiles
90. Yuyú
08. Damian Visual Artist
Maydanis & Rafael
52. 56.
Alfredo & Annabelle
114. Kadir Visual Artist
36. Robin
42.
96.
110. Victor Underwater Photographer & Videographer
26. El Negro Farmer
Creative Director & Magazine Publisher
Recycled Paper Maker & Workshop Owner
Farmers
20. Nayvis Bicycle Shop Owner
138. Lila Clothing & Accessory Designer
Mattress Repair Specialists
144. Salgado
Ana Livia
Mechanic & Harley-Davidson Specialist
Ángel & Nilse
154. Nelson Graphic Designer
Jewelry Designer
Lighting Designers
162. Pancho Billiards Academy Owner & Teacher
66. Alfredo Contractor 74. Leisi Seamstress
170. Mayelín
Jewelry Designer
Made in Cuba
Essays
188. May-Ling Animal Rescue Specialist
127.
How to be an Independent Writer and Not Die Trying
194. Estévez Bookmaker & Publisher
130.
On Happiness
200. Adrián Musician
132.
Surviving & Thriving, Cuban-Style
206. Tomás
134.
Galleria Continua Goes to Cuba
Antique Collector & Restoration Specialist
212.
Felicia & Fidel
Leonardo Padura
Daymé Arocena Conner Gorry
Lorenzo Fiaschi
136.
Marcel Lueiro
222. Yusnier Visual Artist
254.
Thanks
228. Yuni
256.
Colophon
Restaurateur & Nutritionist
234. Josuhe Video Game Designer 240. José
A DIY Renaissance
Yogurt Makers
Novelty Collector & Restoration Specialist
246. Orestes Winemaker
14
15
Damian
Visual Arts
14
15
Damian
Visual Arts
40
41
40
41
Alfredo
Contractor
Alfredo stands in an apartment—soon to be a multiroom casa particular (a privately owned bed and breakfast)—surrounded by dust and debris. The interior has been gutted, save for an original marble column in the living room. Instead of the protective film that usually covers floors during construction, flattened cardboard boxes carpet the space from wall to wall; Alfredo has driven around the city in his maroon Lada collecting old boxes from dumpsters for this very purpose. Materials are strewn about and workers buzz around the building tending to various jobs. “This,” Alfredo says confidently, “will be finished in one month.” The contractor is frequently moving between various building sites, on the never-ending search for materials or taking care of his friends and family. He is not an easy man to get a hold of. Yet, both his clients and his employees praise his work; he gets things done. For much of his youth and early adulthood, life was about going through the motions. In the mid-2000s, Alfredo studied electrical engineering at university before completing his obligatory year of military service and finally settling into a job with a government-run electric company.
It wasn’t until he was ready to start a family, which soon included an infant daughter, that he decided to take things into his own hands. His limited salary with the government wasn’t going to be sufficient to care for his growing nucleus. “That’s when I used my education in a different way and started making electric installations at various construction jobs,” he recalls. His work with those small installations rapidly grew and morphed into something bigger. “I couldn’t believe it, but I was contracted to oversee the build of a house,” he remembers. “I had to subcontract everything—the carpenters, the plumbers. And I was fighting with everyone because I didn’t ask for nearly enough money,” he says, laughing at his misfortune in typical Cuban fashion. It was a struggle, but he stuck to his mantra (and that of many others on the island): “I had to adapt.” →
66
67
Made in Cuba
Alfredo
Contractor
Alfredo stands in an apartment—soon to be a multiroom casa particular (a privately owned bed and breakfast)—surrounded by dust and debris. The interior has been gutted, save for an original marble column in the living room. Instead of the protective film that usually covers floors during construction, flattened cardboard boxes carpet the space from wall to wall; Alfredo has driven around the city in his maroon Lada collecting old boxes from dumpsters for this very purpose. Materials are strewn about and workers buzz around the building tending to various jobs. “This,” Alfredo says confidently, “will be finished in one month.” The contractor is frequently moving between various building sites, on the never-ending search for materials or taking care of his friends and family. He is not an easy man to get a hold of. Yet, both his clients and his employees praise his work; he gets things done. For much of his youth and early adulthood, life was about going through the motions. In the mid-2000s, Alfredo studied electrical engineering at university before completing his obligatory year of military service and finally settling into a job with a government-run electric company.
It wasn’t until he was ready to start a family, which soon included an infant daughter, that he decided to take things into his own hands. His limited salary with the government wasn’t going to be sufficient to care for his growing nucleus. “That’s when I used my education in a different way and started making electric installations at various construction jobs,” he recalls. His work with those small installations rapidly grew and morphed into something bigger. “I couldn’t believe it, but I was contracted to oversee the build of a house,” he remembers. “I had to subcontract everything—the carpenters, the plumbers. And I was fighting with everyone because I didn’t ask for nearly enough money,” he says, laughing at his misfortune in typical Cuban fashion. It was a struggle, but he stuck to his mantra (and that of many others on the island): “I had to adapt.” →
66
67
Made in Cuba
152
153
152
153
210
In my grandparent’s day, there were less machines and more knowledge. Now, there is more machinery, but less knowledge. — [Tomás]
Tomás
Antique Collector & Restoration Specialist
211
210
In my grandparent’s day, there were less machines and more knowledge. Now, there is more machinery, but less knowledge. — [Tomás]
Tomás
Antique Collector & Restoration Specialist
211