Experienced travel writer and photographer Paula Cullison has brought yet another photography collection to ASU. Her new exhibit "To Cuba With Love" currently adorns the walls of the Fletcher Library at ASU’s West Campus.
Librarian Margaret Rodriguez explained how ASU became a viewing venue for Cullison’s artwork.
“Paula has had three or four exhibits here in the library,” Rodriguez said. “She sent out an email to several areas, letting us know that she had returned from Cuba and asking if we would be interested in having her exhibit here. I wrote to her because this summer there was really nothing on the walls, and I said it would be great.”
Cullison has always loved to travel. She said she began travel photography from a young age.
“I have always been interested traveling,” Cullison said. “I started traveling when I was a junior in college. ... I saw an ad in the New York Times for three months in Europe — nine countries in three months — and I said, 'That’s for me.'”
Her early interest in travel and exploring cultures is what brought Cullison to Cuba. Because she grew up in New York City, she was exposed to many types of people. After the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Cuban population in New York increased, and this sparked Paula’s curiosity into Cuban society.
With travel between Cuba and the U.S. becoming more accessible, Cullison, along with the group Code Pink, got the chance to explore all Cuba has to offer.
What makes this exhibit different from her others is the direction and inspiration for the photos. Her last exhibit at ASU focused on the actual places she travelled to, but Cullison said she wanted to change the emphasis of this show.
“With the Cuba show, I’m trying to show more of the people,” said Cullison.
Many of the photos depict women and children going about their daily routines on the streets of Cuba.
The photos that chronicle Cullison’s eight-day trip to Cuba are spread throughout the third floor of the Fletcher Library and range from bright and beautiful 1950s cars to an unforgettable image of a native woman holding a cigar in her mouth.
ASU student Kayla Taylor said she was intrigued by the photographs.
“I liked the art exhibit,” Taylor said. “There were a variety of pictures, and they were very enjoyable to look at. (The photos) were very well done and had a lot of creativity in them.”
For students interested in exploring Cuba through the "To Cuba With Love" photography exhibit, West Campus is accessible through the intercampus shuttle system. The exhibit is available for viewing during the Fletcher Library’s regular hours now through Dec. 3.
Reach the reporter at kzgaskin@asu.edu or follow @kiya_gaskin on Twitter.
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