Photographer to showcase historic former 'company town' of Hershey, Cuba

Photographer and SUNY Oswego art faculty member Julieve Jubin will display her work from Camilo Cienfuegos, Cuba -- formerly known as Hershey -- in an exhibition Oct. 26 through Nov. 18 at Tyler Art Gallery.

A free public reception for the artist will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, in Tyler Hall's lobby and gallery. The college's Latin jazz band will perform at 5:30; the ensemble is made up of 20-plus students from across campus focusing on the study and performance of popular music from Cuba, Puerto Rico, the United States and South America.

Jubin, a digital photography-based artist, has been documenting her travels to Cuba since 2011. The unique blend of Cuban and American culture has kept Jubin attracted to the village of Hershey, which was renamed Camilo Cienfuegos, after a Cuban revolutionary, in 1961.

Chocolate magnate Milton Hershey founded Central Hershey -- central is the Cuban term for a sugar mill and its surrounding town -- in 1916 as a company town, one that was uniquely American-designed for the purpose of serving as Cuba's primary distribution center for sugar.

One of Jubin's pieces highlighting the town's culture is "Duplex, Avenida 23, #201-203." With the vibrant shades of blue and pink, the house likely has caught many a tourist's eye. Jubin's work in Cuba has been called "inspirational and touching."

"The mellow colors convey a playful feeling," said Liliya Gapyuk, a SUNY Oswego senior in graphic design. "The photograph reminds me of William Eggleston's work, because he worked with combining colors and beautifying everyday objects."

As a result of Jubin's photography in Cuba, including her "Centro Habana" photo series, she has taken students to the island nation since long before the thaw in relations with the United States. She received her master of fine arts degree from the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, and has exhibited her work in the United States, Canada, Europe and Cuba.

The "warmth" of the Cuban citizenry keeps Jubin attracted to the country and consistently returning there, she said in an artist's statement.

Tyler Art Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The gallery is closed Mondays, school holidays and school breaks.

Parking on campus requires a permit. For those without a current SUNY Oswego parking sticker, visit oswego.edu/administration/parking.

For more information about the exhibition or the gallery, contact Michael Flanagan at michael.flanagan@oswego.edu or 315-312-2112.

SUNY Oswego's art department, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, including a minor in photography. For information, visit oswego.edu/art, email art@oswego.edu or call 315-312-2130.