Matthew Ragen
Artist Statement
Every country has a soul. Every city has a spirit. Every street has a character or two or maybe more. In my travels through Cuba during December of 2019, I became increasingly intrigued by the weathered and expressive faces of Cubans that I observed on the sidewalks and streets - sometimes even getting two personas in a matter of seconds. It is sometimes said that wrinkles are the medals for the passage of life as they are the indicators of where smiles have been. If this is true, then these people have truly lived. These people are indeed the characters on the streets of Cuba. As I experienced the hospitality and welcoming nature of these Cubans, I started to make photographs of the proud people of this isolated island country. I envisioned these as black and white portraits printed with the platinum process to eke out every detail.rnrnThis was my first visit to Cuba and, at least to now, eight months later, it was the last airplane flight that I made before the Covid-19 crisis shut everything down. I wonder what has become of these people and I hope that they are successfully weathering the storm. In this difficult time, we are all earning our wrinkles. In a different era, with the passage of time, I hope to visit again and create new memories of this fascinating country.
Matthew Ragen| Seattle, WA