Ren Blauch ’28, staff writer
The Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery’s fall exhibition “Walker Evans in Cuba: The Ernest Hemingway Collection” opened to the public Friday, Aug. 28.
This exhibition features 44 photographs capturing 1930s Cuban life by photographer Walker Evans, pulled from writer Ernest Hemingway’s personal collection. The exhibition runs through Sunday, Oct. 11.
One of the most fascinating pieces of this exhibition is the story of Evans’ friendship with Hemingway. Evans traveled to Cuba in 1933 to take photographs for Carleton Beals’ The Crime of Cuba. They were intended to critique the regime of dictator Gerardo Machado. At the same time, Hemingway embarked on a fishing trip from Key West, Florida, to Havana, Cuba. The months Hemingway spent in Havana would ultimately produce his fifth novel, To Have and Have Not.
“After meeting, the two became drinking buddies,” Barbara McNulty, director of the Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery, said.
Evans looked up to Hemingway, as he once wanted to be a writer as well. They bonded in the following weeks, and Hemingway even loaned Evans 25 dollars to extend his stay in Havana. Eventually, Evans had to depart from Cuba.
“Evans was on his way out and knew he couldn’t take the photographs with him because they would be confiscated, given what he was documenting,” Kristine Larison, art gallery assistant, said. “So, he asked Hemingway, who had his own boat and sailed back and forth from Cuba and Florida, if he would take the photographs.”
The photographs would remain in Hemingway’s personal collection until the sale of his estate years later.
“One of the things that we’ve remarked on often when we have vintage photographs is that you see creases in them and they aren’t always in the best condition, but these are really in nice condition,” McNulty said.
The photos tell a story of Cuba that is lesser known to many Americans. Most are familiar with the regime of Fidel Castro, but fewer are familiar with Machado’s regime.
Several lectures, talks and other events in the coming weeks will be held at the Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery for anyone interested in the exhibition, Cuban history and Latin culture. These events can be found on the LVC Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery webpage.
The gallery is open Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.