Nancy Ori Leads Tour of Jersey Artists’ Photo Exhibit of Cuba

Berkeley Heights photographer and tour director Nancy Ori, led several groups of photographers to Cuba over the past two years. She has chosen artwork from 14 workshop participants to exhibit in “Cuba: Working and Waiting” during the month of September at the Watchung Arts Center. The artists’ reception will be September 11, from 1-4pm with talks beginning at 2pm. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. The arts center in Watchung is open Tues, Wed, Thurs, and Friday from noon to 5pm, and on Saturdays from 10-3pm.
Curator Nancy Ori said: “We learn a great deal by studying where we have been and the things that have challenged us and others along the way. The photographs presented in our exhibit have been collected from 14 participants who attended one of the several photography workshops that I have run in Cuba over the past two years. As a collection, the photographs paint a portrait of a group of people, symbolizing the life and spirit of their culture. The old, as well as the young are united by a look of life experience. The images reveal vulnerability and yet endurance. We were able to uncover a wonderful beauty in these observations. Many of the people featured appeared to be waiting for something, while others worked very hard using ancient tools to work the land”.
“Our amazing journey around the island of Cuba included walking down dirt paths through fields of tobacco and sugar cane, meeting the farmers and photographing their homes, families and farms. It was an amazing experience of communication for everyone on both sides of the camera. We visited traditional colonial towns, with red tiled roofs and an array of pastel colored houses lining cobbled stone streets. In Old Havana, we were overwhelmed with sights of antique American cars, children playing in the streets, views of the harbor, beautifully restored hotels or the paint peeling off dilapidated buildings. Early morning shoots allowed students to wander safely on their own to capture the sights off the beaten path. We also visited and toured Ernest Hemingway’s former home.”
The photographers participating in the exhibit are from all around New Jersey. They are: Ben Wolkowitz, Caryn Seifer, Bob Campbell, Jerry Dallia, Rosemarie Reinman, Denise Stagnari, Howard McGinn, Karen Bonislawski, Marilyn Menago, Frank Parisi, Rita Klachkin, Ron Stagnari, Robert Menago, Ken Curtis and Nancy Ori.
Ori has curated and juried numerous exhibits at a wide variety of locations including: The Morris Museum in Morristown; Rahway Arts Guild in Rahway, Liberty Science Center in Jersey City & Watchung Arts Center in Watchung. Ms. Ori’s work has been widely exhibited in museums & galleries throughout the globe & has been chosen to participate in numerous grant projects and fine art exhibits including the prestigious New Jersey Fine Arts Annual. She is the owner of New Jersey Media Center, LLC in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey where she continues to do produce, portrait and event photography. She also enjoys teaching photography and painting workshops each year throughout the United States, New Zealand, Cuba and Europe as well as exhibiting her work. Nancy was taught by Ansel Adams and was then affiliated for many years with the Ansel Adams Workshop in California and in New Jersey. She is currently on the faculty of numerous museums and art centers as well as teaches privately.