Ellen Silverman Cuban Kitchen
Ellen Silverman

Our friend Ellen Silverman traveled twice to Cuba in the past year, and came back with some amazing photographs of daily life there, in particular the kitchens of families she met. They are invariably improvised, deeply makeshift spaces, reflecting extremely limited resources coupled with extraordinary resourcefulness and spirit. Ellen’s images tell the story.

Ellen Silverman Cuban Kitchens
Ellen Silverman

Ellen Silverman Kitchens Cuba
Ellen Silverman

Ellen Silverman Kitchens Cuba
Ellen Silverman

Ellen Silverman kitchens Cuba
Ellen Silverman

Ellen Silverman kitchens Cuba
Ellen Silverman

We will post more images from Ellen’s Cuban kitchen portfolio in the coming months.

For a blow-by-blow description of a journalist who spent thirty days living as a Cuban, published in Harper’s magazine, click here.

Related posts: improvised kitchens, for surviving a renovation (and other of life’s surprises)

vietnam’s culture of improvisation via charlie allenson (happy birthday charlie!!!)

history as evidence, inspiration and guide (ww II)

holiday resource: makeshift seating

wabi sabi, the perfection of imperfection

pascal anson on (cheap) kitchen cabinets

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2 replies on “ellen silverman photographs: inside cuba’s kitchens pt.1

  1. The Cubans are wonderful people; love the candle on the floor in the one kitchen.

  2. I read the Harper’s article. Just wow. I am grateful to be in a country where I can afford to eat real meat everyday if I so desire, among other things. It puts these photos in perspective. This isn’t the usual “shabby chic”, minimalist, this-is-our-esthetic bull crap. These folks are truly living by the seat of their pants. I’m not sure if they are thriving but they are certainly surviving. much respect and more power to them.

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