David Stork's Havana Photos and Phil Stern's James Dean

My friend Chris and I roamed around the Couturier Gallery at 166 N. La Brea Ave. to view the David Stork photographs of Havana, Cuba taken in 1999.  Stork lived in Havana as a young man in the 1980's when his father served as Dutch ambassador and returned in 1999. Cuba was in the midst of a severe economic crisis following the withdraw of support from the former Soviet Union.  As the LA Times reviewer, Carolina A. Miranda, wrote, the artist provides glimpses of everyday people who simply want to make it through to the next day.  Stork left his hotel each each day and photographed life in a 10 block square.

Here are a few samples of his work:

 

We strolled a bit down La Brea to 148 N. and visited the Fahey/Klein photography gallery and enjoyed the photographic art of many.  My favorite is the "James Dean (Pullover Sweater)" 1955 by Phil Stern: