News

The exhibit, "Perspectives on Cuba," is free and open to the public. It features photography by Illinois College students and Cuban students from the University of Pinar del Rio. 

This is the first public event being held at IC’s newly renovated Center for Global Studies, which is located at 1225 Mound Avenue, across from Parker Science Building, in a home that was gifted to the College last year by Dr. Chet ’36 and Louise Bone. 

The images in the exhibit were taken during a May 2018 BreakAway trip to Western Cuba where IC students had the opportunity to study with Pablo Torres Rodriguez, a photographer and professor at the University of Pinar del Rio. 

Students and faculty from each institution collaborated on multiple academic projects, including bat and orchid biology research. This academic collaboration will be highlighted throughout the photo exhibit, and several professors and students from across disciplines will be in attendance to speak about their work and describe their experiences in Cuba. 

Christian Flores ’18 said that he traveled to Cuba to experience the country’s rich history, the story of its people and its majestic beaches. He says his photography reflects these themes and the life-changing experiences he had in Cuba.  

Another student, biology major Anthony Hand ’20 wrote that his experiences with research in Cuba took his education beyond what he had learned in the classroom. 

“Books state facts, but that is not real life,” he said. “The people we met, the friends we made and our experiences in Cuba were real.”

For more information about the "Perspectives on Cuba” photo exhibit or the Center for Global Studies, contact Dr. Steven Gardner, Francis McReynolds Smith Professor of International Understanding and Professor of World Languages and Cultures (Spanish), at 217.245.3438 or
sgardner@ic.edu.