July 19, 2007
A Million Words
My mechanic called me up the other day - not something totally out of the ordinary as he and I are good friends - and told me he had given my number to some guy - an acquaintance of his. I asked him what for and he basically just said "Trust me, you two should talk."
Late yesterday afternoon I get a call on the cellphone from a number I dont recognize. I answer and it's someone Ive never met or spoken to before. He tells me his name is Delio and that he's calling me because Roger - my mechanic - told him to call me. "I'm not really sure what for," he says to me.
After a few akward moments I find out he's a photographer and that he's got an exhibit of his work up at the Tower Theater on Calle Ocho until the 29th.
"Cool," I said, thinking that I would now have to post something on his show por compromiso. "Send me a link to your website or a photo or two so I can become familiar with your work, " I say.
He didnt have access right then to a pc so he spells out the link, I jot it down and we continue to talk. As he's telling me the story of his arrival here - yet another heartbreaking story like the ones we are all too familiar with - I sit at my computer and type in the URL for his webpage. The page comes up and this is the first image I see:
"Coño," I think to myself. Agustin Tamargo. Captured so perfectly my eyes well up. I scroll down the page and find that this guy is a master. His portraits of well known people are incredible. Human, insightful. Works of art. Quite a few of the images give me that familiar lump in my throat.
There are amazing portraits of everyone from Mario Chanes de Armas to Olga Guillot, Maria Elvira Salazar, Carlos Alberto Montaner, Bebo Valdes, Willy Chirino....even Helen Thomas. Every single one of them a masterpiece.
"Delio," I said to him. "Eres un maestro, mi hermano."
You can visit his website - deliophotostudio.com - right here.
And, if you are in Miami, I urge you to visit his exhibit of portraits at the Tower Theater at 1508 SW 8th Street, now until July 29th. Hours are from 6 to 9 PM Monday through Saturday and 4 to 7 PM on Sundays. Next Friday is Viernes Cultural on Calle Ocho and Delio tells me he will have some special stuff that night. Dont miss this exhibit.
Posted by Val Prieto at July 19, 2007 08:32 AM
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Comments
What ever happened to Miami Herald cub reporter Oscar Corral, who is not writing about this or other Cuban community issues? It appears that his "Cuban Connection" blog was disconnected, as he has not posted on it since June 13.
Posted by: mrcs_Concepcion ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.babalublog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 19, 2007 10:15 AM
Link needs to be fixed.
Posted by: daniel_in_garanhuns at July 19, 2007 10:15 AM
You babalublog people, especially Conductor Gomez, need to stop harassing Oscar Corral, Ana Menendez, and my other friends at the Miami Herald. Oscar has not been blogging because he is on a very special secret assignment that he has told no one but me. I know everything that goes on in Miami because I am everybody's friend and confidant. I have been asking Menendez to start her own Herald blog, but she is afraid that you babalublog people will also trash her blog with unsavory comments such as comparing her looks to that of Mr. Ed the talking horse. On the other hand, the Frances Robles blog at the Herald, "Cuban Colada," was very successful until she went "fishin'" on June 6 and has not posted since. Robles has only four comments on her entire blog, but word in getting out there about it. You babalu bloggers just love to gloat that you have driven Herald Cuban reporter bloggers into oblivion. Just wait until Ana Menendez starts her blog. You will be sorry then.
Posted by: Bernardo_Penes at July 19, 2007 10:31 AM
... that was funny, Bernardo; tell your Herald amigos that their blogs will sell if people will only buy ....
This photographer's work is great; portraits in black & white are so much more interesting.
Posted by: Gigi at July 19, 2007 12:03 PM
¡Bernardo, me priva tu apellido! Por favor, cuando visites a Union City, hazme la visita. Tu eres el verdadero vocero de nuestro pueblo.
Posted by: Manuel Chechechea at July 19, 2007 12:09 PM
excellent photos on his website. I hope I get a chance to see the exhibit.
Posted by: Cigar Mike Pancier at July 19, 2007 06:09 PM
Mr. Chechechea,
It is you who has an unusual last name. Are you Argentinian? My last name indicates that I am an intellectual with a large brain capacity. Thank you for recognizing that I am the true spokesman of the Cuban immigrant community. You should see all the awards and photos that I have on my wall, many from the Castro government. I recommend that you read my book, "Not So Secret Missions to Cuba" so that you can comprehend why I am so famous. I used to sell cheap ties on Muralla Street in Havana before becoming a millionaire as a result of that wonderful dialogue with Fidel Castro. Just look at me now that I am somebody.
Posted by: Bernardo_Penes at July 19, 2007 10:58 PM
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