New York photographer John Rosenmiller presents his 'Charcoal Makers' exhibition at Havana's Fabrica de Arte Cubano, capturing the lives of charcoal producers across Cuban provinces. The project, started in 2017, highlights the nighttime labor and conditions of these workers vital to cooking in contemporary Cuba. The show opens on March 6 and runs throughout the month.
In today's Cuba, charcoal has become an essential fuel for cooking amid shortages of gas and electricity, used in rural yards as well as urban apartments in the capital. In 2017, John Rosenmiller, a restless New York photographer drawn to Cuba and its people, began exploring this world after meeting Inocencio and Mario in Cabagán, Trinidad—humble individuals open to sharing their experiences.
Over eight years, Rosenmiller traveled through several provinces, employing flashlights, kerosene cans, small lanterns, campfires, and moonlight to produce powerful black-and-white images that reveal the essence of the simple, hardworking lives of charcoal makers. The photos document nighttime visits to kilns in Viñales, Trinidad, Baracoa, and San José, illustrating the work process and elements of daily life for those producing the fuel on which millions of Cubans rely.
The exhibition opens on Friday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Fabrica de Arte Cubano (FAC) in Havana's Vedado neighborhood. It will be open to the public throughout March in Hall 3, located on 26th Street between 11th and 13th. Hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. The project addresses Rosenmiller's initial questions about the people behind the charcoal, their work dynamics, social relationships, and the possibility of portraying the inner state of tired yet satisfied laborers.