About

the what, why, and who behind the cover of CubaSeen

The Zine

CubaSeen is a bilingual art zine that presents imagery by Cuban and American artists. It creates opportunities for collaboration – giving voice to the truths that emerge when visual artists from different cultures interact in meaningful ways:

In-depth photo and visual essays by both Cuban and American artists
Curated images submitted by artists who have visited Cuba
Short-form narratives in English and Spanish

Why We Publish It

In addition to showcasing stunning imagery, the goal of CubaSeen is to share positive messages about Cuba-U.S. relations during this time of strained relations between the countries:

Forming friendships that come from engaging with fellow artists
Cross-pollinating creative ideas
Debunking myths that citizens of our two countries hold about each other

CubaSeen is pro-engagement but otherwise apolitical and exists at the intersection of both governments recognizing the value of artists connecting across national boundaries.

Jennifer Spelman, Co-Publisher

Jennifer Spelman, photo credit Jorge V. Gavilondo

Jennifer Spelman is a documentary photographer, educator and workshop leader based out of Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has worked extensively across Cuba with the Santa Fe Workshops since 2011.

In over fifty visits to the island, she’s experienced the friendly generosity of a people always willing to share conversation and a cup of coffee. She has come to understand that to be Cuban is to greet adversity with ingenuity, patience and humor. Life is lived on the streets in Havana and Jennifer is happiest within its constant motion and layered serendipity.

Jennifer is a patient educator who has co-instructed with National Geographic Expeditions and taught workshops in Mexico, Japan, India, Spain and Cuba.

Andrew Child, Co-Publisher, Former Partner

Andrew Child’s first Cuba trip in 2013, photo credit Sue O’Malley

Andrew Child is an author and photographer based in suburban Boston. He considers Cuba to be the land of his creative nexus and has been photographing on the island since 2013.

Andrew’s first photo book, Havana: Light Beyond Vision, explores the Caribbean metropolis through his unique niche of color, infrared panoramic photography. His passion for good coffee and wanderlust is best satisfied when he is in Cuba, among camera-toting friends, engaging in full-time, OFAC compliant travel itineraries.

After running CubaSeen and its parent company OneWorldSeen with Jennifer for half a decade, Andrew departed the company in 2025.

Jorge Gustavo Gavilondo, Designer

Jorge Gustavo Gavilondo, photo credit Jorge V. Gavilondo

Jorge Gustavo Gavilondo is a highly regarded Cuban illustrator, graphic designer and art director. He graduated in 2004 from the Industrial Design Institute (Havana, Cuba) with a focus on Informational Design. From 2003 to 2014 he participated in numerous personal and collective illustration, photography, posters, and art exhibits premiering across Cuba, Argentina, Canada and the United States. In 2008 he co-founded the Social Art and Sport Community Project 23&B,dedicated to unifying sports and art. The project’s focus was on improving material conditions for Havana’s street sport athletes through collaboration with artists.

Jorge Ferret Vincench, Designer

Jorge Ferret Vincench

Jorge Ferret Vincench is a versatile and self-driven art director with extensive experience in visual communications, including print and digital graphic design.

His work has spanned from the U.S. to Latin America, carrying out branding, advertising, and integrated marketing campaigns. He has also worked on editorial digital projects for global brands such as Samsung, Royal Caribbean, Hyundai Mobile, Microsoft, General Electric, SONY, MasterCard, and others. He also enjoys working on individual projects where he is able to have creative freedom and focus on what he is most passionate about.

Currently, Jorge is working on a personal project, Vincench Visual Studios, a workspace where graphic design, photography, and art meet.

Emily Hunsberger, Translator & Copy Editor

Emily Hunsberger

Emily Hunsberger, the founder and chief wordsmith of Tertulia, is a translator, writer, editor, and audio storyteller with a background in work with immigrant communities, international sustainable development, education, and the arts. English, Spanish, and Portuguese are her first, second, and third languages, respectively. She grew up in South Florida where she developed an admiration for and connection to Cuban culture, mostly by way of maduros, croquetas y pastelitos de guayaba. She now lives with her family in Philadelphia.