Pack your bags...Cuba here we come!

Model Katie Hearn, Wardrobe Styling/Art Direction: A. Lozano, Photographer: Ashlee Harris, MUA: ROUGE - Cheryl Salinas Tucker

Automation Alley is planning a trip to Cuba in the fall of 2016, to explore export and investment opportunities for small and medium sized Michigan based companies.  Next month you have the opportunity to attend a meeting featuring "experts from the U.S. Department of State, The Cuban-American Chamber of Commerce and The Christman Company who will share their firsthand insights and case studies about Cuba's economic, political and social outlook."

Here is a neat article on lodging from the BBC News.  Book early folks!

A little bit of Cuba in Detroit

ROUGE in Ferndale, MI,Model Katie Hearn and Cheryl Salinas Tucker MUA

Photographer: Ashlee Harris

Model Katie Hearn

Model Katie Hearn, All photos, wardrobe styling and creative direction is A. Lozano

A sneak peek photo diary of a Cuban inspired photo shoot we shot today.  Our model/muse is Katie Hearn, MUA is Cheryl Salinas Tucker: ROUGE, professional photos by Ashlee Harris (will follow).

Check out this real estate development and diplomatic relations story on Cuba from the Washington Post.  I've been fascinated with the history of Cuba for many years and this photo shoot is my way of honoring it's distinctive cultures and glory.  This is the first of a series I've organized on the subject.

It also happens that there are interesting urban planning, land asset decay and development parallels between Detroit and Cuba, "Meanwhile, elderly Cubans whose children left the island remained in large homes they couldn't afford to maintain.  There were thousands of homes sitting vacant or half-empty, Coyula said" - Nick Miroff.

As Detroit is on the urban development upswing so is Cuba and I can't help but believe there will be some interesting behind the scene alliances made, in fact I know there will be.  Stay tuned!