Exhibition Review: Latin American Foto Festival
Dancer, Francisco Melara, poses for a portrait after a performance in the town of Apastepeque, El Salvador January 10, 2014. Melara was murdered during Christmas, 2016, amid one of the most violent crime waves in El Salvador. © Jose Cabezas
Written by Margarita Matta
Photo Edited by Tania Flores
Copy Edited by Erin Pedigo
The Bronx Documentary Center (BDC) has done it again. This summer is no exception to their exhibitions that reflect the diverse, rich backgrounds of both their neighborhood and the world. From July 14 to 31, join the BDC for their fifth annual Latin American Foto Festival (LAFF), displaying the dynamic work of photographers, some of whom are up and coming and others who are well known. The exhibition is housed both inside the BDC and throughout the Melrose neighborhood, creating a more immersive, personal exhibition experience.
Jose Fabian Figueroa playing stickball. Frances (23) and Tania Lopez (24) in the orange shirt at la Pompa Creston Avenue, Fordham, The Bronx, 1990s. Country of Origin: Puerto Rico. Submitted by: Frances Rivera
After attending the July 14 opening ceremony, I was especially impressed by the indoor exhibition focused on documenting immigrants’ journeys to cross the border into America. Titled Looking for Hope at the End of the Road, it is by photographer Yael Martínez and filmmaker Sergio Ortiz Borbolla. Many families are forcibly displaced by violence and encounter more violence and treachery as they go to America for a new life. This exhibition thoughtfully pushes observers to understand and empathize with the immense hardship and sacrifice immigrants face in order to come to the United States.
In the late afternoon of the weeks before Lent, children dress in giant bed sheets and run all over the town to drive away evil spirits. July 13th, 2014. Santiago do Iguape, Brazil. © Tamara Merino
A fitting exhibition within this festival that caught my attention was Nuevayorkinos, created by Djali Brown-Cepeda; it is a digital archival collection documenting Latin and Caribbean culture in New York City. New York City is home to some of the largest populations in the United States from those regions, and the vast history preserved in these photographs while understanding the context of gentrification, oppression, and identity faced by the subjects helps broadly reveal what it means to be Latin or Caribbean American.A particularly compelling photograph, submitted by Onasis Cirineo, features “Princess” Gianna Karina Cirineo Cruz getting her hair done. A young girl as the subject of this photo forces us to step back and contextualize what it means to grow up in the city when you do not reap the benefits of white privilege. These photographs are not only meant to contextualize these people’s hardship, but also to celebrate Latin American and Caribbean American culture.
Derecha: "Princesa "Gianna Karina Cirineo Cruz arreglándose el pelo en la calle 165 entre Morris y Grand Ave. El Bronx, 1991. País de origen: República Dominicana
Another phenomenal project presented here is Casitas, by Annie Y. Saldaña. This long- term photography project shows the many vibrant and colorful houses dotting Puerto Rico. These beautiful structures contrast vividly against mountainous or industrial backgrounds and serve as reminders of architecture destroyed in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017. Lives, houses, families, and people were permanently changed after the devastating storm, but the colorful houses such as the ones Saldaña recorded are a reminder of hope.
Casita Azul (before Hurricane María). Canóvanas, Puerto Rico, 2013. Blue wooden house surrounded by trees and plants sits over stilts. The Yunque National Forest can be seen clearly in the background. Right: Bayamón, Puerto Rico, 2021 © Annie Y. Salaña
2021 Casita amarilla. A dog on the balcony of a bright yellow and red wooden house. The house is decorated with various transportation toys and Puerto Rican flags. © Annie Y. Salaña
What sets the Bronx Documentary Center apart from other museums and galleries in the city is their commitment to educating visitors. Visitors are encouraged to converse about the presented works and may broaden their mindsets and see the impactful stories behind the photography on display. Be sure to check out the upcoming book releases, film screenings and panel discussions the festival is offering. Thank you for your work, BDC, and we are immensely excited to see what is curated next.
The Latin American Foto Festival will be on view from June 14th to July 31st at the Bronx Documentary Center, To view more of this exhibition visit here.
