Latin American Foto Festival Opens today in The Bronx

The 2nd Annual Latin American Foto Festival opens in The Bronx today transforming parts of Melrose into an open gallery.

The festival returns after last year’s successful run at the Bronx Documentary Center as NYC’s first and only Latin American photography festival of its kind.

Curated by Michael Kamber and Cynthia Rivera, this year’s festival focuses on the works of 10 photographers hailing from throughout the Caribbean and Latin America and takes a look at various aspects of life throughout the region from violence due to political upheavals in Venezuela to portraits of Mestiza women of Mexico and the cultural roots of Afro-Ecuadorian communities.

The New York Times writes:

“Oaxaca is a visually rich place full of culture and folklore and many photographers come year after year to take photos of celebrations like the Day of the Dead,” Ms. Fabián said. “I think the main difference is they just came to take photos like a hunter — to just catch whatever crosses their lenses. I honestly find it rude.”

Her powerful photos, made on glass with the 19th-century ambrotype process, are on display at the Bronx Documentary Center’s second annual Latin American Foto Festival, from July 11 to 21. Some of the exhibits will be on the Melrose neighborhood streets where Spanish is often spoken by immigrants and their children, said Cynthia Rivera, who curated the festival with Michael Kamber, the founder of the Center.

“Our neighborhood is predominantly people from all different parts of Latin America,” Ms. Rivera said, “and we are bringing photographers and photographs from these countries so people can easily see work from the places they are from, and those from outside the community can understand these stories.”

Opening reception is tonight, July 11th from 7PM-9PM and the show runs through July 21st.

Gallery hours are as follows:

GALLERY HOURS
THUR, JULY 11th, 7-9PM
FRI, JULY 12th, 4-8PM
SAT, JULY 13th, 1-5PM
SUN, JULY 14th, 1-5PM
WED, JULY 17th, 4-8PM
THUR, JULY 18th, 4-8PM
FRI, JULY 19th, 4-8PM
SAT, JULY 20th, 1-5PM
SUN, JULY 21st, 1-5PM