UCLA Chicano Photographers

On September 25, 2011, I loaded my vintage 35mm Nikkormat camera with TMax 400 (black and white negative film) and photographed Oscar Castillo and Harry Gamboa, Jr. at UCLA. The two Los Angeles photographers were talking about their photographs taken several decades earlier. I felt incorporating the anachronism that is now film photography would celebrate and bring context to the historic event. Feel free to send me your comments.

Click photos to enlarge

Harry Gamboa

Harry Gamboa

Oscar Castillo

Oscar Castillo

UCLA

#OscarCastillo #HarryGamboa #UCLA #Chicano #Photographers

Copyright Jesús Manuel Mena Garza 2014. All rights reserved.

Chicano Photographer Video

The Big Filter

[Click image to enlarge. Photo by Jesús Garza. Delilah Montoya and Ann Marie Leimer at a Santa Monica gallery.]

In the world of American art and photography, there is one center. New York. Here, careers are made or destroyed.

This metropolis touts their power. What happens in New York according to sycophants reverberates worldwide. Artists must submit to the Big Filter.

Chicanas and Chicanos are not a concern to the Big Filter. In fact, Raza does not exist in their myopic eyes. Other cultures and groups supersede Raza. The Big Filter doesn’t hate Raza; they are just ignorant and arrogant.

They are ignorant of a growing Chicano/Chicana arts community. Also arrogant to assume that only their pain, love and creations are manifest. Raza has to be content to sit on the sideline.

A New Yorker will pass through the Big Filter’s sieve easily. Apparently they have the appropriate ethnic or religious qualifications. What are Raza to do?

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40 Years of the Chicano Movement

[Photo of César E. Chávez in San José (1970) by Jesús Manuel Mena Garza. Click to enlarge. Copyright 2009 Jesús Manuel Mena Garza. All rights reserved.]

On Wednesday September 16, 6-8 pm in San José, California there will be the discussion, "Organizing en el Movimiento". The first of a series of discussions that seek to honor the contributions of (some of) those involved in San José's Chicano Movement.

Invited guests will be Sofia Mendoza (United People Arriba), Sal Alvarez (UFW), Adriana Cabrera-Garcia (MAIZ), and David Madrid (DeBug). Moderated by Maribel Martinez of the Cesar Chavez Community Action Center at SJSU.

Featuring music by Conjunto Libertad and the exhibiting of rare photos and art of the movimiento from Jorge Gonzalez.

Organizers

MAIZ (Movimiento de Accion Inspirando Servicio)
Cesar Chavez Community Action Center
Teatro Vision
Sponsoring Organizations

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CALAVERAS CALLEJERAS

[Click on image to enlarge. Click on header or the link below to go to their blog]

If you are interested in amazing Chicano-identified documentary photography, check out this blog. CALAVERAS CALLEJERAS, Documentary Photography.

Here is a link: http://www.calaverascallejeras.com/Blog/blog.html

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UCR Class to Investigate Documentary Photography

[Photo: John's Furniture, Globe, AZ Series, Click image to make larger. Copyright 2009 Jesús Manuel Mena Garza.]

California photographer Jesús Manuel Mena Garza will illuminate his and other documentary photographers work in a class offered at the University of California, Riverside, Extension. The course is titled, Documentary Photography and is scheduled for May 5 through June 2, 2009.

Garza explained, “The new class will give students an opportunity to explore how photography interprets our society. As a photographer, I feel it is important to capture a vanishing America before it inevitably disappears. The beauty of our communities and people should be immortalized on photographic paper.”

The photographers adds, “Students in the course will learn the art of visual storytelling — whether for a single editorial image, for feature stories or books or for creating a personal record of things observed. Students will explore ways to execute photos through a range of styles and subjects and create a story line from concept to final print.”

The class will inform students on diverse photographic processes. Students will learn to take better images with strong, sensitive and effective visual qualities by producing several themed projects. These same projects can work as a portfolio.

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