UCR ARTS: Christina Fernandez’s photo exhibition captures life

For photographer Christina Fernandez, absolutely nothing is common.

An deserted couch on a grassy knoll, individuals washing outfits at general public laundromats in the middle of the night, or seemingly deserted properties in downtown Los Angeles, can all show up mundane. But a closer seem by her camera’s lens uncovers a entire world comprehensive of lifetime.

Fernandez’s photographs capture narratives surrounding the working day-to-day of Latinos in east Los Angeles neighborhoods. These images are now on screen at UC Riverside’s California Museum of Photography, portion of UCR ARTS in downtown Riverside. To rejoice the touring exhibition “Christina Fernandez: Multiple Exposures,” the museum will host a general public reception on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 6-9 p.m. The celebration is free of charge and open up to the public. 

This is Fernandez’s initial important solo museum clearly show. The exhibition — out there in English and Spanish — features additional than 60 pictures that showcase 30 decades of perform.

Joanna Szupinska, senior curator of exhibitions at UCR Arts, walking through the exhibition while it was being installed at the California Museum of Photography on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. (UCR/Sandra Baltazar Martínez)

Joanna Szupinska, senior curator at UCR ARTS, walking by the exhibition although it was remaining put in at the California Museum of Photography on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. (UCR/Sandra Baltazar Martínez)

By way of her photographs, Fernandez, an LA-primarily based photographer, highlights social challenges and disparities surrounding poverty, immigration, and labor. The photographs also discover her Mexican American identification. A single of the image projects on exhibit is partly affected by Italian photographer Tina Modotti, Mexican photojournalist Nacho López, and Mexican cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa Mateos.

“We are honored that this renowned photographer has agreed to share her operate with our group,” mentioned Joanna Szupinska, senior curator at UCR ARTS and curator of this exhibition and accompanying publication

1 of the photographs collection, “Manuela S-T-I-T-C-H-E-D” speaks to the personnel in LA’s garment district. The images show no faces, just structures that surface empty. But handwritten cardboard signals taped to windows suggest if not, seeking a person who can run a “cover stich” sewing device, or a worker “para planchar,” to iron. 

Close-up of one of the photos in the series, “Manuela S-T-I-T-C-H-E-D” by Christina Fernandez. (UCR/Sandra Baltazar Martínez)

Close-up of a person of the pics in the collection, “Manuela S-T-I-T-C-H-E-D” by Christina Fernandez. (UCR/Sandra Baltazar Martínez)

Throughout the exhibition readers get to take a look at personalized parts, far too. One particular demonstrates Fernandez herself, posing in the early 20th century attire her grandmother would have worn whilst living in rural Michoacán, Mexico. The photo series shifts in gown variations as her grandmother’s journey to Colorado and California progresses. An additional is “Sisyphean Act,” a triptych — three-paneled impression — of Fernandez with her young son heading up and down a prolonged set of stairs in El Sereno, an LA neighborhood. A person set of photographs show Fernandez carrying her son on her again in an additional panel they stroll alongside one another, with Fernandez holding his hand. 

"Manuela S-T-I-T-C-H-E-D" is a series featured in “Christina Fernandez: Multiple Exposures.” (UCR/Sandra Baltazar Martínez)

“Manuela S-T-I-T-C-H-E-D” is a series featured in “Christina Fernandez: Several Exposures.” (UCR/Sandra Baltazar Martínez)

Next door, the Culver Heart of the Arts greets visitors into the atrium with a substantial indication announcing a related exhibition, “Tierra Entre Medio.” Curated by Fernandez and Szupinska, this space characteristics new do the job by Fernandez with three emerging artists: Arlene Mejorado, Lizette Olivas, and Aydinaneth Ortiz. These consist of photos made in San Bernardino, Very long Seashore, Los Angeles, and Guadalajara, Mexico. A single photograph collection poignantly addresses mental overall health working with exterior pictures of California’s psychological hospitals. Yet another sequence capabilities a child’s joyful memories in San Bernardino.  

“For Christina, mentorship and giving again to the group are really important. She supports rising photographers by sharing her platform,” Szupinska explained. “Since the extremely beginning of our discussions, this was an vital level she introduced up. It’s essential to bear in mind that no artist is doing the job in a vacuum: mentors, peers, and college students can all have an influence on an artist’s apply. So in addition to the traveling study exhibition of Christina’s function, we resolved to organize this team demonstrate featuring Latinx ladies photographers.”

Joanna Szupinska, senior curator at UCR Arts, works on a vitrine display of the “Christina Fernandez: Multiple Exposure” exhibition on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. (UCR/Sandra Baltazar Martínez)

Joanna Szupinska, senior curator at UCR ARTS, is effective on a vitrine show of the “Christina Fernandez: Various Exposure” exhibition on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. (UCR/Sandra Baltazar Martínez)

“Tierra Entre Medio” is Spanish for earth in amongst. The artists speak to the diversity of Latinx communities and “beyond demonstrating the socio-cultural and actual physical nuances of landscapes involving the border and inland Southern California, these functions give a framework via which to contemplate how environments condition the perspectives and encounters of performing class, migrant, and diasporic communities,” wrote April Baca, UCR ARTS curatorial assistant.  

“Christina Fernandez: A number of Exposures” will be on display screen via February 5, 2023 at UCR Arts’s California Museum of Pictures. The exhibition is then scheduled to journey nationally. “Tierra Entre Medio” will be on perspective by way of April 2, 2023 at UCR ARTS’s Culver Centre of the Arts. 

The 5-thirty day period exhibition at UCR Arts is manufactured possible by several grants and community sponsors. The accompanying publication, “Christina Fernandez: Numerous Exposures,” is co-printed by UCR ARTS and UCLA Chicano Scientific studies Study Middle. Contributors include Cecilia Fajardo-Hill, Julian Myers, Chon A. Noriega, Sally Stein, Joanna Szupinska, Roberto Tejada, and Susanna V. Temkin.

Go to UCR ARTS

UCR Arts is positioned 3824 & 3834 Most important Avenue
Riverside, CA 92501

Saturday, Dec. 3: Fernandez will host an artist-led tour at 11 a.m. This is a no cost function and open to the general public. Ticket reservations are very advisable. The exhibition is presented concurrently with the Benton Museum of Artwork at Pomona College in Claremont on Dec. 3 Fernandez will also guide a tour at 2 p.m. at the Benton. 

Every single Sunday at 2 p.m. and each initially Thursday of the thirty day period: Community tours led by UCR Gluck Fellows are obtainable. Groups of 10 or a lot more persons need to routine a non-public tour. 

UCR ARTS hrs

Monday-Wednesday: Closed 
Thursday: Noon to 5 p.m. (open up till 9 p.m. on First Thursdays)
Friday: Noon to 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Christina Fernandez, "Lavanderia #1," 2002, from the series Lavanderia. Photo courtesy of the artist and Gallery Luisotti, Los Angeles.

Christina Fernandez, “Lavanderia #1,” 2002, from the collection Lavanderia. Photograph courtesy of the artist and Gallery Luisotti, Los Angeles.

Kenneth Proto

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