Latinos A Photographic Celebration - Americanos: Latino Life in the United States - Brief Article

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Sept, 2000

An insightful exhibition shows Hispanic Americans in their many roles and reveals the indelible mark they have made in the U.S.

IN A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP, The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum and The Field Museum, both in Chicago, are presenting an exhibition, "Americanos: Latino Life in the United States," a photographic celebration of Latino cultures in this country. It contains 120 photos organized into six sections representing different aspects of Latino life. The Field Museum features the sections depicting Family, Work, Sports, and Culture and the Arts. The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum showcases photos of Community and Spiritual Life.

The exhibition shows an extraordinary and surprising view of the breadth and variety of the Latino experience, encompassing the spectra of national origin, economic status, education, professions, religion, and language. Through the medium of photography at its highest artistic level, "Americanos" explores the complexity of interconnected cultures and presents a fascinating self-portrait of Latino America.

The intimate portrait of Latino Americans was the idea of actor-producer Edward James Olmos. He explains the exhibition this way: "Why `Americanos'? There are several reasons. Too often, this society sees us not as Americans, but as strangers of this land. We have worked hard to help build this country and we continue to do so every day. When people see the face of America, they need to also see our images included. Second, as Latinos, we often think of Americanos as the others in this country, not us. We, and especially our children, need to see that we are an integral and equal part of this society. Third, we wanted a title that would recognize and honor our bilingual heritage and would be easily understood in both English and Spanish. And finally, we wanted to illustrate that, much like a quilt woven with many intricate and beautiful fibers, Latinos are a proud and diverse people interwoven with indigenous, Spanish/European, African, and Asian roots. We are citizens not only of the United States of America, but of all the Americas and countries around the world."

A distinguished jury of photojournalists selected the photographs commissioned for the exhibition. They worked with the Smithsonian Institution and Olmos Productions to bring to the public both familiar and unfamiliar images. From fashion designer to clergyman to migrant farm worker, the pictures reveal the diversity and synergy--as well as the important contributions--of the Latino communities.

The individual portraits offer a glimpse into the everyday lives of people across the nation. A photograph by Rita Rivera features police officer Lisa Demetriou and her young son at the Puerto Rican Day parade in New York City. Demetriou proudly stands in her uniform with her arm around her child. The little boy is wearing a police hat like his mother's and has an embroidered Police Department patch sewn onto the sleeve of his shirt. Their hands, in stark white gloves, are holding Puerto Rican parade flags. They convey a sense of warmth and satisfaction as they look toward the photographer.

Another example is an image by photographer Antonio Perez that features a class of children at St. Michael's School in Chicago. The youngsters, dressed in school uniforms, stand beside their desks with the palms of their hands placed together on their chests in prayer. As soft light comes in through the classroom window and shines upon them, they appear angelic as they say their morning prayers. The photo captures a precious moment in time--a touching slice of everyday life.

Another photo by Perez shows eight-year-old Carolina Bernal seated in front of a chessboard. Her chin rests upon her folded hands, her elbows leaning on the table before her. The young girl, a member of the Knight Moves Chess Club in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, appears very serious as she contemplates her next move. From the close-up nature of the shot, the viewer is essentially placed in the seat of the girl's opponent.

Other scenes include a baptism, a basketball game, a birthday celebration, children on their way to make their First Communion, a grandmother holding her grandchild, and a mourning service for a lost loved one. Each image offers an up-close and personal experience. One can't help but feel an instant connection with the people in the photographs.

The exhibition not only features everyday people in their everyday lives, it highlights a number of famous Latinos, including rock musician Carlos Santana, salsa queen Celia Cruz, bandleader Tito Puente, pop singer Gloria Estefan, salsa star Marc Anthony, actor Andy Garcia, fashion designers Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera, and baseball player Sammy Sosa. One vibrant color photo pictures Cruz dressed in a bright-green, floorlength dress with ruffles. She is shown with her husband, conductor Pedro Knight, who is wearing a black tuxedo. The couple is standing on a brilliant green lawn surrounded by blue skies and towering palm trees. The image has a tropical feel--a stunning and appropriate setting, given her genre of music.