We are excited to present a special print viewing of the work of Louis Carlos Bernal, the Arizona-born photographer who founded and directed the photography program at Pima Community College. Following a tradition of Latin American documentary street photography, Bernal photographed in the barrio, making images that captured the unique character of Chicano life. When making portraits, he was drawn to spaces used for gathering and communion, spaces that reflected his subjects’ relationships to their communities. Bernal wrote of his work, “My images speak of the religious and family ties I have experienced as a Chicano. I have concerned myself with the mysticism of the Southwest and the strength of the spiritual and cultural values of the barrio.”

The Center for Creative Photography is home to the Louis Carlos Bernal archive, which currently comprises over a hundred fine prints, with a major new acquisition planned for 2017. The archive also includes the artist’s contact sheets, work prints, and materials relating to Bernal’s participation in the landmark Espejo project, an effort by five photographers to document the Mexican American experience, funded by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). 

The print viewing is presented in conjunction with an exhibition of previously unseen works by Bernal at the Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery at Pima Community College, on view through December 9, 2016. Learn more about their exhibition at: https://www.pima.edu/community/the-arts/louis-carlos-bernal-gallery/current-exhibit.html.