Centro de Artes’ newest exhibit, titled “From SA to SA: From South America to San Antonio,” takes visitors on a tour of South American history, culture and heritage to shed light on women’s rights, immigration, the impact of COVID-19 and more through photography.
Guillermina Zabala, curator of the exhibit and professor of practice of film and media studies at UTSA, hopes those who visit the exhibit will leave with a new sense of understanding and perspective regarding the history and culture of South America. Zabala gave a peek behind the scenes of the exhibit.
The exhibit includes works from 20 photographers, all finally on display after being halted when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Each photograph tells a story of South American heritage and tradition, from the fight for women’s rights throughout history to the impact COVID-19 had on the people of South America.
“This is documentary work,” Zabala said, referring to the exhibit. “But [it] also has a specific sensitivity to it.”
The gallery features various types of photographs, including depictions of protests, art, people and religious images. While some of the photographs are shown in color, others are presented in black and white. Each image shows the photographers’ dedication to their work and their desire to share life experiences. The photographs work together to bring pieces of South America to San Antonio and provide the opportunity for visitors to catch a glimpse of a culture they might not have explored before. Zabala hopes others will feel a sense of connection to the exhibit, just as she does.
When asked what visitors should take away from the exhibit, Zabala said, “I would like for people to be immersed in the photographs, because they’re very powerful, because you will learn a lot about people’s stories. You’ll learn about a lot of different places, very far away from San Antonio and most importantly, you’re aware of all the multiple issues happening in other places in the world.”
The exhibit is free and open to the public through Dec. 30 at Centro de Artes, with artist talks set to take place on Oct. 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Nov. 15 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, see Centro de Artes’ exhibit page.
