Rhynna M. Santos
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Sandra Ayala Nueva Luz 1
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Lizzy Alejandro
Publisher’s Statement
Dear En Foco Supporters,
We are fortunate to once again publish another issue of Nueva Luz. For many, Nueva Luz has been a beacon of opportunity for many photographers of color and though it is a beacon that has been undercapitalized. It has survived… a tribute to the En Foco family. Sadly, this year is no different and in many ways far more severe. It is a sign of diminishing support for community based arts organizations like En Foco and like so many others, we are struggling to sustain our commitment to quality and service. Given the fiscal realities, En Foco is compelled to introduce cost saving measures so that we can deliver basic services. Nueva Luz will be published semi-annually instead of triannual. We will only print 500 copies but we will make each issue available at no cost to the public. This move from the print version to an online platform allows us to reach a much broader public with immense audience development possibilities. Needless to say, we view this as a more democratic approach as we move vigorously to integrate our social media as an efficient, cost effective venture. For the next fiscal year, Nueva Luz will publish an issue of the five En Foco Photography Fellowship awardees who were selected through a competitive peer panel process. The second one will be centered on En Foco’s early history and its permanent collection. One of our most important but relatively unknown assets is our permanent collection with over 800 photographs and related vital items, e.g. catalogues, reviews, etc. What is trending for En Foco is the financial support of its constituency and the sharing of our important collection with our community and family of artists. Thank you for your extraordinary support of Nueva Luz, En Foco’s professional development services, exhibitions, and networking (virtual and live) events. Please enjoy this issue but in the meantime, we welcome your suggestions, critiques, curatorial ideas, etc. from you to info@enfoco.org. Bill Aguado Layza Garcia
Interim Director Program Manager/Editor
N ue v a Luz Pu b l i sh e r s Pa g e Board of Directors
Board of Advisors
Frank Gimpaya, Chairperson George Acevedo Leenda Bonilla Juanita Lanzo George Malave Bruce Miller
Nadema Agard Chug Benitez Tr e y B o d d i e Elizabeth Ferrer Ricky Flores Charlie Grosso Jeff Hoone Marysol Nieves M . V. S w a n s o n
En Foco Staff Bill Aguado
Interim Director
Layza Garcia
Program Manager & Editor
Marisol Diaz
Exhibitions Consultant
Ka th i Pa vl i ck
D ev el opment Vo lu n t e e r
Néstor Otero
Nu e v a L u z De s ig n & Pr o d u c t io n
Charles Biasini-Rivera
Co - F o u n d e r a n d Dir e c t o r Em e r it u s
F rank Gimpaya
O r ig in a l De s ig n & Co n c e p t
Eastwood Litho, Inc. Pr in t in g
C l a i r e D o r fm an
P ermanent C olle c t io n s A rts A dmi ni s tra t io n I n t e r n
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cover
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Sandra Ayala . Break Away . 2014 . digital print
photographic journal volume 20 num.1
Contents
Ed
i t o r i a l
Es
s ay
Living Latina : The Bronx Women’s Photo Collective
As the negative stereotypes that have moved across our
relationship between the subject and the photographer. In
communities, there have been members of the Puerto
contrast, male photographers would never have had the level
Rican community converting to the Islamic faith. Rhynna M.
of engagement that Alejandro has. Further her sensitivity
Santos began to document Puerto Rican Muslim women as
and personalized sensual imagery also reflects Alejandro’s
they transitioned from their Christian beliefs to Islam. What
awareness of photography as a tool that represents her
emerged was a photographic study entitled, “A Transcendent
sense of beauty.
Calling: Latina Muslim Portraiture.” The rationale of what on the surface appears to be a dramatic shift in religious
Introduction 2–3 Rhynna M. Santos Sandra Ayala Lizzy Alejandro
4–11 12–17 18–23
practices, so alien to the traditional Puerto Rican culture, This issue of Nueva Luz is a departure from our previously
demonstrate an independence of choice, and the courage
curated publications. The values that En Foco treasures with
implicit in selecting a religious belief so different from her
great pride are a commitment to quality, professionalism,
cultural upbringing. To be sure the conversions among
cultural equity, and community. These values will not be
Puerto Rican women were voluntary, Santos eloquently
compromised instead they will be forcefully asserted. What
captured the essence of this new lifestyle without demeaning
will be emphasized in future issues will be lack of cultural
their new religious path.
equity and access to funding resources for artists, arts organizations, and community groups of color. At the same time, we want to document photography initiatives organized by community-based collectives and informal groups that
Alejandro was raised in a Jehovah
Witnesses household with very defined cultural roles and expectations for the woman. This untraditional upbringing via-a-via the Puerto Rican culture and family added more personal texture and nuance in her imagery. This evolution of traditional values whether it’s based on her Jehovah Witness beliefs within the context of the Puerto Rican culture has heightened a new definition of cultural models and insights. As a member of the Collective and her participation in the
San d r a Ay al a Sandra Ayala is a nurse and a self-taught artist. Her carefully composed photographs express her relationship
Living Latina, it provided her opportunities to investigate through her photography her perception and sense of self as a Puerto Rican woman.
reminder of Catholicism’s symbols: the Virgin Mary, white
The Bronx Women’s Photo Collective (TBWPC) through
doves, candles, crosses, and veils. In recent years, she
the Living Latina exhibition posits a curatorial philosophy
has been experimenting and refining her visual vocabulary
and perspective on the female photographer of color as
by including exquisite surreal photographs that are richly
an emerging creative force in photography by defining and
layered with spiritual meaning. Ayala created a series of
redefining preconceived roles of the Latinas in the arts.
photographs that borrow from the Renaissance paintings’
The Collective is providing a platform for future artistic
formal elements of composition and perspective, light and
Living Latina endeavors, as well as, opportunities for new
tonal value. These photographs are visual poems that reflect
voices who lack the necessary venues. Further, these three
her sentiments about institutionalized religion. Using family
articulate photographers are as different in style as their
members as models and subjects, Ayala connect to her roots
visions are. Yet there is a sense of a singular voice that is
through imagery that are both familiar and recognizable. As
mutually beneficial and shared. This groundbreaking trio,
Catholics have experienced conflicts with their faith in such
Rhynna Santos, Sandra Ayala, and Lizzy Alejandro has just
areas as: marriage, sexuality, gender roles, reproductive
scratched the surface as a Collective and as independent
rights and sexual abuse scandals, Ayala’s work appropriates
artists. One can only imagine how their careers will mature
this religious iconography and subtly blends it with her own
and their impact on subsequent generations of Puerto Rican
experiences and aspirations. Her work signifies imagery
women photographers. This edition of Nueva Luz and the
where the elements of reality are modified, mediated and
introduction of the Bronx Women’s Photo Collective will
reimagined as inspired by real events, fears, anxieties, loses
unveil this creative force to a much broader audience: locally,
Rhynna M . Santos
and accomplishments.
regionally, and nationally. Ultimately, we hope that there will
Within the context of the United States invasion of Iraq
L iz z y Al ej andr o
mainstream art scene. One such voice that burst onto the scene is the recently formed Bronx Women’s Photo Collective by Rhynna M. Santos, Sandra Ayala, and Lizzy Alejandro. Their curated exhibition, Living Latina at Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx reflected the voices of these Puerto Rican women photographers as they interpreted their respective cultural values, communities, and personal visions. Rhynna M. Santos’ sensitive portrayal of Puerto Rican Muslim women defies the usual cultural stereotype; whereas Sandra Ayala’s reimagined images of legendary Latina performing artists who have inspired young women; and Lizzy Alejandro documents women who have chosen non-traditional roles. These are voices that are rarely heard beyond the confines of their homes and neighborhoods. The Living Latina exhibition is a testimonial to these three Puerto Rican photographers and the vision they share with the public.
Nu ev a Luz is ma de pos s ible t hr ough t he Nat ion a l E ndowme nt fo r the Ar t s , t he New Yor k St at e Cou n c i l o n t he Arts, the New Yor k Cit y Depar t m ent of Cult u r a l A ff a i r s , B ro nx-Le ba no n Ho s pit al Cent er, pr iv at e c ont r ibu t o r s , memb ers, an d sub s c r iber s .
religious conviction.
to religion through its iconography. Her work is a constant
reflect contemporary values not always represented in the
Copyrig ht © 2 01 6 by En Foc o, I nc . I S SN 0 88 7-5 85 5 A ll Righ ts Re se rve d 1125 Gran d Co ncour s e, Br onx , NY 10452 www.e nfo co .org | t wit t er / @enf oc o f aceb oo k/e nfo co | ins t agr am / enf oc o_inc
Further defining her photographic oeuvre was her family’s
and Afghanistan, it fueled the rise of radical Islamic fundamentalism throughout the Middle East and its spread to the United States. The excesses of these radical fundamentalists has fueled widespread Islamic-phobia against the law-abiding members of our communities.
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be other women photographers that will come together and
Lizzy Alejandro’s portraits not only focus on the woman’s body but more specially the Latina. Alejandro gently stages and veils the body in a way that refine a woman’s sense of self in the nude body. Her female subjects never make eye contact with the camera and yet the viewer senses the personal
challenge cultural equity and opportunities. Such cultural constructs, like the collective will always be a priority for Nueva Luz and En Foco. Bill Aguado . Interim Director J u a n i ta L a n z o . c u r ato r i a l a d v i s o r
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Rhynna M. Santos Rhynna M. Santos is a photographer born in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico and currently residing in Bronx, New York. Santos graduated from UCLA in 2007. Since then she has worked with a number of Bronx based organizations including Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center, Bronx Documentary Center, and Bronx Art Space. In 2014, Santos had her first solo exhibition in Madrid, Spain entitled, Window to the Bronx. The exhibition expanded a global dialogue about urban, Latino immigration. Santos depicts the everyday life, geographies, emotions and realities of people of color in Bronx, New York. She has exhibited work as featured artist in Curate NYC 2013, Bronx Art Space: Access to Art 2014, Bronx X Bronx 2014, the Jerome Avenue Workers Project 2015, and Bronx Now 2016. In addition to being the founding member of the Bronx Women’s Photo Collective, Santos is a member of the Bronx Documentary Center / Bronx Photo League and curator of the Instagram feed Everyday Bronx.
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A Tr a n s c e n d e n t C a l l i n g : L a t i n a M u s l i m P o r t r a i t u r e . s e r i e s i n p r o g r e s s . 2 0 1 6 . d i g i t a l p r i n t
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A Tr a n s c e n d e n t C a l l i n g : L a t i n a M u s l i m N Pu o ret vr aa i tLu u r ez .9 s e r i e s i n p r o g r e s s . 2 0 1 6 . d i g i t a l p r i n t
A Tr a n s c e n d e n t C a l l i n g : L a t i n a M u s l i m P o r t r a i t u r e . s e r i e s i n p r o g r e s s . 2 0 1 6 . d i g i t a l p r i n t
S u l t a n a O c a s i o , A Tr a n s c e n d e n t C a l l i n g : L a t i n a M u s l i m P o r t r a i t u r e . s e r i e s i n p r o g r e s s . 2 0 1 6 . d i g i t a l p r i n t
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M a r i b e l C a n c e l , A Tr a n s c e n d e n t C a l l i n g : L a t i n a M u s l i m P o r t r a i t u r e . s e r i e s i n p r o g r e s s . 2 0 1 6 . d i g i t a l p r i n t V i l m a A . S a n t o s , A Tr a n s c e n d e n t C a l l i n g : L a t i n a M u s l i m P o r t r a i t u r e . s e r i e s i n p r o g r e s s . 2 0 1 6 . d i g i t a l p r i n t
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G a b r i e l l a C a r p i o , A Tr a n s c e n d e n t C a l l i n g : L a t i n a M u s l i m P o r t r a i t u r e . s e r i e s i n p r o g r e s s . 2 0 1 6 . d i g i t a l p r i n t
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Sandra Ayala Sandra Ayala is a self-taught visual artist/photographer born and raised in the South Bronx to Puerto Rican parents; liberating her mind by creating works of Art which speak to her emotionally and free her from everyday life. By using familiar subjects to create one of a kind fine art portraits she is able to capture the viewer’s attention and bring forth emotions and visions from within her head onto a canvas. Ayala resides in the Bronx and often uses it’s amazing parks as her backdrops. Ayala is currently working on an project about inspirational Latinas. Ayala has exhibited her work for the Armory show at The Bronx Museum of the Arts, BronxArtSpace, Edgar Allan Poe Visitor’s Center, Lincoln Hospital Exhibition Hall, and Rush Art Gallery in NYC.
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S e l f - p o r t r a i t 2 - M a n i f e s t o s o f MNi nudesv L a o Ls tu z. 21051 2 . d i g i t a l l y m a n i p u l a t e d p r i n t
Te l l M e Y o u r W o r s t , Ta k e M e To C h u r c h s e r i e s . 2 0 1 5 . d i g i t a l l y m a n i p u l a t e d p r i n t
T h e F i n e L i n e B e t w e e n S i n n e r s a n d S a i n t s , Ta k e M e To C h u r c h s e r i e s . 2 0 1 5 . d i g i t a l l y m a n i p u l a t e d p r i n t
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W h e n S a i n t s A r e O u t To S a v e Y o u , Ta k e M e To C h u r c h s e r i e s . 2 0 1 6 . d i g i t a l l y m a n i p u l a t e d p r i n t
S e l f - P o r t r a i t 1 - H o m a g e t o F r i d a . 2 0 11 . d i g i t a l l y m a n i p u l a t e d p r i n t
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Lizzy Alejandro Lizzy Alejandro is a visual artist, born and raised in The Bronx. She attended Lehman College, earning her BA in Studio Art with a concentration in photography. Alejandro fell in love with photography at the age of 16 when she enrolled for photography classes at a program called The Point, located in the South Bronx. Since then, she has not put down her camera. In 2010, Alejandro fell in love yet again; inspired by the work of Banksy and M.I.A, she started creating stencils from her photographs. She often combines the two mediums in her work. Alejandro has exhibited at the Lehman College Art Gallery, BronxArtSpace, Andrew Freedman Home, the Galleries at Krasdale Foods, and in the Bronx Latin American Art Biennial. She still resides in The Bronx.
S e l f P o r t r a i t : H o m a g e t o F r i d a . 2 0 11
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R a p t u r e N. u2e0 v1 a3 .L u s cz a 2 n1 ned negative printed on canvas
Infierno, Vejigante series . 2015 . digital print
Vejigante, Vejigante series . 2014 . digital print
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Ta i n o . 2 0 1 4 . d i g i t a l p r i n t
Craving . 2010 . digital print
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Mosaic Literary Conference
Th e e x h ib it ion i s ma d e p o ssi b l e wi t h a g r a nt from t he B ronx- Le ba non Hospit a l Ce nt e r w it h a ddi ti onal s upport 6 wNYor u e kv aCitLyu De z pa r t me nt of Cult ur a l Affa ir s, a nd pri vate donors . fro m t h e N e w Yo r k S t a t e Co u n c i l o n t h e A r t s, t he 2Ne
Saturday 11/19/2016
1040 Grand Concourse at 165th St. BX NYC
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This event is presented by the Literary Freedom Project, a Bronx-based nonprofit arts organization, and is made possible with donations and public funds from the Bronx Council on the Arts through the New York State Council on the Arts.
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