As a part of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations here on campus, the Reece Museum is presenting José Galvez’s “Al Norte al Sur: Latino Life in the South”.
This photography exhibition is the result of Galvez’s documentation and observation of Latinx people living in the southern states of America. This includes a representation of all aspects of their lives.
José Galvez is from Tucson, Arizona, but now resides in Durham, North Carolina. While he worked for the Los Angeles Times, he was not only the first Mexican American to photograph for this newspaper, but he also won a Pulitzer Prize for his series on Latino life in southern California.
Galvez travels across America to bring his works to life in many different museums, civic organizations, public libraries and colleges.
“Al Norte al Sur: Latino Life in the South” evolves as Galvez travels to show this exhibit. This exhibit has been ongoing, and now even shows the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on this group of people.
When interviewed at the University of Arkansas, Galvez expressed his appreciation of his photo subjects and how they live, interact, socialize and work.
“I hope that the viewer, as well as the viewed, can sense the respect and love that underscores my commitment to this documentary work,” Galvez says, “I hope I have done justice to who we as Latinos really are, have been and are becoming” (University of Arkansas, 2014).
Spenser Brenner, Exhibition Coordinator at the Reece Museum, discussed this exhibit and the different events that would occur during its running time at the museum.
“[Galvez] will be giving a presentation on Thursday, Oct. 7, at 5 p.m. in the Reece Museum. He will be giving his virtual keynote followed by a Q&A,” said Brenner. “This is also a way that the museum can help celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.”
The Reece Museum is located on ETSU’s campus and is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. Follow the Reece Museum on social media for more content and digital programming.
For more information about the exhibition or events, please visit https://www.etsu.edu/cas/cass/reece/exhibitions/upcoming.php
