For the last three years, FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA has maintained a solid working partnership with the Instituto Cultural De Mexico, which for the last couple of years has been the main site for the FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA Signature Exhibits. Our Signature Exhibits encompass a series of individual exhibits that reflect a range of work that we, as festival organizers, like to see. In the case of the Instituto Cultural De Mexico (which sits right in the middle of Hemisfair Park, in downtown San Antonio), the four well appointed galleries inside the building make for a unique opportunity to present these exhibits of our choice (for this, the 2009 Festival, there are three other FOTOSEPTIEMBRE Signature Exhibits in different San Antonio locations).

Our partnership with the Instituto Cultural De Mexico has been solidified by the presence of Gabriela Franco Palafox, the current Director of the institution, whose enthusiasm, energy, and administrative expertise are a welcome source of support for our efforts.

Most of them on display until the end of October, 2009, the four 2009 Signature Exhibits in the galleries at the Instituto Cultural De Mexico are:

The Mini Series II, curated by Michael Mehl, which includes a group of mini exhibits of small prints by Fernanda Chemale (Brazil), Tom Drahos (France), Alastair Magnaldo (France), Erwin Staeheli (Switzerland), Philipp Scholz Rittermann (California), and Berthold Steinhilber (Germany).

Nuevo Leon: Imagenes De Nuestra Memoria, a selection of period images from the archives of the Fototeca De Nuevo Leon, also curated by Michael Mehl. This exhibit will remain on display until the end of 2009.

The Mexico Of Leo Matiz, an exhibit of vintage and contemporary prints of images by Leo Matiz (1917-1998), the Colombian-Mexican master of photography. The exhibition is coordinated by the Instituto Cultural De Mexico with support from the Leo Matiz Foundation (Colombia).

The Way I Sí It, a group show that features images by Say Sí alumnae, and is curated by Guillermina Zabala, Artist/Media Arts Program Director at Say Sí, an arts learning center for middle- and high-school students. The young exhibiting San Antonio artists are: Miles Fermin, Brian Gonzalez, Elizabeth Gonzalez, Yvonne Hernandez, Olivia Hinojosa, Tim Lefkowitz, Mark Martinez, Michael Martinez, Michael S. Martinez, Yoomi Park, Antonio Rodriguez, Ashley Sanchez, and Araselle Vivenza.

All these exhibits are the result of over eighteen months of planning and coordination, and would not have been possible without the invaluable support of our 2009 Festival Partners: Instituto Cultural de Mexico, Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores, CONARTE Nuevo Leon, Fototeca de Nuevo Leon, Leo Matiz Foundation, SAPL Imaging, and Say Sí.

Erwin Staeheli, featured artist, The Mini Series II, Instituto Cultural De Mexico.

Philipp Scholz Rittermann, featured artist, The Mini Series II, Instituto Cultural De Mexico.

Ashley Sanchez, featured artist, The Way I Sí It, Instituto Cultural De Mexico.

Yoomi Park, featured artist, The Way I Sí It, Instituto Cultural De Mexico.

Tim Lefkowitz, featured artist, The Way I Sí It, Instituto Cultural De Mexico.

Loretto Garza Zambrano, Director, Fototeca De Nuevo Leon, and Dr. Romeo Flores Caballero, President CONARTE Nuevo Leon.

Guillermina Zabala, curator, The Way I Sí It.

Ann Kinser, FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA, and Gabriela Franco Palafox, Instituto Cultural De Mexico.

Loretto Garza Zambrano, Patricia Mendoza, Alejandra Matiz, and Gabriela Franco Palafox. Patricia Mendoza is the founder and former Director of Centro de la Imagen in Mexico City, and the institutional founder of Fotoseptiembre in Mexico. Alejandra Matiz is the daughter of photographer Leo Matiz and the Director of the Leo Matiz Foundation.

Title board, Nuevo Leon: Imagenes De Nuestra Memoria exhibit.

Partial view, Nuevo Leon: Imagenes De Nuestra Memoria exhibit.

Partial view, Nuevo Leon: Imagenes De Nuestra Memoria exhibit.

Partial view, Nuevo Leon: Imagenes De Nuestra Memoria exhibit.

Partial view, Nuevo Leon: Imagenes De Nuestra Memoria exhibit.

Partial view, Nuevo Leon: Imagenes De Nuestra Memoria exhibit.

Partial view, Nuevo Leon: Imagenes De Nuestra Memoria exhibit.

Title board, The Mini Series II exhibit.

Partial view, The Mini Series II exhibit.

Partial view, The Mini Series II exhibit.

Partial view, The Mini Series II exhibit.

Partial view, The Mini Series II exhibit.

ElefanteCidadeSerpente series by Fernanda Chemale. The Mini Series II.

Jaina series by TomDrahos. The Mini Series II.

Hautes Coutures series by Alastair Magnaldo. The Mini Series II.

Light Drawings series by Philipp Scholz Rittermann. The Mini Series II.

Passages series by Erwin Staeheli. The Mini Series II.

Ghost Towns series by Berthold Steinhilber. The Mini Series II.

Panoramic view of The Mini Series II exhibit. Photo by Philipp Scholz Rittermann.
Click on the photograph to view a larger-sized image.

Partial view of The Mexico of Leo Matiz exhibit.

Partial view of The Mexico of Leo Matiz exhibit.

Partial view of The Mexico of Leo Matiz exhibit.

Partial view of The Mexico of Leo Matiz exhibit.

Partial view of The Mexico of Leo Matiz exhibit.

Partial view of The Mexico of Leo Matiz exhibit.

Partial view of The Way I Sí It exhibit.

Partial view of The Way I Sí It exhibit.

Partial view of The Way I Sí It exhibit.

Partial view of The Way I Sí It exhibit.

Partial view of The Way I Sí It exhibit.

Partial view of The Way I Sí It exhibit.

Partial view of The Way I Sí It exhibit.

Partial view of The Way I Sí It exhibit.

Philipp Scholz Rittermann, Gabriela Franco Palafox, Erwin Staeheli and Ann Kinser.

Loretto Garza Zambrano and Mariaelena Flores Caballero.

Dr. Romeo Flores Caballero and Gabriela Franco Palafox.

Patricia Mendoza and Gabriela Franco Palafox.

Say Sí art students at the opening reception for the exhibits at the Instituto Cultural de Mexico.

Say Sí art students at the opening reception for the exhibits at the Instituto Cultural de Mexico.

The crowd thickens.

Say Sí art students at the Say Sí exhibit.

Viewers at the Leo Matiz exhibit.

Viewers at the Leo Matiz exhibit.

At The Mini Series II exhibit.

Lynn Hermann and Vilma Cajigas.

Mariaelena and Richard Mogas.

Joyce and Ken Townsend.

Felix and Grace Padron, with Terry Ybañez de Santiago and Armando Santiago de Ybañez.

Esther Ng and Robert McKinley.

Robert McKinley and Esther Ng looking at one of Erwin Staeheli’s books.

Ruth Rodriguez and Paul Vaughn. Date night without Soren.

And here he is: David Rubin. Is it me or does he look somewhat unimpressed?

Melanie Rush and Kemp Davis.

Kemp, Paul and Ruth humored by Philipp Scholz Rittermann’s Roboto impersonation.

Penelope Boyer and Patricia Mendoza in an animated Land Heritage conversation.

Alajandra Matiz discussing her father’s exhibit.

Patricio Hernandez, Loretto Garza Zambrano and a friend.

Dr. Romeo Flores Caballero and Alejandra Matiz.

Ann Kinser with Michael and Carol McConnell, and daughter Judith Berrean.

Kathy and Jimmy Viesca.

Rosanne White and a friend.

Richard Arredondo, very attentive.

Rick and Shelby Hunter.

Joan Miller, Georgie and Patrick Cunningham, and Jim Smyle.

Erwin Staeheli and Philipp Scholz Ritterman.

Liz Rendon discussing the Nuevo Leon exhibit with Ann Kinser.

Pose fotografica al estilo de las señoras de la alta sociedad neolonesa.

Taking a break.

Lucila Hurtado, Regina Martinez, Isabel Rico and Mariaelena Flores Caballero.

Nohemi Dorantes and Marisa Ahuja.

Instituto Cultural de Mexico. Hemisfair Park. San Antonio, Texas.