In partnership with FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA-SAFOTO, the Instituto Cultural De Mexico in San Antonio (the Cultural Mission of Mexico’s Foreign Ministry), under the vigorous and impeccable Directorship of Gabriela Franco Palafox, is hosting four of the Festival’s 2008 Signature Exhibits, and a special film documentary screening. The Instituto Cultural De Mexico is located in Hemisfair Park in downtown San Antonio.

Instituto Cultural De Mexico. Main entrance.

The 2008 Signature Exhibits at the Instituto Cultural De Mexico include:

The Mini-Series, curated by Michael Mehl, on display in the Instituto’s David Alfaro Siqueiros Gallery, features the work of Nathalie Daoust (Canada), (Two Heroes) Alexander Beloff & Stanislav Gordiyenko (Russia), Reiko Imoto (Japan-Belgium), Marcelo Isarrualde (Uruguay-Spain), Tan Ngiap Heng (Singapore), Phel Steinmetz (San Diego, California), and Saul Zanolari (Switzerland).

On display in the Jose Clemente Orozco Gallery is Centenario De Gabriel Figueroa, an exhibit of film stills from the classic movies of cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa (Mexico City), curated and printed by photographer/filmmaker Gabriel Figueroa Flores (Mexico City).

Featured in the Diego Rivera Gallery is Premios Del Salon De La Fotografia De Nuevo Leon, a ten-year retrospective of chosen images from the annual juried photography show organized by the Fototeca-Cineteca de Nuevo Leon, in Monterrey, Mexico.

In the Frida Kahlo Gallery, Rebecca Dietz, San Antonio College Instructor of Photography, curated VAT Photography Exhibition, an exhibit of photographic works by Beginning Photographers From The San Antonio College Visual Arts And Technology Program.

On Sunday September 7, in the Instituto’s Auditorium, a screening was held for the film documentary Un Retrato De Diego-La Revolucion De La Mirada, produced and directed by Diego Lopez Rivera (Mexico City) and Gabriel Figueroa Flores. Special screenings are presented by appointment.

Gabriela Franco Palafox, Director, Instituto Cultural De Mexico in San Antonio. Dr. Romeo Flores Caballero, President, CONARTE Nuevo Leon. Ann Kinser, FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA.

Reiko Imoto. One of the featured artists in The Mini-Series, with images from her Time Traveler’s Diary exhibit.

Gabriel Figueroa Flores, Photographer/Filmmaker. Curator and printer of the Centenario De Gabriel Figueroa exhibit.

Gabriel Figueroa Flores, Gabriela Franco Palafox, and Producer/Director Diego Lopez Rivera.

Rebecca Dietz, Photographer/Instructor, and Curator, VAT Photography Exhibition.

Partial view of The Mini-Series exhibit seen from the entrance to the David Alfaro Siqueiros Gallery.

Partial view of The Mini-Series exhibit, from the rear of the gallery.

Another partial view of The Mini-Series exhibit.

Images from Nathalie Daoust’s series, Frozen In Time, from The Mini-Series exhibit.

Images from (Two Heroes) Alexander Beloff & Stanislav Gordiyenko’s series, Off, from The Mini-Series exhibit.

Images from Marcelo Isarrualde’s series, Stiletto, from The Mini-Series exhibit.

Images from Reiko Imoto’s series, Time Traveler’s Diary, from The Mini-Series exhibit.

Images from Saul Zanolari’s series, Twilight Of The Goddess, from The Mini-Series exhibit.

Images from Tan Ngiap Heng’s series, Textures Of Life, from The Mini-Series exhibit.

Images from Phel Steinmetz’s series, Narcissus’ Brother, from The Mini-Series exhibit.

Festival enthusiasts viewing images from The Mini-Series exhibit.

Festival stalwarts, Anita Valencia and Jan Tips, both artists, admiring The Mini-Series exhibit.

Festival friends, Bob McKinley (UTSA) and Esther Ng (UIW), sharing their support for the Festival with Ann Kinser.

Elizabeth Wallace Duarte and her daughter Crystal.

Jeffrey Dyer empathizing with office workers in Russia.

Festival friends Kathe Doran (CPS) and Linda Gilmore (San Antonio Express News) enjoying the exhibits at the Instituto Cultural de Mexico.

Gabriela Franco Palafox, Reiko Imoto and Rebecca Dietz.

Partial view of the Centenario De Gabriel Figueroa exhibit seen from the Jose Clemente Orozco Gallery entrance.

Partial view of the exhibit.

Detail of the Centenario De Gabriel Figueroa exhibit.

Partial view of the exhibit from the rear of the gallery.

Partial view of the exhibit.

Partial view of the Centenario De Gabriel Figueroa exhibit.

Viewing public in the Orozco Gallery.

The peripatetic duo, David Rubin (SAMA) and Richard Arredondo (SAC) at the Instituto’s exhibit openings.

Featured Curator/Printer Gabriel Figueroa Flores discussing the exhibition images with Richard Arredondo and David Rubin.

Felix Padron, Director, Office Of Cultural Affairs, and his wife, Architect Grace Padron.

Kathy Armstrong (Southwest School of Art & Craft) and her daughter Astrid, planning their tour of the exhibits.

Entrance to the Frida Kahlo Gallery, where the Premios Del Salon De La Fotografia De Nuevo Leon exhibit is on display.

Partial view of the Premios Del Salon De La Fotografia De Nuevo Leon exhibit.

Partial view of the Premios Del Salon De La Fotografia De Nuevo Leon exhibit.

Partial view of the Premios Del Salon De La Fotografia De Nuevo Leon exhibit.

Partial view of the Premios Del Salon De La Fotografia De Nuevo Leon exhibit.

Partial view of the Premios Del Salon De La Fotografia De Nuevo Leon exhibit.

Detail of the Premios Del Salon De La Fotografia De Nuevo Leon exhibit.

Gallery owners Al and Liz Rendon, visit with Omar Rodriguez and Veronica Prida, both artists, at the Instituto’s exhibits.

Felix Padron and Omar Rodriguez.

Friends of the festival James and Kathleen Viesca with Ann Kinser.

Nancy Fullerton (SAMA) studying a series of images from the Premios Del Salon De La Fotografia De Nuevo Leon exhibit.

Entrance to the VAT Photography Exhibition in the Frida Kahlo Gallery.

Partial view of the VAT Photography Exhibition.

Partial view of the VAT Photography Exhibition from the rear of the gallery.

Partial view of the VAT Photography Exhibition.

Detail of the VAT Photography Exhibition.

Detail of the VAT Photography Exhibition.

Festival fans viewing images at the VAT Photography Exhibition.

Da Girls! Jan Tips, Kathy Armstrong, Nancy Fullerton and Anita Valencia, with Astrid splashing in the background.

Gabriela Franco Palafox in the Auditorium of the Instituto Cultural De Mexico, introducing the screening of the documentary Un Retrato De Diego-La Revolucion De La Mirada, on Sunday, September 7.

Diego Lopez Rivera, Producer/Director.

Gabriel Figueroa Flores, Producer/Director.

Diego Lopez Rivera and Gabrel Figueroa Flores during the question and answer session after the screening.

Felix Padron, David Silvan and dozens of attendees at the film screening.

Standing-room only in the Instituto’s Auditorium.

An attentive public during the Q&A session with the filmmakers.

Allegorical montage of Diego Lopez Rivera and Gabriel Figueroa Flores.

Instituto Cultural De Mexico from behind the Hemisfair Park Clocktower.