"Jump into the River With Two Names" is one of the photographs to be featured at Adair Margo Fine Arts. (Photo by Bruce Berman)
When “Border Stories: Photographs and Commentary by Bruce Berman,” exhibited at University of Texas at El Paso Centennial Museum on Thursday, Jan.21, and “Classic Bruce Berman: Photographs from the Border” (Friday, Jan. 29 at El Paso’s Adair Margo Fine Art) open, visitors to the galleries will be treated to a sensitive glimpse of life that represents one photojournalist’s view of the El Paso/Juarez border area.
Bruce Berman has been documenting the U.S.-Mexico border for three of his four decades as a professional photographer. He concentrates on the narrow stretch of land that encompasses El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. Berman lives and works deep in the borderlands, three blocks from the international bridge connecting the two cities. Nearly thirty years ago he wrote in his journal, “I have seen a new world. It is both physical fact and mythical idea – it is the U.S./Mexican border. I will make my stand here. I will try to ‘give face’ to this place so others can know it.”
Background and focus
NMSU photojournalism professor Bruce Berman displays a print from his upcoming show "Border Blogging with Bruce Berman" that opens Thursday at UTEP's Centennial Museum. (Photo by Victoria Molinar)
Berman has worked for The New York Times, Texas Monthly, the Dallas Morning News, USA Today, The Christian Science Monitor, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, Vanity Fair as well as local publications.
Berman, who currently teaches photography in the Journalism Department at New Mexico State University, has found himself at odds with the assignment editors who request images to prove a point. One example is when the New York Times asked for images depicting the “dire poverty of Juarez” as contrasted with the “gleaming towers of El Paso.”
“When Bruce took photographs of poverty, he found grateful people who never thought they would have so much,” Margo says. “His work extends beyond surface appearance, and gets to the heart.” Her gallery will host an opening from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29 and the photographer’s gallery talk at 12:45 – 1:30 p.m.
Border Blogging with Bruce Berman
When thinking of Juarez, Mexico, most people can only imagine the danger that has been the headlines of every newspaper. The fact that it is known to be more dangerous than the Middle East doesn’t help either. But for those who really know Juarez, knows what goes on beyond the print.
Professor and freelance photographer Bruce Berman felt right at home when he discovered the Segundo Barrio of El Paso, Texas. Coming from Chicago, his heart hungered for street photography, which is exactly what the border city fed him. Throughout these years of understanding life on the border, he has decided to keep a blog where his thoughts could be recorded.
Now, after collecting his many thoughts, Berman decided to exhibit his blog and photography at the University of Texas at El Paso’s Centennial Museum Jan. 14- March 13. The exhibit features a collection of his blog entries/photographs and will eventually turn into a book, which Berman is promoting through the exhibit.
"Alps de Juarez" is among the prints to be featured this month in El Paso exhibitions. (Photo by Bruce Berman)
“My intentions are serious, and my stories are serious,” said Berman on deciding to showcase his writing and photography. “They’re not about self-expression. They’re about using photographs to learn about the border, then disseminating what I’ve learned for people who are interested.”
Representing what he has learned about Juarez, one of Berman’s main goals is to remain journalistic.
“I really want students to come and see this exhibit so that they know I’m working as a photographer and not just academically,” said Berman. “I want them to know I’m on the same journey as they are.”
Bruce Berman’s Blog can be visited at: http://border-blog.com/ .
