By Miguel Padilla
Sydney Romero was a community college student when Covid-19 hit and changed her life. The pandemic made her feel isolated, as she became acutely aware of the vitriol spewed by those around her. Hues, and the many colors that line the illuminated corridors of her campus, remind her of her complex and perseverant Filipino/a/x heritage. Ms. Romero’s story, and the voices of many other Filipino-American (FilAm) students were present at Professor Rangel A Zarate’s Photovoice Inquiry, held from October 27 - 31 at San Bernardino Valley College.
Titled “From the Lens of (In)Visibility,” the exhibition curated by Professor Zarate highlights the Filipino-American student experience during the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Exploring themes of identity, resilience, and belonging; Professor Zarate’s dissertation piece carried much of his own cultural and academic background forth as he himself continues to navigate through his third-year as a Filipino-Mexican doctoral student. The exhibition gives often underrepresented FilAm students an artistic platform to express their thoughts and experiences in a public space.
Walking into the event, I was greeted by volunteers – all upbeat and generous as I asked if I could collect some of the many pamphlets and brochures spread on the tables. After entering my name into a sign-in sheet, the photo voices (large pieces of printed laminate sheet with title, picture, and text in sequential order) were propped up on wooden easels encircling the room, forming an exhibitional walkway space. A silent many stood, pouring over every word of each contributing artist, while a few conversed about their thoughts in small groups. Images of flowers, cultural dress, and food were abundant. A peacefulness reigned over the room as stories were read by observers – many of which were of Asian-American heritage.
Kommentare