Photos by Ricardo Romo

UTSA co-sponsors transnational photo exhibit June 22-July 25

(June 17, 2004)--The University of Texas at San Antonio and the Instituto de Mexico present the photograph exhibit, "San Antonio as a Transnational Community," June 22-July 25 at the Instituto de Mexico. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the Secretary of External Relations of Mexico and the Office of the Consul General of Mexico in San Antonio.

With a mixture of Mexican and European cultures and economic and institutional ties to Mexico, San Antonio provides the exhibit's context with a photographic examination of transnational lives. The project explores the multigenerational social, economic and religious practices that link migrants and non-migrants across the United States-Mexico border.

The exhibit is part of a project for which Harriett Romo, UTSA associate professor of sociology, is the principal investigator. Curated by Arturo Almeida, UTSA art consultant, the exhibit features photos by UTSA graduate student Tamara Casso, San Antonio photographer Al Rendon, UTSA President Ricardo Romo and New York photographer Bastienne Schmidt. The project includes research by UTSA professors Raquel Marquez and Ellen Riojas Clark.

"International migration can no longer be seen as a one-way process," said Harriett Romo. "Globalization challenges social organization and identity construction, and events, communities, lives and families are increasingly linked across borders. Instead of loosening their connections and trading one membership or identity for another, many people keep their feet in both worlds."

According to Romo, San Antonio exemplifies transnationalism rather than cultural assimilation with its continuing participation in the life of Mexico.

Exhibit hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, and noon-5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. An opening reception is 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, June 22 at the Instituto de Mexico in HemisFair Park.

The Rockefeller Foundation Creative and Culture Division and the Annie E. Casey Foundation provided support for the project.

For more information, contact Arturo Almeida at 210-240-9942 or the Instituto de Mexico at 210-223-5100.

--Tim Brownlee