FotoFest

Join us for the opening reception of "Artist-run, Artist-organized" on Saturday, October 5, 2–4 PM, at Silver Street Studios! Enjoy refreshments and a performance by La Mecha Contemporary artist Marissa Baez.

“Artist-run, Artist-organized" features three exhibitions by Texas-based artist groups La Mecha Contemporary (El Paso), Omnigenesis Collective (Austin, Dallas, Denton, San Antonio), and Throughline Collective (Houston).

La Mecha Contemporary's interdisciplinary artists explore home as physical space and mental construct in “Migrating Memories and the Spaces Between.”

In “Apeirophobia,” meaning fear of infinity or eternity, Omnigenesis Collective investigates the growing generative capabilities of artificial intelligence.

Houston's Throughline Collective addresses how places can summon diasporic memory, repressed histories, and mystical experiences in “Troubling the Boundaries.”

Tickets required. Free and open to the public.
🔗 Click the link to get your ticket: https://fotofest.org/arao-opening-reception

🖼️ Marissa Baez (La Mecha Contemporary), "Marigolds," 2023. From the series "Headpieces," 2019–. Print on archival hot press natural smooth matte paper. Courtesy of the artist.

Looking for a way to escape the never-ending Texas heat? FotoFest is seeking volunteers to assist with our upcoming exhibition, Artist-run, Artist-organized, between October 5 and November 16!

Come wait out the cooler months with us by creating a safe, welcoming atmosphere for visitors and assisting the team with various public programming.

Find your shifts here: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/15911282086

📸: Tere Garcia

FotoFest is pleased to announce that the juried winning proposals of artist groups Throughline Collective, Omnigenesis, and La Mecha Contemporary will be realized for the fall exhibition, "Artist-run, Artist-organized."

"Artist-run, Artist-organized," on view through October 5 and November 17, will comprise three discrete exhibitions. Each collective will lead two programs accompanying its exhibition, including artist talks, curatorial tours, and interactive performances!

Read more at www.fotofest.org/ArAo

We are seeking interns to assist with handling, logging, and installing artwork as well as contributing to the Exhibition department's day-to-day operations.

✅ Visit fotofest.org/interns to read and apply!

The exhibition internship is ideal for those pursuing a professional career in photography, art history, curatorial studies, arts administration, nonprofit art spaces, commercial galleries, or as a working artist.

Have you seen the "JY Photo Lab" book at FotoFest's latest student exhibition, "Reflecting the Light of the Sun?"

Jack Yates High School photo students respond to a rich three-decade image archive of Houston's Third Ward, created by the class's founder, Ray Carrington III.

Step into the students' shoes as you look at their photographs paired with reflections and anecdotes. "Reflecting the Light of the Sun" is on view until July 14 at FotoFest.

📸 Jack Yates High School
⏰ Wednesday–Sunday | 11 AM–6 PM
📍 East Gallery inside Silver Street Studios | 2000 Edwards Street

"Self love gone save you every time!"

"Eyes will always look into the future..."

"Try to see my [past through] my eyes"

Students from Hartman Middle School share their thoughts through photography, writing, and mixed-media collage in "Reflecting the Light of the Sun." See the exhibition at FotoFest until July 14.

⏰ Wednesday–Sunday | 11 AM–6 PM
📍 East Gallery inside Silver Street Studios | 2000 Edwards Street

"Reflecting the Light of the Sun" has been extended by another week until July 14. Plan your visit soon!

The exhibition's 400+ photo-based images and writings capture students' reflections through collage, portraiture, landscapes, and more.

⏰ Wednesday–Sunday | 11 AM–6 PM
📍 East Gallery inside Silver Street Studios | 2000 Edwards Street

The gallery is open today! Come see Reflecting the Light of the Sun today between 11 AM and 6 PM in Silver Street Studios’ East Gallery!

The FotoFest administrative office is closed July 4–14 and will reopen July 15.

⏰ Wednesday–Sunday | 11 AM–6 PM
📍 East Gallery inside Silver Street Studios | 2000 Edwards Street

In "Sky Mural" (2024), Whidby Elementary students combine illustrations of their surroundings with sky photographs and manifestos for a better world.

The resulting cube-like forms were inspired by street artist ThankYouX combined with aspects of Mark Menjivar's "Under One Sky" project.

See "Sky Mural" in the exhibition "Reflecting the Light of the Sun" until July 6 at FotoFest.

⏰ Wednesday–Sunday | 11 AM–6 PM
📍 East Gallery inside Silver Street Studios | 2000 Edwards Street

Tomorrow from 1 to 3 pm at Artes de Cuba (Sante Fe), join FotoFest co-founder Wendy Watriss for a catalogue unveiling of Leysis Quesada Vera's exhibition, "Mia, Avril, Los Sitios: Kaleidoscope of dreams and reality." Don't miss her essay on Leysis's work!

Leysis, a 2016 FotoFest Meeting Place photographer and scholarship recipient through the Foundation for Civil Society, initially met FotoFest co-founders Wendy Watriss and Fredrick Baldwin (1929–2021) on one of their many trips to Cuba's photography community.

Congratulations to Leysis!

Images:
- Leysis Quesada Vera, "El Viaje," 2016. Courtesy of Artes de Cuba.
- Leysis Quesada Vera, "Avril en tutú rojo," 2018. Courtesy of Artes de Cuba.

Dear photo and writing lovers, celebrate the opening of the 2024 FotoFinish exhibition, "Reflecting the Light of the Sun" tomorrow at 1 PM at !

Immerse yourself in over 400 inspiring, colorful photo-based images and reflective writings, and ignite your imagination with our interactive build-your-own 3D Photo School House workshop, where you turn pictures and crafts into a schoolhouse to take home!

🖼 "Reflecting the Light of the Sun" Opening Reception and Drop-in Workshop
📆 Saturday, June 8
⏰ 1–3 PM
📍 East Gallery, Silver Street Studios | 2000 Edwards Street

This month at FotoFest, explore the new FotoFinish student exhibition “Reflecting the Light of the Sun” and attend the reception and workshop event for the family!

FotoFinish 2024: “Reflecting the Light of the Sun” 🖼️
Wednesday–Sunday | 11 AM–6 PM

FotoFinish 2024: Opening Reception and Drop-in Workshop 🎨
Saturday, June 8 | 1–3 PM

📸: .photo

Today is the final viewing day for the Biennial 2024! View the artwork of Binh Danh (), who invented the chlorophyll printing process and reconfigured traditional photographic techniques to focus on the connection between history, identity, and place.

⏰ 11 AM–6 PM
📍 Silver Street Studios | 2000 Edwards Street

Pictured: (1) Binh Danh, "Picking Cotton on a great plantation in North Carolina, #1", 2024. From the series "All I asking for is my body," 2024. Daguerreotype on silver platter. Courtesy of the artist.



📸: ._.hawk

Two days left to view the Biennial 2024 central exhibition, "Critical Geography" closing this Sunday, April 21!

Ethel Lilienfeld’s site-specific installation, "Invisible Filter", 2022, investigates our evolving, distorted relationship with our own bodies. The self-image developed in this way has given rise to an avatar, an “augmented” double that we have grown used to modeling by means of various virtual devices, notably digital filters.

Gallery Hours
⏰ 11 AM–6 PM
📍 Silver Street Studios | 2000 Edwards Street

Pictured: Ethel Lilienfeld, "Invisible Filter", 2022. Four-channel video and multichannel sound installation. Installation view at FotoFest, 2024.

📸: ._.hawk

On the final day of the FotoFest Biennial 2024, exhibiting artist Colby Deal () joins FotoFest executive director and Biennial curator Steven Evans () for a conversation about Deal's practice and work in "Critical Geography," featuring images from multiple series, including The Altarpiece (2021), Beautiful Still (2020), Mexico in Covid (2020), and Yesterday Was Hard (2015). This program coincides with the Biennial's last viewing day and is free to the public.

🖼 Creative Conversations: Colby Deal with Steven Evans
📆 Sunday, April 21
⏰ 2 PM
📍 Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards Street
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🖼 Gallery Hours
📆 On view until Sunday
⏰ 11 AM–6 PM
📍 Silver Street Studios | 2000 Edwards Street



📸: ._.hawk

For the closing weekend of the Biennial 2024, director and curator Steven Evans will lead a tour of the central exhibition, "Critical Geography" this Saturday at 11 AM. This event is free and open to the public.

🖼 "Critical Geography" Exhibition Tour with Director Steven Evans
📆 Saturday, April 20
⏰ 11 AM
📍 Silver Street Studios | 2000 Edwards Street
_____________

🖼 Gallery Hours
📆 Wednesday–Sunday
⏰ 11 AM–6 PM
📍 Silver Street Studios | 2000 Edwards Street



📸: .senyase, ._.hawk

FotoFest is now accepting proposals for its inaugural "Artist-run, Artist-organized" exhibition series this fall! Three winning proposals will be selected to receive up to $5,000 each in exhibition, programming, and promotional support for their projects.

Three artist-run institutions in Texas will be realized as discrete photographic and/or lens-based exhibitions presented at FotoFest between October 4­–November 17, 2024.

There is no fee to apply, and artist-run organizations can submit multiple projects. Examples and templates are available on our webpage as resources to produce your application.

The deadline to apply is May 13 at 11:59 PM CT. Winning applicants will be notified on May 20.

Visit the link in our bio to get started 🔗

This Friday at 7 PM, catch "Critical Geography" artist Brad Temkin introduce parallels between infrastructure issues represented in his series "Aqueduct" (2021–22) and corruption scandals in the film "Chinatown" followed by a screening of the cinematic masterpiece.

📆 Friday, April 5 | 7 PM
📍 Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Brown Auditorium, 1001 Bissonnet Street
🎟 Tickets required.

JOIN THE TEAM! FotoFest is hiring a full-time Curator to provide artistic direction and coordination to the organization’s programs and publications. For more information, visit the link in our bio!

Held in conjunction with the FotoFest Biennial 2024, Participating Spaces are exhibiting from over 70 regional spaces. Plan a day out of it by visiting the link in our bio for a complete list of our Participating Spaces organized by Houston neighborhoods!

Today is the last day to purchase tickets or tables for the Fine Print Auction! Guests can make a secure purchase on FotoFest's website.

Bidders who cannot attend the Fine Print Auction can submit an absentee bid form by this Thursday, March 21, at 12 PM CT.

📸:

🔗 Direct link for bid forms and auction tables in our bio 🔗

Today at 5 PM, FotoFest Biennial 2024 artist Mark Menjívar joins FotoFest Learning Program director Chelsea Jones for a conversation focused on "Looking Up (Voices from Jack Yates High School)" (2023), Menjívar’s new site-specific work created in collaboration with FotoFest’s Learning Program and students from Houston’s Jack Yates High School.

📆 Tuesday, March 19 | 5 PM
📍 Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards Street
Free and open to the public.

Tonight at 7 PM, the FotoFest Meeting Place Portfolio Reviews brings together Biennial visitors, Meeting Place reviewers, the public, and photographers to speak with artists, view their portfolios, and purchase the latest work by contemporary image makers from around the globe.

📆 Monday, March 18 | 7–9 PM
📍 The Hangar at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards Street
🎟 Free and open to the public
🔗 Link in our bio for more information

📸 .senyase