VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

In celebration of the bicentennial anniversary of the independence of Mexico, Bank of America has curated a special photography exhibition that will be displayed in the Bank of America Center Lobby of the M-M Properties building in Houston, Texas. Titled Luces y Sombras: Twelve Travelers in Mexico, Photographs from the Bank of America Collection, this exhibition will be open to the public from September 7-December 31, 2010.

Throughout the twentieth century, many internationally acclaimed photographers traveled throughout Mexico. Some came to explore revolutionary socio-political ideas as evident in the works of Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, Tina Modotti and others, some in kinship with the Mexican muralist movement and its new realism, some were simply drawn to the country’s ancient history and spirituality or the desire to document sacred monuments in their natural setting. As outsiders, these artists brought unique perspectives that inspired a post-Mexican Revolution art movement focused themes largely humanist in nature, often taking up social causes and the struggle for human rights.

The core of this exhibition is Paul Strand’s Mexican Portfolio, 1933. The 20 hand-pulled photogravures include extraordinary portraits, landscapes, architectural shots and works of folk art reflecting Strand’s support of social reform and labor causes in the 1930s. Other artists in the exhibition include Mario Algaze, Harry Callahan, Wijnanda Deroo, Elliott Erwitt, Sally Gall, Nan Goldin, Kenro Izu, Danny Lyon, Wayne Miller, Aaron Siskind, and Brett Weston.

“We are pleased to present an exhibit of this caliber to visitors and residents of Houston, a city rich in Mexican history and culture,” said Kim Ruth, Houston Market President, Bank of America. “The bicentennial anniversary is a wonderful reason to share influential pieces from the bank’s corporate collection while providing a new cultural opportunity for the community.”

This exhibition is sponsored in part by Bank of America, the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Consulate General of Mexico and the owners of Bank of America Center, M-M Properties and General Electric Asset Management.

The exhibition is located in the Bank of America Center Lobby at 700 Louisiana Street in Houston, Texas. It will be open to the public Monday- Friday, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For additional information about the exhibition, please contact Kinzelman Art Consulting at 713.533.9923.

Bank of America and the Arts -  As one of the world's largest financial institutions and a major supporter of arts and culture, Bank of America has a vested interest and plays a meaningful role in the international dialogue on cultural understanding. As a global company, Bank of America demonstrates its commitment to the arts by supporting such efforts as after-school arts programs, grants to help expand libraries, programs to conserve artistic heritage as well as a campaign to encourage museum attendance.

Bank of America offers customers free access to more than 120 of the nation’s finest cultural institutions through its acclaimed Museums on Us® program, while Art in our Communities™ shares exhibits from the company’s corporate collection with communities across the globe through local museum partners. The Bank of America Charitable Foundation also provides philanthropic support to museums, theaters and other arts-related nonprofits to expand their services and offerings to schools and communities. Bank of America partners with more than six thousand arts institutions worldwide.

Pictured:  Gateway, Hidalgo by Paul Strand from his Mexican Portfolio.