'El Camino Real' exhibit coming to Yuma

People will soon be able to tour a historic and picturesque stretch of northern Mexico in the space of 65 framed photos.

The colors and textures of everything from cactuses to churches along Camino Real have been captured by 13 photographers from throughout North America. An exhibit of those images, which is currently on an international tour, will soon make a visit to Yuma.

"El Camino Real" is being brought to town by the Cultural Council of Yuma and the Consulate of Mexico in Yuma.

Organizers say people who love art and Mexico will enjoy the unique beauty of the photography show.

"Oh, these photos are good! They are very good," said Virginia Reyes, executive director for the cultural council. "I wish I could take photographs like these."

Reyes explained that the Camino Real, which is Spanish for "Royal Road," refers to a trail of missions through Sonora, Mexico.

The exhibit was originally organized by Bob Rink and Katherine Rink Callingham for the annual International Photography Festival the Sonoran Institute of Culture in Alamos, Son.

"El Camino Real" opens Friday at the Yuma Art Center, 254 Main St. The photos will be on display through May 30.

The opening will be celebrated with a reception at 5 p.m. Friday. The event is free and open to the public.

"The purpose of the show is to increase the appreciation for photography," Reyes said. "This is really a wonderful exhibit and very international. It is very difficult to put together the works of so many artists."

The photographers whose works will be shown currently live in Sonora, Mexico; Arizona, California and Canada. Reyes praised the photographers' colorful and impressive careers. Bernadette Mertens-McAllister studied with famed photographer Ansel Adams, and Gustavo Ybarra has worked as a photojournalist for National Geographic.

Three of the 13 photographers plan to visit Yuma. In addition to attending the reception, they will give lectures Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Chris Engholm will present "Legends of Guatemala: Creating the Photographic History," Michael Hyatt will talk about his work "Through the Eyes of Immigrants" and Bob Rink will talk about "Starting International Photography Exchanges: Between U.S. and Philippines and the United States and China." The lectures are free and will take place at the Yuma Art Center.

For more information about these events, call the Cultural Council of Yuma at 783-2423.

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El Camino Real: Featured Photographers

José Luis Hernández Hernández
  Originally from Mexico City, where he studied law and a variety of arts, 37-year-old Jose Luis Hernandez now resides in Caborca, Son. In addition to photography, he has taught courses on the economic and political problems of Mexico and is the official promoter of culture in Caborca. Hernandez has exhibited his work widely and frequently in Mexico and Arizona.

Chris Engholm
  Photographer and author Chris Engholm of San Diego traveled to Alamos, Son., in 2009 to shoot the Day of the Dead celebrations. While there, he captured images for "Camino Real." Engholm is working on a guidebook to sacred sites and rituals along the Ruta Mayo. He has written 10 books, including ethnologies of indigenous people in Mesoamerica and elsewhere in the world. His work can be viewed at www.ChrisEngholm.com.

Luis Fernando Rodríguez
  Luis Fernando Rodriquez arrived in Caborca, Son., in 1977, from his birthplace in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Rodríguez took up photography as a hobby in 2001 and became serious about it since joining the Photography and Videography Group of Caborca two years ago. His work has been shown at two exhibitions in Caborca.

Bob Rink
  Bob Rink has photographed cultures all over the world and helped found the international photography exchange group, Through Each Other's Eyes. Since retiring as the city of Phoenix photographer, Rink has become a regular visitor to Alamos, Son., and the region has captured the lensman's attention.

Oscar Monroy Arocha
  Since his first solo photo show in 1979 in his adopted home of Nogales, Son., Oscar Monroy Arocha has dedicated his life to the arts: music, writing and photography. Arocha has twice won first place at the annual "Fotoseptiembre" exhibit in Hermosillo. He is the founder of the Creative Photography Workshop at the Casa de Cultura in Nogales, Son., and has exhibited widely in Arizona and Sonora.

Michael Hyatt
  Michael Hyatt of Tucson has been taking pictures with a purpose since 1968, documenting the edges of life from the anti-war movement of the ’60s, to the punk rock scene in Los Angeles, to the struggles of immigrants along the US-Mexico border. Hyatt has lived in Arizona for over 20 years.

Julieta Quiroz Jáquez
  Julieta Quiroz Juaquez has lived in Caborca, Son., since moving there at the age of 10. Jáquez works with a group of fellow photographers in Caborca. She recently exhibited her work at the Fiesta Patrias.

Roel Peña Arocha
  Roel Peña Arocha grew up in Monterey, Nuevo León, and moved to Caborca, Son., in 1982. As a private pilot, Arocha sees the world from a vantage point that allows him to capture unique images, which he shares at the April 6 exhibition at the Templo Histórico in Caborca. Roel owns photo labs and is the founder of the Photography and Videography Group of Caborca.

Gustavo Ybarra
  As a professional photojournalist for National Geographic and other international media, Gustavo Ybarra has practiced his skill in over 20 countries. While working for the Worldwide Fund-Gulf of California Program in 2002, he captured rare images of the endangered vaquita dolphin. A resident of  Hermosillo, Son., he founded the Discover Editorial Group, which publishes DiscoverSonora, Cortes Paradise and Mexico Land and Sea magazines.

John Eskey
  Phoenix-based fine art photographer John Eskey has traveled the world in search of interesting subject matter but remains “always fascinated by simplicity” in his subject matter.

Bernadette Mertens-McAllister
  Born in Europe, Bernardette Mertens-McAllister studied studio photography in Brussels, Belgium. Mertens-McAllister has worked in the United States with Donald Ross of the Sierra Club. She resides in British Columbia, Canada, and Alamos, Son.

Francisco Javier Barreras Lerma
  A law graduate with a passion for photography, Francisco Javier Barreras Lerma of Hermosillo, Son., participated in the photography course "Towards an Emotion" given by the Sonoran Institute of Culture in 2001. Lerma acquired a degree in photography from Kino University in Sonora. He has been a member of the Society for Creative Photography in Sonora since its founding and has participated in six collective exhibits in Sonora and Arizona.

Hal Wamback
  Hal Wamback spent the ’60s and early ’70s doing news, feature and advertising work in Chicago. Wamback moved to Seattle in 1973 worked in the telecommunications and computer industry. He is  semi-retired in Alamos, Son.