From the Lens of Legendary Photographer George Rodriguez

LOS ANGELES—On Thursday, March 30, 2006 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. photo exhibit “César E. Chávez • A Reflection” opens at the Mexican Cultural Institute located at Plaza Olvera, Downtown Los Angeles, 125 Paseo de la Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The event will begin with a benediction followed by a brief presentation by the artists and immediate members from the Chavez family will be in attendance for the unveiling of the exhibit’s commemorative poster. Elected Officials, representatives from the artistic community and the labor movement will also be present.

Photographer George Rodriguez’s enthralling collection of black and white and color images vividly captures the legacy of César Chávez and his fight for social justice. In these photographs, some never-before-viewed in an exhibit, Rodriguez’s passionate portrayal of the movement continues to inspire today’s and tomorrow’s leaders.

This exhibit will be running from March 31 through April 28 (Wednesday-Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The exhibit, “César E. Chávez • A Reflection,” encapsulates the movement that began in the late 1960s. Chavez’s journey is not only about the struggle in the fields but also about the formidable transformation of powerless farm workers into warriors for social justice. Chavez’s fight created a “people’s movement” that transcended the rural environment to urban communities and across the nation, inspiring communities of color and social justice advocates to join el movimiento.

Images of Chicano artist Lalo Guerrero will remind visitors of the call-for-unity song De Colores and the cry for political engagement:“¡Si Se Puede!” Celebration and reflection are also focal points of George Rodriguez‘s photographs, where we read the headlines of victory and learn about the key political support of national leaders U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Reverend Jesse Jackson, along with that of celebrities Robert Blake, Martin Sheen, Edward James Olmos, and Salma Hayek.

“César E. Chávez • A Reflection” is presented by the Mexican Cultural Institute and Scandalo Productions, with generous support from Heineken, and additional support from Latino Weekly Review, KLCS-TV/DT, Hoy, and LatinoLA.com

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