La Jornada: Exhibition at the CFMAB continues Toledo’s mission: bringing photography closer to society

Oaxaca, Oax., This weekend the exhibition opened at the Manuel Álvarez Bravo Photography Center (CFMAB) The confluence of images, of the Luz 96 Group, made up of artists who were part of the founding of that institution, which turns 30 in 2026 and was created by the plastic artist and philanthropist Francisco Toledo (1940-2019).

Sara López Ellitsgaard, president of the Civil Association Friends of CFMAB and the Institute of Graphic Arts of Oaxaca, celebrated that three decades later this space continues with her father’s mission: bringing photography closer to society.

He explained that after the painter’s departure, constant work has been maintained to preserve the level and purpose that gave rise to this space, where thousands of photographers have been trained over the years, with talks, exhibitions and workshops by national and foreign professionals, such as Mary Ellen Mark (1940-2015).

He highlighted that the CFMAB continues to operate thanks to the work of a community that strives daily to do everything that a space like this requires to survive.

Proof of this, he said, is that many of the artists who have trained at that institution return, and it is they who contribute their knowledge or exhibit part of their work, thus returning some of what they obtained; Among these cases is the exhibition of the Grupo Luz 96 collective, summoned at the time by Toledo to collaborate and be participants in the CFMAB.

“Spaces belong to the people”

Sara López expressed the desire that the photography center endure, which will be achieved, she emphasized, through citizen participation and civil association, that although it focuses on the projects that are carried out each year, “those who visit us and take the workshops are also important; the spaces belong to the people, and as long as the people want, the CFMAB will continue.”

The curatorship of The confluence of images It was carried out by researcher Alejandro Castellanos. Four female photographers and 13 male photographers participate, presenting work made between 1996 and 1997, as well as posters, catalogs and documents that explain the history of the group and its relationship with the center, in which this community of professionals worked for almost seven years.

The exhibition features works by Jorge Acevedo Mendoza, Helen Carlton, Javier Cruz, Otniel Cruz Solano, Vittorio D’Onofri, Tom Dunham, Alejandro Echeverria, Jesus Marquez, Maurice Mendoza, Gustavo Mora, Felix Reyes Matías, Jorge Quintanar, Juan Carlos Reyes, Cecilia Salcedo Mendez and Lourdes Sosa Espinoza, Marcela Taboada and Domingo Valdivieso.

The latter was director of the center, and highlighted Maestro Toledo’s intention for society to see and understand all artistic languages.