American Latinos
“American Latinos”, is a multimedia project that includes an immersive video installation with more than 250 images of Hispanic-Americans, captured almost a century ago by some of the most influential photographers of the 20th century.
The installation premiered at Instituto Cervantes New York on May 16th, 2024, and has been presented at The New School, Baruch College, the 65th ATAS Conference in Portland, Oregon, and at El Consulado—a ChaShaMa art space in New York City.
All images courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
“American Latinos 1935-1945″ is the result of three years of research, reviewing over 30,000 images from the Library of Congress that were captured all over the United States by some of the most influential photographers in American history: Dorothea Lange, Jack Delano, Russell Lee, John Collier Jr., Marion Post Wolcott, Arthur Rothstein, Edwin Rosskam, and Marjory Collins—to name a few.
This itinerant project includes an immersive video installation, a lecture, and an exhibit of monumental prints.
Praise for “American Latinos”
“This is one of the first major projects to focus on the pictures of Latinos in this collection.”
Adam Silvia, Curator Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.
“Alberto Ferreras has compiled more than 200 images, many never before published or rarely seen, documenting the visual history of American Latinos in this country from WPA photos held by the Library of Congress. Ferreras tells a powerful story, narrated by Olga Merediz. Grateful and honored I could see it this week. Go see it too!”
Brett Zongker, Chief of Media Relations, Library of Congress.
“Beautifully curated, written and narrated. A must see for those interested in American History”
Caridad de la Luz, Executive Director, Nuyorican Poets Cafe.
“A powerful immersive video installation. I will keep spreading the word, so this exhibit continues gaining momentum and telling more of our American Latino history.”
Yvette Peña, VP of Latino Audience Strategy AARP.
Presentation Formats
American Latinos can be presented in several formats: as a two-screen immersive video installation, a single-screen immersive experience, or as a video screening accompanied by a master class.
“Mexican cotton picker” by Dorothea Lange. 1936.
All images courtesy of the Library of Congress – Prints & Photographs Division
“Spanish muskrat trappers” by Marion Post Wolcott, 1942.
“Mexican girl sewing” by Russell Lee, 1941.
“Girl carrying water” by Edwin Rosskam, 1938.
Interview with Alberto Ferreras about American Latinos
CUNY – USA
Exhibit American Latinos in New York City.
RTVE – Spain
Latino portraits by the greatest photographers of the 20th century.
La Nacion – Argentina.
American Latinos 1935-1845 at Instituto Cervantes
La Guia Cultural – USA
Lecture at the Instituto Cervantes New York, with Director Richard Bueno Hudson, NYC, April, 2024.
Lecture at the Instituto Cervantes New York, with Library of Congress curator of the Prints &Photographs Division, Adam Silvia. NYC, April, 2024.
With actress, producer and author Sonia Manzano, at Instituto Cervantes New York, May 2024.
With Yvette Pena, from AARP, at the Cervantes Institute, NYC, May, 2024.
Lecture at Baruch College, NYC, October, 2024.
With Professor Isolina Ballesteros at Baruch College, October, 2024.
Lecture at The New School, NYC. September, 2024.
American Latinos 1935-45 at Instituto Cervantes, May 2024.