How We Remember

As the medium of photography continues to evolve, so does the impulse to document milestones and the moments in-between. The selection of works on view here reflects a desire to archive memories. For some, memories are inconsistent and for others, memories endure.

The exhibition begins with photographer Joel Meyerowitz’s poignant portrayals of New York in the days after the Twin Towers collapsed on September 11, 2001. In the U.S., the events of that tragic day and the months that followed permeates personal and collective memories. As a resident of lower Manhattan, Meyerowitz sought to document the destruction that unfolded in his backyard.

Like Meyerowitz, other photographs in the exhibition reflect an instinctive and candid approach. Ruth Orkin documented New York, Paris, and Tel Aviv, among other places, with an intentional, organic immediacy. Roscoè B. Thické responds to the fleeting moments of everyday life with family and friends in Liberty City and other nearby neighborhoods. His works capture play and youthful energy. Christine Cortes’s intimate, emotional documentation of a return home to Colombia reveals quiet moments of work and rest. Their approach toggles between connectedness and distance.

From Orkin’s traditional gelatin silver prints to Cortes’ contemporary exploration of the medium printed on plexiglass, the exhibition explores multifaceted subjects and approaches to photography. How We Remember explores the power of photography to capture the essence of human relationships both after exceptional events like 9/11 and as part of quotidian life.

We are grateful to members of the Frost Art Museum for their support of this exhibition. The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum FIU receives ongoing support from the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the State of Florida.

Christine Cortes, Las Brisas (Madrugando, Guacheta), Hanhemühle Fine Art Satin Baryta Paper, 2019, 17 x 24 inches, Courtesy of the artist