| Southern Soul
Photograph by: Luisa Madrid
Curators: Scott Sternbach, Javier Larenas and Lidiya Kan
For two weeks in January of 2018, a group of 12 LaGuardia Community College photography students took part in a photographic study of the great state of Louisiana led by Photography Degree Program Director Scott Sternbach. Beginning in New Orleans and then moving westward to Cajun country and the city of Lafayette students worked on projects they had researched in advance of the trip. They investigated the diverse music scene, the incredible cuisine, the aftermath of Katrina and the unique cultural blend that sets the State apart from all others. |
| “Beyond Grand Street Brooklyn, New York”
Photographer: Regina Monfort
“A nine-year journey photographing teenagers growing up fast, competing for love-respect, status, and finding waist cope with life.” |
| H20: The Water Project
Photograph by: Zak Ahmed
H2O: The Water Project, Challenged LaGuardia Community College Photography students to venture out into our world to photograph Water in all of its forms and manifestations.
The competition inspired and focused the abilities of over 60 students who struck out into our urban environment and found beauty, science, fantasy, comedy, documentary, poetry and more when posed with the central idea of Water.
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| 68° North: A Visual Journey Through the Alaskan Wilderness Photographers: Lauren Auerbach, Pilar Finch, Maria Hernandez, Paul Howard, Allison Minto,George Mohr, Gabriel Ponte-Fleary, Enrique Rosas, Gianni Sanchez, MachiVersano, Matthew Vicari and Annie Wu Curators: Lidiya Kan, Javier Larenas and Scott Sternbach A select group of Commercial Photography students spent July 2016 on a study away experience in the state of Alaska. The group was led by LaGuardia faculty members, Scott Sternbach and Lidiya Kan. While in Alaska, LaGuardia students studied and explored the environment as well as the effects of climate change on the community. By meeting with local indigenous people, they were able to experience their culture and understand the people’s relationship to their natural surroundings. The entirety of this unique trip was documented by each student through photography and video. 68° North was made possible with generous support from Chris and Zoe Craymer. Press: NY1
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| “Bangladesh: The Other Side of Me”
Photographer: Zakaria Ahmed
Curator: Javier Larenas
“This photographic series is my portrayal of Bangladesh, a country that is defined by its lands, rivers, poverty and class. The country sits atop the world’s largest river delta, close to sea level, at the juncture of several active tectonic plates, which cause frequent earthquakes, with a secondary risk of tsunamis and severe flooding in a quake’s aftermath, which inherently has subtropical monsoon weather patterns that causes wide seasonal variations in rainfall, due to high humidity and temperatures. In addition, because of the country’s booming population and mass migration, this has contributed to both poverty and a water crisis.
Since I came to United States in 2004, I have strongly felt that this is a story that needs to be told. Finally, after 11 years, I had the opportunity to go back and document people’s lives. While photographing this project, it took on an unexpected level of significance to me, coming to the realization of just how many have lost their homes and all of their belongings due to floods. As I was along side of them, it drew me closer to them, by both actually facing and listening to their life’s struggles for survival. It grounded me to my roots, my days as a child, moments of self-reflection, and it inspired me even more to visually capture “The Other Side of Me”.
These photographs closely portray a community on the fringes—environmentally, geographically and economically—yet whose 'fringed' presence became more evident, when their vulnerability became more than notional—whose children will one day inherit this world.” -Zakaria Ahmed -
Press:
NY1 Voices of NY Weekly Bangalee
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| “Panama: Hidden Gems”
Photographer: Charles Carl Barnett
Curator: Javier Larenas
“As a history major at Queens College, l was fascinated with the way seemingly random events inter-acted with each other. I was particularly interested in the colonial period and how the history of the Americas evolved so differently under the English, French, Dutch and Spanish models, and how the other two players, Scotland and Sweden, through poor choices and neglect, never really made it out of the gate.
These images were captured on Kodachrome*film, during a cruise to Panama in 1984 aboard a small ship, that transited the canal and also visited a number of places on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. After the cruise ended, I drove a rental car up into the Chiriqui highlands near Costa Rica, accompanied by my stepfather, who also appears in several of these photographs. Although he has been gone for 28 years now, he gets to live again through these images.Assembling this exhibit has allowed me to relive the experience, as well.
In doing the research for the narrative, I was again made aware of just how much had changed since I was there, and how much I had missed, or didn’t even know about. I really have to go back and re-shoot.”
-Charles Carl Barnett -
Press:
NY1
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| “Bienvenido A Cuba”
May 2015
Photographer: Hugo Fernandez, Lidiya Kan, Machi Versano, and Manolo Salas
Curator: Lidiya Kan
“The work represents each photographer's personal experiences with their travel toCuba over the last five years and also features some text I have been juxtaposing to photographs of my family's photographic archive from Cuba and the United States.” -Hugo Fernandez -
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| “Walker Evans: Subway Portraits 1938-1941”
May 2015
Photographer: Walker Evans
Curator: John T. Hill Former Executor of Walker Evans Estate, Former Director of theGraduate Photography Program at the Yale School of Art
“This is a body of work made by Evans using a Leica 35mm camera, hidden under his shirt, with a cable for the shutter release running down his sleeve.
The pictures were shot without the subjects 'knowledge and provides an interesting cross section of the working class NewYorkers of the time. Though not the classic images of 1930's tenant farmers, for which Evans is known best, it still marks a significant body of work, and one he went back to, time and again, to rework and present in the later years of his life.” - Hugo Fernandez -
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 | “Guilt-Free Pleasures” April 2016
Photographer:Maria Hernandez
Curator:Javier Larenas
“For the longest time, I’ve been interested in fetishes and why people like what they like. BDSM is a project that I have documented for the past two years.What is BDSM you might be asking? It's a wide range of sexual activities that include Bondage, Discipline, Domination, Submission, Sadism, and Masochism. There is something very fascinating about this lifestyle because it’s all about consent/trust and new experiences. One would think that the person doing the whipping has all the control, but in this case, it’s reverse psychology, and that’s what makes this lifestyle so captivating.
This can be misinterpreted as abuse and porn, and/or although there is sex involved,however it's so much more than just sex. Porn portrays women as submissive and weak; enforcing the idea that women enjoy being dominated and objectifies themas sexual beings. Vise versa when it comes to males; society views them as dominant therefore enforcing the idea that they are always dominant no matter what. My job as a photographer isn’t to degrade or portray these protagonists as weak or strong but to simply to show that these roles are not fixed and can be reversed between the sexes. Both men and women can enjoy being submissive and dominated by the other sex.
Consent is the number one rule when it comes to BDSM. There will always be an agreement when it comes to play sessions. If a partner doesn't want to do something the other person has to respect it. No means no. Therefore, anyone who's getting“abused” or “tortured” has agreed to want to feel that type of pleasure. Rules are important and it’s important to know what you are doing. That's when safe words come in play when doing any kind of intense play. It’s all in the matter of personal preference and at times, there will be play sessions that don’t involve sex.” -Maria Hernandez -
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| “Not A... ” November 2015
Photographer: Ricardo Aca
Curator: Javier Larenas
“Photography gives me a voice. As with many undocumented immigrants, I feel that my experience is not well represented in national political conversations.
We are not a community with electoral power –yet. But though I may not be able to vote, I can take photos to help share my story and the stories of people like me.
Presented in this exhibition are two portrait series. First, of Mexicans outside before the Gold Cup Final 2015, holding signs in response to Donald Trump’s comments about Mexican immigrants. Second, of immigrant and first-generation immigrant students from different background sat Harvard University, determined to define themselves.
Words are powerful. They can incite fear, or they can inspire hope. They can denigrate, or they can empower.
Both of these series use words to give voice to the subjects, as a direct response or positive assertion. With this format,I hope to capture resistance to stereotypes about immigrant communities, and to reclaim the conversation over who we are.” -Ricardo Aca -
Press:
NY1 NY1noticias Univision
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 | “Falchi in L.I.C | L.I.C. in Falchi”
Long Island City: Past. Present. Future. OurNeighborhood on Display.
April 2015
Photographers:LaGuardia Community College Commercial Photography students
Curators: Scott Sternbach, Javier Larenas, and Lidiya Kan
“A photography exhibit of more than 40 images of the once industrial, and now rapidly, changing western Queens neighborhood taken by LaGuardia students which will debut in the Falchi Building lobby. This wide ranging photographic survey of Long Island City includes a variety of topics in almost as many styles and techniques, including collages, panoramas, abstract, street-documentary, alternative processes, and time-lapse images.” -Scott Sternbach -
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 | “Faces of Islam”
February 2015 – Showcased at the Queens Museum, NYC City Hall, and LaGuardia Gallery of Photographic Arts
Photographers: LaGuardia Community College Commercial Photography students
Curators: Scott Sternbach, Javier Larenas, and Lidiya Kan
“A photographic exhibition, as a part of “Beyond Sacred: Unthinking Muslim Identity” project on display at Queens Museum of Arts and LaGuardia Gallery of Photographic Arts. “Beyond Sacred: Unthinking Muslim Identity” is a year long series of dance, live theater, art exhibitions and public forums created to expand awareness and understanding of Muslim culture in post 9/11New York City by LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC). “The Faces of Islam exhibition presents a representative group of diverse community college students. These teachers, artists, airline pilots, community activists, attorneys and myriad others joined with our students and alums to share the bond of creative photography. In the process they met as human beings working together for a common cause; to be seen as individuals and not as stereotypes.” -Scott Sternbach - Press:
NY1
Times Ledger
Queens Courier Other: Queens Museum |
 | “The LaGuardia Family” September 2014
Photographers:LaGuardia Community College Commercial Photography students
Curators: Scott Sternbach, Javier Larenas, and Lidiya Kan
“An exhibition of 72 photographs by LaGuardia Community College CommercialPhotography students and alumni in a wide variety of styles and formats.Students approached fellow students, faculty and staff members and asked permission to photograph them and their extended families. Some did photographic studies of their families.” -Scott Sternbach -
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“Fading Images: 1964-1965 New York’s World Fair ” August 2014
Photographer: Charles Carl Barnett
Curator: Javier Larenas
Charles Carl Barnett, a seventy-three-year-old Queens photographer debuts 1964 World’s Fair never-seen-before photographs in LaGuardia Community College exhibition.
“This is my life story. I loved this Fair. Anybody who lived through this knows this was a magical time that brought the world to Queens - literally. A lot of people knocked it as overly commercial, but to us it was exciting. We didn’t want it to end.” -Charles Carl Barnett -
Press:
Western Queens Gazette Queens Ledger |
 | “Transitions” May 2014 - Showcased at the Morris Museum and LaGuardia Gallery of Photographic Arts
Photographers: Photography Alumni from LaGuardia Community College and County College of Morris
Curators: Scott Sternbach, Hrvoje Slovenc and Javier Larenas
“An alumni show that included works of LaGuardia Community College and County College of Morris photography alumni.” -Scott Sternbach - |
 | “Between Heaven and Earth” November 2013
Photographer: Rodolfo Caballero
Curators: Javier Larenas and Lidiya Kan
An exhibition of photographs by a Mexican photographer, Rodolfo Caballero, taken in North Mexico, one of the most dangerous places, during his 3 year journey through Chihuahua, Durango, and Coahuila.
“Some of my photos have a marked tendency to represent the vulgar and the ugly; but with it they develop the elements of passion and strength with a peculiar point of view arisen from a special disposition for sentiments, and in this way they can provoke in the viewer an impression, that is certainly not edifying, but often it is very powerful and moving.” -Rodolfo Caballero -
Press:
Queens Ledger |
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“Expedition Chile II” May 2013 – Showcased at the Queens Museum and LaGuardia Gallery of Photographic Arts
Photographers: LaGuardia Community College Commercial Photography students – Study Abroad Participants
Curators: Scott Sternbach, Javier Larenas and Lidiya Kan
“Photography Students ventures out once again to Chile and beyond, returning with their photograph.” -Scott Sternbach -
Press:
Queens Gazette |
 | “The Astoria Project: Interethnic Encounters” April 2013
Photographers: LaGuardia Community College Commercial Photography students
Curators: Scott Sternbach, Javier Larenas and Lidiya Kan
“A collaborative project with the Max PlanckInstitute, Göttingen, Germany for the Study of Religious and EthnicDiversity. The Institute is dedicated to the comparative, multi-disciplinary study of diversity in historical and contemporary societies.Dr. Anna Cieslik of MPI and myself, used the Astoria Photo Project to assist MPI in understanding local diversities in New York and to illustrate how people make connections with each other in Astoria.” -Scott Sternbach -
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 | “Expedition Chile” May 2012
Photographers: LaGuardia Community College Commercial Photography students – Study Abroad
Curators: Scott Sternbach, Javier Larenas and Lidiya Kan
“LAGCC Study Abroad Students in 2012 (Fall II), had the choice of participating for four weeks in travel to Santiago and Valparaiso. The students captured moment of unique beauty during their journey to one of South America’s most fascinating countries. In the candid and formal portraits, landscapes and cityscapes of lyrically documented photographic and video graphic narratives, the students explore culture, cuisine, agriculture, ritual and social issues.” -Scott Sternbach - Press: CUNYtv Study With The Best: Study With The Best 12/4 (First six minutes)
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| “LIC Works” November 2011
Photographers: LaGuardia Community College Commercial Photography students
Curators: Scott Sternbach, Javier Larenas and Lidiya Kan
“A photography exhibition of riveting portraits taken by LaGuardia Community CollegeCommercial Photography students celebrating the working men and women of small businesses in Long Island City.” -Scott Sternbach -
Press:
CUNY Media
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 | “The WPA Project” October 2010 – Showcased at the Greater Astoria Historical Society and LaGuardia Gallery of Photographic Arts
Photographers: Seven LaGuardia Community College Commercial Photography students
Curator: Javier Larenas
“In collaboration with Bob Singleton, Executive Director of the Greater Astoria Historical Society, spearheaded and lead a select group of seven LaGuardia Community College Photography students to photograph Depression-era works of art that are scattered throughout the borough of Queens.” -Javier Larenas - Press: NY Daily News Queens Gazette Queens Courier
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| “Facesof LaGuardia” March 2010
Photographers: LaGuardia Community College Commercial Photography students
Curators: Scott Sternbach, Javier Larenas and Sarah Midkiff
“A photography exhibition celebrating the global diversity of LaGuardia Community College students through their portraits created by LaGuardia photography students.” -Scott Sternbach -
Press:
CUNY LaGuardia Community College Media CUNY LaGuardia Community College Media Queens Courier Voices of NY |