FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE LABAND ART GALLERY AT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY PRESENTS LAND OF THE THUNDER DRAGON, FEATURING WORK BY JOHN BERTHOLD AND FAVELA: IMAGES FROM THE FRINGE OF RIO BY CHARLES EVANS, JR.

February 2, 2004 –Loyola Marymount University’s Laband Art Gallery presents dual color photography exhibits Land of the Thunder Dragon, featuring recent work by John Berthold of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan; and Favela: Images from the Fringe of Rio by Charles Evans, Jr., from February 18 to March 20, 2004.  A reception for Berthold, Evans, and their exhibitions will take place on Saturday, February 14, from 3:30 to 5:30 pm. The public is invited to attend free of charge. 

Since 1998, San Francisco photographer John Berthold has traveled and documented the various regions of the Himalayan Mountains in China and India. During these travels, he was introduced to Bhutan, a restricted and remote traditional country known as “the Land of the Thunder Dragon.” Bhutan is the last remaining monarchy in the region whose official state religion is Buddhism.

Among the few permitted to enter Bhutan to photograph the country’s traditional Buddhist festivals called tshechus, Berthold became fascinated with the religious ceremonies and traditions of Bhutan’s people. From 2000 through the spring of 2003 Berthold was permitted to visit Bhutan eight times to photograph the people and their culture. As the country’s traditions are even now threatened by the encroachment of the global economy, Berthold’s photographs of Bhutanese Buddhist traditions, monastic life, annual religious festivals, routines in remote mountain villages, and the unspoiled natural beauty of the Himalayan kingdom may be among the last records of traditional Bhutan. 

Los Angeles photographer Charles Evans, Jr., has traveled throughout the world, documenting the peoples and cultures he encounters. In 1995 he visited Brazil and photographed life in the so-called fringe favelas, or shantytowns, on the outskirts Rio de Janeiro.

Visiting the favela do Gramacho, Evans encountered a sprawling suburban settlement whose entire economy is based upon recycling trash and discarded industrial materials. Such centers are known as catadores, co-operatives, and are often affiliated with church or non-governmental charity organizations.  

Most of Evans’ photographs of the favela do Gramacho are composed from multiple negatives that, with the availability of advanced technology in 2003, he seamlessly connected in the darkroom to produce wide panoramas of the favela environment. Evans’ photographs also have appeared in Vanity Fair, Photo World and L’espresso.  

Hours for the Laband Art Gallery are noon to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. The gallery is closed Sunday through Monday. For further information, contact Gordon Fuglie, director, Laband Gallery, at 310.338.2880, or email gfuglie@lmu.edu.

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