The Faces to Remember at MOSH

The Faces to Remember Project is on display at The Museum of Science and History (MOSH) right now as one of its signature exhibits, running from October 2nd, 2020 to January 31st, 2021.

There is also a short documentary component of the exhibit from filmmaker Eric Torres, featuring interviews of the Fil-Vets themselves and historian Shelby Thompson.

“We at MOSH are honored to tell the story of Jacksonville’s Filipino-American Veterans. Chronicling the history of Jacksonville’s veterans ties directly into the Museum’s mission and values. This exhibit is a direct outcome of these Veterans’ struggle for the recognition that they truly deserve. Agnes Lopez’s work is a credit to our collective community and is an overdue honoring of these Americans and their service.” - ,” Bruce Fafard, CEO of MOSH
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Folio Weekly Feature: Persistence, Tenacity & Commitment

The February 27th, 2019 issue of Folio Weekly's cover story is about Agnes Lopez's Faces to Remember Project.

Writer Madeleine Peck Wagner details the origins of Lopez's ongoing project, its historical context, and her journey as an artist in Northeast Florida.

“With their velvety shadows and subtle greys, the black-and-white images reveal a depth of lived experiences. A viewer can glimpse who they once were, the deep humanity in their faces, and remember that history is built on individuals.”

There are a couple of ways you can read the article:

Agnes Lopez in Folio Weekly

Photo by Amanda Rosenblatt

Exhibit Opening at the Florida School of the Arts on March 7th

Florida School of the Arts

Please join me the evening of Thursday, March 7th at 7 PM at the Florida School of the Arts, located on the campus of St. Johns River State College, for the largest exhibit to date of The Faces to Remember Project.

Flaviano Diala, December 22, 1922 - January 6, 2019

Over 20 portraits will be on display — some of which have never been seen — along with selected biographical information and stories from the project.

The event is free to the public.

Click here for the press release about the exhibit.

Florida School of the Arts

5001 St. Johns Ave.
Palatka, FL 32177
(386) 312-4300

Faces to Remember Returns to (Re)Set the Table

The Faces to Remember is returning to the Yellow House Gallery this Friday, February 15th for the second edition of (Re)Set the Table, an exhibit that asks visitors to reflect on their own narratives and the lived experiences of others by asking: How do individuals and communities create their own spaces for connecting, learning, supporting, and leading? What role do we each play in resetting the table?

This edition of The Faces to Remember includes never before seen portraits of Filipino-American veterans with personal stories of both the immediate impact of war and its aftermath.

OPENING RECEPTION
Friday, February 15, 6pm – 8pm

Yellow House Art Gallery, 577 King Street, just up the street from CoRK Arts District.

The reception is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

EXHIBIT DATES
Feb 16 – April 13, 2019

The Faces to Remember at the World War II in the Philippines Conference

The Bataan Legacy Historical Society invited me out to the University of San Francisco to its fourth conference on World War II in the Philippines, Resistance, Retaliation, Reconciliation & Rescission, to share The Faces to Remember Project.

The conference featured a number of excellent panels, including ones about the implementation of the WWII in the Philippines lesson plans for Grade 11 in California, military and civilian resistance, war crimes and reconciliation. I also heard a series of deeply moving personal stories from descendants of war heroes, Medal of Freedom recipients, and survivors.

James Scott, author of Rampage: MacArthur, Yamashita & the Battle of Manila shared a horrific account of the battle and the Manila Massacre, which saw over 100,000 Filipino civilians -- men, women, and children -- killed.

It was also great to see the Filipino-American students who attended and volunteered at the conference because this is an important part of their history as Americans, and one that has been largely absent from the history they -- and all of us for that matter -- were taught in school.

I also had the honor of traveling to nearby Daly City to photograph David Tejada, a 95 year old Bataan Death March survivor.

This project continues to inspire me and I will never forget the time I get to spend with these heroes.

Thank you so much to Cecilia Gaerlan, Connie Hall McHugh, Bob McHugh, Rachel Van Cleave, Shelby Thompson, the Bataan Legacy Historical Society, and everyone who made the conference such a deeply moving and educational experience.

Agnes Lopez receives the 2018 Art Ventures Individual Artist Grant

The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida just announced its 2018 Art Ventures grant recipients and I am extremely pleased to announce that I was one of the artists selected.

The Individual Artist Grants are designed to help artists in Northeast Florida reach the next level of their careers, and in my case it means that I can continue my work with The Faces to Remember Project and expand the scope of the exhibit to be even more inclusive and educational.

I would like to thank The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida for its support.

For more information about Art Ventures, visit the Community Foundation's website.

An incredible moment

Shortly before the (Re)Set the Table exhibit ended at The Yellow House Gallery, the Ganio family came to see the portrait of Patricio Ganio – including Mr. Ganio himself.

Four generations of the family were represented. Mr. Ganio’s great-grandchildren and I were able to hear stories about the Bataan Death March, his time in the POW camp, and his heroism. We also heard more about his decades-long fight for official recognition from the United States government for the Filipino soldiers who fought and died in the Pacific theater of World War II.

I approached Mr. Ganio and asked him in Tagalog, “Gusto mo ba ang litrato mo?” [Do you like your photo?]

He responded in English, “Yes, it is very nice.”

Filipino WW2 veteran and Purple Heart recipient Patricio Ganio looking at his portrait at The Yellow House Gallery

Filipino WW2 veteran and Purple Heart recipient Patricio Ganio standing next to his portrait

My goal with The Faces to Remember Project is to inspire viewers to learn more about the events in history that each person pictured endured and start a conversation about the people who are at risk of being forgotten.

That time with Mr. Ganio and his family was the most rewarding moment of my 15-year photography career to date. For him to see his portrait, presented in large format and hung in a gallery, was a significant experience for his family and for me as well.

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See The Faces to Remember Project in person until the end of March

The preview of The Faces to Remember Project is on display until the end of March at the Yellow House Gallery.

The project continues to grow and new portraits and more about each subject can be seen at the website: (www.thefacestoremember.com/portraits).

EXHIBIT DATES
Feb 17 – March 31

For hours, please check the website for the Yellow House Art Gallery: http://www.yellowhouseart.org/

The Faces to Remember Project at the Yellow House Art Gallery

OPENING RECEPTION
SATURDAY February 17, 6pm – 8pm

Portraits from The Faces to Remember Project will be on display as part of the (Re)Set the Table exhibition at the Yellow House Art Gallery, 577 King Street, just up the street from CoRK Arts District.

The reception is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

EXHIBIT DATES
Feb 17 – March 31