About
Bruce Berman has been a professional photographer for almost four decades. He has always worked in what some have called, “The Concerned Photographer,” style of photography. His initial documentary projects were in Chicago where he photographed Appallacian migrants to the big city, Black Panthers during the tumultuous 1960′s and the gritty street life of Chicago in its Rust Belt years.
His main work for the past twenty six years, however, has concentrated on the United States/Mexico border, particularly the narrow stretch of land that encompasses El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico.
After coming back from one of his earliest forays on Alameda Street on El Paso’ south side, in 1980, Berman wrote in his journal, “…I have seen a new world. It is both physical fact and mythical idea. It is a place with a line drawn through it and on each side of that line there are metaphoric mirrors that are reflecting back at each other, perhaps distorting each other, perhaps magnifying each other. It is the US/Mexican border. I will make my stand here. I will try to ‘give face,’ to this place so others can know it, perhaps, even, so those who live in it will know it more deeply.”
The aggregate result of that effort is The Border Project: 1985-2007.
Bruce Berman lives and works deep in the borderlands of Texas and Chihuahua, three blocks from the international bridge that connects Juarez and El Paso. He refers to it as the “City State of No Man’s Land.”
He continues to cover his “beat,” with enthusiasm and joy, for major publications throughout the world.
The Border Blog will cover the news, opinions and culture of the 2000 mile border of Mexico and the United States, concentrating on El Paso and Juarez. It is not meant to be a news source as much as it is meant to be a news “feel.”
The site is a collaborative project. Besides Bruce Berman, who acts as editor and photographer, the staff includes writer and painter, Juarez native and resident, Nathan Zarate. Beatriz Andino Zamora, a poet and writer from Zacatecas, Mexico, posts occasional articles concerning the politics and history of Mexico, in general and La Frontera, in particular. The site is always appreciative of the creative inspiration and goodwill -as well as his extensive Web skills- of Manuel Rivera, a fronterizo “to the bone.”
Contributors are welcome. Diverse viewpoints will be cherished. The site’s point of view and orientation will be no mystery to its readers, however, there will always be plenty of room and appreciation for other voices as long as they are informed, well articulated and sincere.
UPDATE
Dec. 2008
So, it’s time to start writing another chapter.
Still shooting.
Took a job just up the road in New Mexico.
Talking about photography and making it possible for others to do it.
On the road a lot.
Struggle with keepin’ my ya ya going but it’ll keep going. Thought I could do it part time but I guess that’s not me. It took me, shook me, moved me on down the road and I’m almost there now…not quite…but it’s coming.
I still want to shoot the same stuff but I have to self-create now. No one’s asking me, much, to shoot for them. I make my own agenda. Harder. But it’s what I’ve always been aiming for. I still have plenty to see. Multi-tasking. It’s all just a trick. I’m working on it.
The B-Blog will go on. I still live three blocks from the bridge to Juarez. I look at that bridge every day and wonder what I should be doing with Juarez. My compadres in Juarez are covering it. They’re there. They are witnessing. Look for their work. I have to cover my end, this El Paso side barrio. That’s what this web site is all about. I wander, now and then, but it’s this barrio, this raza, that is my focus
It is and will be.
‘ta bien…’ta bien…
UPDATE #2
Feb. 2009
So I’m still on the border.
And I’m teaching up in New Mexico too.
I’m digging the whole thing.
One day I’m up there and getting these young people to use their instruments and they’re real good at it. Where they sort of don’t have it is in knowing what to do with the images, how to make a difference.
I fumbled on this, for awhile. Mr. Democracy. Now I just tell them what to shoot and they nail it. I am so impressed with the power of directing talented people. They are awesome. If you want to see some of their work, go to www.nmsu.documentaryshooters.com
Me?
Still doing it.
The border is crumbling like quick sand. Death on one side of the Rio and Yuppification on the other. Well, actually, El Paso is crumbling in a strange way. An influx of soldiers from a base realignment and an influx of freaked out Juarenses running a step ahead of the La Violencia, has prevented El Paso from imploding from its own hickness. City leaders keep plotting to make it a great city. They think a little Art here and there, less visuals of Poor People and the just right Ad campaign can return this little border town to the glory they percieve it once had.Entertainment, Art, Clubs…duh…this is their dream. By the time they have it they won’t want it anymore.
Empire builders in a Border Town, surrounded by Murder and Corruption. El Paso! As an old friend of mine used to say, El Paso has a “resilient mediocrity.”
So they plot their dream and talk like it’s 1999.
It isn’t.
I am just plugging along. Doing my document. Doing the witness thing.
Hope you’re diggin’ it.
