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.
