August 8 - September 7

TONITA CERVANTES: I AM A HUMAN BEING

Astoria Visual Arts (AVA) is honored to present "I Am a Human Being," an exhibition of documentary photography by Portland artist Tonita Cervantes. On view August 8 through September 7, the exhibition, curated by Agnes Field, brings together compelling images from several bodies of work that explore resilience, injustice, and the shared humanity that connects people across cultures and experiences.

After leaving a successful career as a Hollywood casting director, Cervantes turned to photography during a pivotal moment in her life. What began as a personal search for meaning evolved into a lifelong commitment to social documentary photography, using the camera as a tool to bear witness to the lives of others. "I discovered photography was the only time during the day when I truly lived in the present moment," Cervantes says. "I was able to look at life through a new lens—the camera lens—focused on being right here, right now."

Cervantes has spent years documenting communities often overlooked or marginalized. Her photographs portray people with dignity and honesty, inviting viewers to look beyond circumstance and recognize the shared humanity, lived experiences, and hope for a better life that connects us all.  “I am fascinated by the resilience and community ties created from a lack of resources,” she shares, “Witnessing the human spirit and the will to survive against all odds is both humbling and inspiring. Being behind the camera’s eye allows me to listen, honor, and bear witness to the stories people share, helping educate and enlighten others.”

The exhibition features work created across the globe, including photographs documenting blindness and vision care in India, Ethiopia, and Nepal through SightLife; everyday life in Cuba amid decades of economic sanctions; veterans and people experiencing homelessness in the United States; the George Floyd protests; and the Indigenous-led resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock. Through each body of work, Cervantes explores themes of resilience, justice, belonging, and hope. The objective of this exhibition, Cervantes shares, "is to unearth the common ground we all share as mere mortals on this small planet, no matter where one is born."

Tonita Cervantes

“Angry Bird”