May 6, 2015
Page 13
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ENTERTAINMENT
Journey
Humanity
into
C ONTINUED FROM P AGE 9
in front of a screen, looking at the
photographs and answering ques-
tions about them, with the camera
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the photographs, via a semi-trans-
parent mirror. The effect is pro-
found, conveying a sense of Sal-
gado reliving his experiences of
capturing the images. Often he is
quite moved as he describes the
humanity of his subjects; we see
that he is an artist but also a seek-
er, whose photographic images
arise from a true ministry of pres-
ence with his subjects.
Salgado’s work has famously
been criticized by Susan Sontag
and others for conveying the pain
of others with a beauty that dulls
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been criticized for not examining
Salgado’s work from that more crit-
ical lens. I didn’t miss such a per-
spective -- and, indeed, I think such
criticism misses an answer that is
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do’s photographs are the product
of weeks and sometimes months
spent with their subjects, often in
countries beset by war or famine
or tragedy. The artist creates a re-
lationship with the people he pho-
tographs that enable him to capture
their humanity in a way that would
not otherwise be possible. They re-
spond to the emotion and empathy
which so clearly guide him, and
he speaks reverently of them and
of a sense that they “give” him the
photo. Salgado has indeed become
famous for photographing suffer-
ing, yet he has equipped himself
to offer a voice to those who suffer
and to convey what is deeply true
and beautiful in their humanity.
The fact that many may not have
the capacity to absorb the impact of
the images is indeed troubling, but
cannot be the fault of their beauty.
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thing important about Salgado’s
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graphing human misery have
taken their toll, and particularly
after spending time in Rwanda
during the genocide, Salgado ex-
perienced a profound depression
and stopped working for a time.
Around that period, Lelia’s in-
spiration and vision prompted the
couple to embark on the gargantu-
an task of replanting the forest on
Salgado’s family’s former ranch.
What began as a family project
became a massive ecological un-
dertaking of successfully plant-
PHOTO BY S EBASTIÃO
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ple at the margins like
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these refugees pushed
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v villages by war and
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c captured by acclaimed
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photographer Se-
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new documentary ‘Salt
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c collection of photos
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around the globe make
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for a powerful, spiritual
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ing 2.5 million trees, bringing
life where there was devastation.
The resulting Instituto Terra has
become the leading employer in
the region, and out of that project,
Salgado’s artistic work has moved
in the direction of photographing
landscapes, wildlife, and human
communities that continue to live
in accordance with ancestral tradi-
tions and cultures.
I was struck by the lessons con-
tained in the journey of this artist
and his family. Compelled by an
adventurer’s spirit; by an intense
interest in what moves humans to
seek, to work, and to destroy; by
an artistic gift; and by an inten-
tion to observe deeply and empa-
thetically, Salgado has created a
body of work that challenges us
to wrestle with the most profound
questions of human existence. It
makes sense to me that the trajec-
tory of his work through death and
devastation has moved him to en-
gage in other acts of creation and
to explore elemental expressions
of life. And it makes sense that all
Madcap Odyssey at Milagro
Portland’s only Latin-American
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The Ballad of Juan José,” a sharp-
eyed and sharp-witted comedy
about a Mexican immigrant who
dreams of moving to the Land of
the Free.
Juan José studies fervently
for his citizenship test, and his
dream transforms into his obses-
sion, launching him on a madcap
odyssey through American past
and present. Nine actors portray
dozens of characters ranging
from Abraham Lincoln to Joan
Baez, exploring stereotypes and
truth in this provocative and ir-
reverent romp through U.S. his-
tory.
Written by Richard Montoya
of the acclaimed comedy troupe,
Culture Clash, and based on the
controversial book, A People’s
History of the United States by
veterans, and groups of over 15.
For more information, visit mi-
lagro.org.
of it contains beauty.
Darleen Ortega is a judge on
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in that capacity. Her movie review
column Opinionated Judge ap-
pears regularly in The Portland
Observer. Find her movie blog at
opinionatedjudge.blogspot.com.
The Law Offices of
Patrick John Sweeney, P.C.
Patrick John Sweeney
Attorney at Law
1549 SE Ladd
Portland, Oregon
Portland:
Hillsoboro:
Facsimile:
Email:
(503) 244-2080
(503) 244-2081
(503) 244-2084
Sweeney@PDXLawyer.com
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historian Howard Zinn, American
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plays through May 23 at Milgaro
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