Rendon Retrato : Michael Mehl is featured in The Rivard Report.
Photo by Al Rendon. Text by Gary Whitford.
Rendon Retrato Series

FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA is an international festival of photographic arts located in and around San Antonio. We have two elements: the physical presence of the exhibits and a digital resource and archive of photographic arts.

We have an interest in increasing the community’s understanding of professionalism in the arts, not only in photography, but in all kinds of media. This contextual problem we have applies to all kinds of arts. San Antonio has an easy lifestyle for those of us who live here, but it lacks a competitive edge. It’s a legacy of our economic history. It’s an easy place to live for an artist, an easy place to produce art, but there isn’t the kind of dynamic market that will support the kind of values and prices that will sustain a career in arts. It’s part of the political environment, part of the educational environment.

I’m not saying that San Antonio is sub-par, but there hasn’t been a coalescing of economics in the arts that will lead to a more dynamic and creative environment.

San Antonio is growing a community of entrepreneurs and creative businesses that could influence this trend. When you have it easy, there’s no need to be dynamic, so you don’t have to be competitive. I am seeing a change – there’s something new on the horizon. It could be due to a generational shift, I’m personally looking forward to how it will play out.

–Michael Mehl, artist, photographer, and founder of FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA

Read More: Fotoseptiembre IXX: Artists in Color, Black & White

Al Rendon is San Antonio’s photographer, born and raised here and known for iconic photographs of the city and its culture. Al is an active Southtown gallery owner as well as an art and commercial photographer. Check out more of his work at AlRendon.com.