“Concrete Hope | Esperanza Concreta” Gallery Reception & Keynote Oct. 14

SMC Barrett Gallery to Host Free Keynote Address and Gallery Reception for “Concrete Hope | Esperanza Concreta” Exhibition Oct. 14

Exhibition of Works by Latine/x Photographers and Lens-based Artists — Part of FotoSoCal by CuratorLove — on View until May 9, 2026

Day's activities include a keynote address by SMC’s History of Photography Instructor Erika Hirugami, FotoSoCal Curatorial Director and “Concrete Hope | Esperanza Concreta” Curator

SANTA MONICA, CA — The SMC Pete & Susan Barrett Art Gallery is pleased to present “Concrete Hope | Esperanza Concreta,” a free exhibition — curated by Erika Hirugami — showcasing works by 38 Latine/x photographers and lens-based artists. The exhibition is part of FotoSoCal by CuratorLove, a constellation of exhibitions bringing together more than 20 community college galleries and affiliated spaces across Southern California. A free reception to celebrate “Concrete Hope | Esperanza Concreta” will be held in the gallery on Tuesday, Oct. 14, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The exhibition will be on view until May 9, 2026.

The SMC Pete & Susan Barrett Art Gallery is located at the SMC Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th Street (at Santa Monica Boulevard), Santa Monica. Entry is through the Performing Arts Center’s courtyard.

Santa Monica College is also host to two additional FotoSoCal exhibitions. “Nurturing Masculinities” — presenting works by photographer Juan Manuel Valenzuela — is on exhibit through Nov. 7 at SMC’s Emeritus Art Gallery (1227 Second St., Santa Monica); and an exhibition at the SMC Malibu Campus Gallery is planned for March 2026 (details were not confirmed at press time).

Erika Hirugami, a first-generation Mexican Japanese immigrant, is the founder of CuratorLove and co-founder of UNDOC+Collective. She is the Curatorial Director for FotoSoCal and Curator of the exhibitions presented at SMC.

Hirugami, who also teaches courses specializing in the history of photography for the SMC Art Department, will deliver a highly informative keynote address about “Concrete Hope | Esperanza Concreta” and the FotoSoCal project earlier in the day at 3 p.m. in the Student Services Orientation Hall (SSC 183) on the SMC Main Campus, located at 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica.

“The works that collide within Concrete Hope | Esperanza Concreta,” said Hirugami, “speak to the intricacies and complexity of belonging to a community of individuals united aesthetically by culture beyond nation.”

More information about “Concrete Hope” and exhibition-related activities — including guided walkthroughs and ‘In Conversation’ artist roundtables — is available at smc.edu/barrett.

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LENS-BASED ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS EXHIBITING IN

“CONCRETE HOPE | ESPERANZA CONCRETA”:

Hugo A. Amarales, Mónica Arreola, Isabel Avila, Jamil Baldwin, Deanna Barahona, William Camargo, Jackie Castillo, Damon Casarez, Aldo Cervantes, Nube Cruz, Amina Cruz, Raylene De La Torre, Lizeth Fedella, Humberto Flores, Devyn Galindo, Iris Huerta, Erick Iñiquez, Katherine Juarez, Alejandra Martinez, Arlene Mejorado, Yulissa Mendoza, Star Montana, Rodrigo Morales, Raylene B. Olalde, Diego Olivares, Lizette Olivas, Aydinaneth Ortiz, Moe Penders Ramos, Antonio Perez, Ryan Perez, Félix Quintana, Alkaid Ramirez, Alexa Ramirez Posada, Michelle Salinas Wamungu, Juan Manuel Valenzuela, Maria Villanueva, Patricia Zambran, and Amy Zapata

ABOUT FOTOSOCAL:

Foto SoCal is a constellation of exhibitions bringing together over 20 community college galleries and affiliated spaces across Southern California — including Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Santa Clarita, Riverside, San Diego, and Orange counties — to highlight the aesthetic achievement of emergent photographers in Southern California. Participating galleries include (but are not limited to): SMC Pete & Susan Barrett Gallery, SMC Emeritus Gallery, SMC Malibu Campus Gallery, LBCC Art Gallery, LAMC AMP Gallery, LACC VAMA Gallery, the Art Galleries of PCC, College of the Canyons Art Gallery, LASW Gallery, Cerritos College Art Gallery, Cypress College Art Gallery and Edouard de Merlier Photo Gallery, CSU Fullerton Grand Central Art Center, MASA Gallery, Chaffey College’s Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art, NORCO Art Gallery, More Valley College Gallery, Santa Clarita Community College Gallery, Mesa College Art Gallery, SDCC City Gallery, and Centro Cultural de la Raza.