Photographer Adiana Rivera opens fi rst solo ‘Bronx’ exhibit
BY ALEX MITCHELL
Walking around photographing the
most scenic parts of the Bronx is a picture
perfect day for Adiana Rivera.
As one of the borough’s most talented
photographers, she’s captured
the uptown landscape and much,
much more in ways that others just
simply have not.
Some of those iconic shots are being
displayed throughout the month
of April at the Boogie Down Grind
café at 868 Hunts Point Avenue in
what is the fi rst solo exhibit for the
talented Rivera who hails from south
Riverdale.
It’s hard to believe that the 24-yearold
only started to seriously pursue
photography just over a year ago.
That came after she spent a few
years learning production at SUNY
New Paltz.
It was during this time, while living
in a more rural environment,
that she affi rmed her Bronx roots.
“I just belong in the Bronx,” Rivera
said, noting how the borough’s
culture is simply embedded in her in
blood.
“My family is here and my life
is here - it’s just my home,” she continued.
That Bronx homecoming encouraged
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Adiana Rivera proudly displays a book she
created featuring her exhibited works.
Photo by Kasey Rodriguez
Rivera’s work on display at the Boogie Down Grind. Photo by Kasey Rodriguez
Rivera to pursue a deep
interest in not just photography, but
fi lming and producing documentaries
as well.
Rivera even shot and cut a twominute
video for the night that her
exhibit opened up. Titled ‘I Am Every
Woman,’ it was a series of testimonials
from different women, mostly
from around the Bronx that briefl y
detailed their experiences growing
up in a feminine culture.
That’s in addition to her fi ve photographs
that continue to hang on
the walls of Boogie Down Grind; they
vary from her iconic Bronx landscape
shots to the more sentimental
ones like a father and daughter walking
through Fordham together.
Speaking of family, Adiana’s
mother was overwhelmed with joy
witnessing her own daughter’s success
during the premiere.
Rivera wants to continue producing
documentaries over the next few
years in addition to her photography.
She’s currently working on another
project called ‘Bronx Boys.’ That’s an
eight-part series that profi les what
life in the Bronx is like for four different
young men.
The subjects she choose all stride
in very different walks of life. The
fi lm series focuses on the commonalties
that the Bronx has given the
foursome in upbringing, family, adolescence
and much more, while highlighting
their differences as well.
“What I really want to do in the
future is start an organization for
Bronx creatives so that they have a
place to produce and work as well,”
Rivera said.