JANM on the Go and Mercado La Paloma present “Obras de Luz (Works of Light)” from July 15 to Sept. 25 at Mercado La Paloma, 3655 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Free admission.
As a photojournalist with The Rafu Shimpo, Mario Gershom Reyes (1956-2025) documented the milestones, the tragedies, and the victories of the Japanese American community in Los Angeles. This new pop-up exhibition features photographs that record the moments and people that make up life in Little Tokyo, from Nisei Week Parades and political protests to schoolchildren and sports stars.
Reyes was born in Mexico City and immigrated with his family to L.A. when he was four years old. Eventually, his family settled in Boyle Heights. He started working at The Rafu Shimpo as a senior at Roosevelt High School. Through his work, Reyes was a fixture in the Japanese American community for four decades.
“During the day, I lived in Japanese culture, then I’d go home and go back to living in Mexican culture at night,” said Reyes, who retired in 2024.
“Obras de Luz” was previously shown at the Japanese American National Museum in 2024. Reyes was also the subject of Steve Nagano’s 2012 documentary “More Than 1,000 Words.”
For more information: www.mercadolapaloma.com