October 25th marks five years since Hurricane Kenna wreaked havoc on the coastal town of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Though no lives were lost, it was an event that Banderas Bay area residents will not soon forget.
From October 26th-November 3rd, a photo documentary by photographer Javier Pérez Jiménez will be on display in the Central Patio of the Presidencia Municipal, in the main square of downtown Puerto Vallarta.
The exposition will then move to the Centro Universitario de la Costa’s Juan Luis Cifuentes Lemus auditorium, where it will be presented from November 5th-10th, 2007.
Many of us did not comprehend the severity of the storm, since the Banderas Bay region is known as one of the most protected areas along Mexico’s Pacific coastline. Hurricane Kenna was the first storm to affect Puerto Vallarta in over 60 years.
Waves pounded the Banderas Bay coastline, flooding the downtown area and damaging many shops and businesses along the Malecón. Beachfront restaurants and homes were inundated, but fortunately did not suffer as much damage as areas to the north of us did.
In remembrance, professional local photographer Javier Pérez Jiménez has created “Kenna,” an artistic photo documentary, which will be on display in various locations around town from October 25th through November 10th.
Featuring over one hundred photos of Hurricane Kenna and her after-effects, the Kenna Exhibition will be unveiled at a Cocktail Inauguration to be held in the NH Krystal’s Salon La Noria on October 25th at 7 pm.
About the Artist
Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Javier Pérez Jiménez has been working in the Puerto Vallarta for almost three decades, where he is a notable photographer for the Spanish-language daily newspaper, La Tribuna de la Bahía.
Over the years, Jiménez has collaborated with a number of prominent publications, including Century 21, Editorial Televisa and diverse local media. In 2004, he was a Pan-american Company of Journalism scholar and in past months he and a colleague organized the traveling show “Photographed” offering diverse views of Puerto Vallarta.
He is currently working with the EFE International Agency, the Vallarta Vive news agency and is teaching the CEBTis 68 photographic workshop.