As part of its yearlong 20th anniversary celebration, The Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute (BMI) invites the public to view a photo exhibition showcasing the people and programs that have shaped its legacy at UNLV and in the Las Vegas community..
Over 50 images from the year 2000 to the present are on view in the UNLV Rogers Literature & Law (RLL) building through May 2026. The photos were selected and installed by Bailey Anderson, a recent graduate of UNLV’s MFA in Art program, and Iulia Filipov-Serediuc, a current MFA in Art candidate.
Fifteen photographers are represented in this exhibition, including former and current UNLV Photo Services photographers Aaron Mayes, Geri Kodey, and Josh Hawkins. Individuals featured in the photographs include BMI founders President Emerita Carol C. Harter, Richard Wiley, and Wole Soyinka as well as past BMI fellows and visiting writers Toni Morrison, Percival Everett, Layli Long Soldier, and others.
BMI is located inside UNLV’s Rogers Literature & Law building and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
From the Photographers
Three photographers featured in the exhibition selected one of their images to discuss in detail.
Photographer: Aaron Mayes
Subject: Hossein M. Abkenar - Black Mountain Institute City of Asylum Fellow (2014-19)
Date: Feb. 27, 2015
Equipment: Canon EOS-1D X, Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM lens
"Of all the gifts I receive from photography, connecting with people is the most meaningful. Photography gives me reason and purpose. It challenges me not just to show what I see through the lens, but to share what I learn along the way. My February 2015 photo session with BMI's Hossein M. Abkenar is a great example.
"We were brought together in UNLV's Xeric Garden to make a portrait — two people, about the same age, with vastly different human experiences. I had never seen war or been persecuted for my writing, and I had never had to seek safety in a foreign land. How, in a portrait, do I relate this depth of experience, grit, and resolve? Add to that a mixture of kindness and gratitude, which became evident upon meeting him.
"This portrait is not about fancy equipment or elaborate sets. It is stripped of all but the most basic elements of light, composition, and expression. And in the end, the portrait works because, as a photographer, I did the most important thing possible: I got out of the way and let Hossein tell his own story."
Photographer: Norma Jean Ortega
Subjects: Writers ’Pemi Aguda and Delight Ejiaka in conversation at The Beverly Theater
Date: Jan. 29, 2025
Equipment: Sony A7 IV, Sony 70-200 lens
"I love shooting inside of the Beverly Theater because of the multi-colored lighting, and this photo is one of my favorites for the way the lighting ties into the bold colors the speakers are wearing. The purple and magenta tones from the stage lights created a dynamic, vibrant atmosphere, washing over the fabrics to enhance textures and add depth to their looks.
"This candid moment feels electric because it captures more than just two people in conversation — it radiates connection, energy, and authenticity. One speaker is mid-thought, hand raised with intention and eyes bright behind their glasses, while the other bursts into laughter, leaning back in her chair with unrestrained joy. The exchange between them feels alive, charged with spontaneity."
Photographer: Stardust Fallout
Subject: “Your Writing, Live!” hosted by Shearing Fellow Julián Delago Lopera at the Majestic Repertory Theatre
Date: April 10, 2024
Equipment: Sony A7 IV, Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens
"I’ve always been captivated by capturing raw emotions and the profound connection between the performer or artist and the audience. It’s a delicate balance between pressing the shutter button at the perfect moment to freeze that fleeting second of emotion and understanding the room’s energy and the performer’s connection with the audience while they’re watching and listening.
"Patience and dedication are essential to wait for those moments when the audience truly comprehends the performer’s message. Light and color play a pivotal role in this style, allowing me to move around the room and find unique angles that bend and manipulate light and color to infuse emotion into each frame, transcending flat images.
"It’s crucial to use light and angles to guide the viewer’s gaze towards the subject matter, positioning them within the natural leading lines of the photo. When the room permits, I particularly enjoy using a lens like the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens on my Sony A7 IV, enabling me to capture the room, subject, audience, and light in a moment akin to a snow globe, evoking a profound emotional response."
