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Edwin Pagán of Seis del Sur Shares South Bronx Stories at Hunts Point Library
- Damian Ali
- Sep 19
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 5
Archived Event: This event took place on October 1, 2025. This article remains available as part of TalkTeaV’s Bronx Moments archive.
A South Bronx presentation will showcase photos and stories of resilience during the borough’s fire-scarred years.
Courtesy of Bronx County Historical Society
The Bronx County Historical Society will host a free program, Exposing the Latent Image of the South Bronx, with photographer Edwin Pagán at the New York Public Library's Hunts Point Branch on Wednesday, October 1, at 3:30 p.m. The event, presented with Culture Pass NYC, focuses on the strength of South Bronx residents who lived through the era known as "Bronx Burning."
During the 1970s and 1980s, fires tore through the South Bronx. Many were set in arson-for-profit schemes, leaving whole blocks in ruins. By 1980, more than 80 percent of buildings in the South Bronx were gone, and over 200,000 people were forced from their homes. Firehouse closures left neighborhoods without protection, crime climbed, and the city itself was in crisis. Out of those hard years came stories of survival and determination that shaped the Bronx's future.
Pagán, a co-founding member of the Bronx-based Seis del Sur photo collective, has curated Exposing the Latent Image of the South Bronx as a visual "show-and-tell." The presentation mixes photographs with personal stories and memories to capture both the hardships and the community spirit of those years.
On the CentroPR at Hunter College website, Pagán is quoted as saying: "My biggest lesson as a visual artist—and the one that's proven to be the most valuable in my lifetime—has been transforming my creative abilities to 'see' rather than merely just 'look.'"
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Summertime Mott Haven 1989: Courtesy Edwin Pagán
Seis del Sur, which Pagán started with other Bronx photographers, has worked to show the borough through the eyes of those who lived it. Since 2011, their exhibits have challenged stereotypes and reminded audiences of the creativity and pride that carried local communities through their toughest times.
For Pagán, the work is deeply personal. He first picked up photography as a boy at the Hoe Avenue Boys & Girls Club, later building a career in both photography and film. His images capture the everyday lives of people in inner-city neighborhoods, with a focus on their humanity and resilience.
The Hunts Point event is free and open to students, families, scholars, and anyone interested in Bronx history. More information is available through the Bronx County Historical Society.
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Author's Personal Note:
When I write about artists and historians like Pagán, I think back to the Bronx block where I grew up near 167th Street and the Grand Concourse. There was a small granite church with a tiny park beside it, maybe just one tree. I was too young to remember faces or names, but I remember the church opening its doors each summer to hand out sandwiches with a fresh plum or peach. I've always wished I had taken a picture before it was torn down. That's why I value the work of Edwin Pagán and Seis del Sur—because their images preserve the memories so many of us wish we had saved.
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Courtesy of Bronx County Historical Society
The Bronx County Historical Society continues to connect residents with local history through lectures, exhibits, and community programs. Its events highlight the Bronx's wide cultural reach, from Edgar Allan Poe and music legacies to the borough's impact on politics and the comic book industry. More upcoming events can be found on the Society’s website.
Pagán's work is also featured in THROWBACK: The Photography of Edwin Pagán at Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, running through September 23, 2025. The exhibit closes with a special reception and artist talk, featuring a 40-year survey of his photography. Details are available on the Pregones website.
Follow:
Edwin Pagán @paganimages
Pagán's New YouTube site: BronxDNA
Bronx County Historical Society: @bronxhistorian
BCHS YouTube: @BronxHistorian
Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater: @pregonesprtt
Hunts Point Library: @huntspointnypl
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