Alan Llavore | Office of Marketing and Communications | (909) 537-5007 | allavore@csusb.edu
The Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art (RAFFMA) at Cal State San Bernardino will open “Lens as Witness: Photography and Resistance, 1960-Now” on Saturday, Nov. 8, during Art Burst Community Day, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The exhibition brings together more than six decades of photographs capturing moments of struggle, resilience and solidarity across U.S. political and social movements. Through these images, visitors encounter both the pain of loss and the enduring strength of communities working toward justice and change.
“Lens as Witness” pairs works from RAFFMA’s historical photography collection with recent contributions by San Bernardino artists invited by The Garcia Center for the Arts. Together, they form a powerful dialogue across generations — documenting not only the national movements that shaped collective consciousness, but also the regional activism that has defined the Inland Empire and Cal State San Bernardino itself.
Developed collaboratively by graduate students and faculty from CSUSB’s art, art history and global cultures, and art education programs — working in partnership with The Garcia Center for the Arts and CSUSB Special Collections & University Archives — the exhibition exemplifies community-based curating. It was designed not just to speak about the region, but to speak with it.
While the exhibition explores challenging themes, it also celebrates moments of joy, pride and care — showing how art has long been a vehicle for healing and collective strength. Rather than offering answers, Lens as Witness invites reflection, dialogue and personal interpretation of what social justice has meant — and can mean — today.
About the Garcia Center for the Arts
Since opening in 2015, the Garcia Center for the Arts has become a vital cultural hub for artists, educators and community members across the Inland region. The Center provides an accessible and inclusive space for creativity, learning and cultural exchange through programs that support artistic development, entrepreneurship and community engagement. Learn more at www.thegarciacenter.org.
About RAFFMA
The Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, houses one of the largest displays of ancient Egyptian art in Southern California, alongside notable collections of contemporary art and ceramics. The museum presents 10–12 exhibitions annually and provides students with hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for careers in the arts. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $3. Parking at CSUSB is $10 per vehicle.
Museum Hours
Monday–Friday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. (second Saturday of each month