Bolivar Arellano
Bolivar Arellano | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 3, 1944 Alausi, Chimborazo Province, Ecuador |
| Occupation(s) | Photographer, retail proprietor |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Known for | Photography of Menudo, documentation of September 11 attacks |
Bolivar Arellano (born 3 September 1944 in Alausi, Chimborazo Province, Ecuador) is an Ecuadorian-American photographer and former retail proprietor. He gained recognition for his photography of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo as well as for documenting moments during the September 11 attacks in New York City.
Career
Arellano emigrated from Ecuador to New York on 12 May 1971. During that same year, he encountered and captured images of the renowned former and future world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. In 1974, he began working with the Spanish-language newspaper El Diario La Prensa as a freelance photographer, a role he maintained until 1993. After experiencing persecution by Ecuador’s military, a colleague at The Associated Press provided him with a letter of introduction, facilitating connections with English-speaking photographers in New York. Observing that El Diario lacked a police scanner, Arellano acquired one and started covering crime scenes as part of his photographic assignments.
Shortly after arriving in New York, Arellano witnessed an incident where police assaulted a member of the Young Lords, a political organization advocating for Puerto Rican independence. This event strengthened his connection to Puerto Rican culture. Prominent Latino politicians such as Herman Badillo invited him to document meetings at the White House with President Jimmy Carter in 1977.
Arellano later joined the Associated Press, where he covered conflicts and crises throughout Central America. His work included documenting civil wars and massacres in El Salvador as well as unrest in Nicaragua, where he endured a three-day kidnapping by the Contras.
In 1986, Arellano obtained American citizenship.
Menudo
By 1983, at age 39, Arellano resided in New York alongside his wife, Brunilda. Through promoter Manolo "Manolito" Rodriguez—who managed Menudo and Iris Chacon’s engagements in NYC—the Arellanos, both working as freelance photographers, gained access to Menudo during their concert tour in New York. They photographed the band at JFK Airport and their hotel, then advertised these images for sale, quickly receiving hundreds of calls from fans. This overwhelming response motivated Bolivar Arellano to reach out to Menudo’s manager Edgardo Diaz in Puerto Rico.
Diaz granted permission for the Arellanos to establish a New York-based shop selling Menudo merchandise called Menuditis, named to reflect the intense fan enthusiasm comparable to Beatlemania. The Arellanos sponsored fan trips to concerts and frequently traveled to Puerto Rico for related events. The store attracted visits from many Menudo members including Ricky Martin, Ricky Melendez, Johnny Lozada, Roy Rossello, among others.
In 1991, Arellano traveled back to Puerto Rico to testify on allegations of abuse within Menudo’s management during Carmen Jovet's television program "Controversial." He accused Edgardo Diaz, attorney Orlando Lopez, and Panama-based holding company owner José Antonio Jimenez of sexually abusing nine members of the band. Former member Ralphy Rodriguez appeared alongside him on the show despite police efforts to shut down the broadcast.
Deeply affected by these claims, Arellano eventually decided to close Menuditis. In 2023, he recounted his experiences related to Menudo on Telemundo.
1993 World Trade Center bombing
Arellano captured powerful images documenting the consequences of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, marking his early involvement with significant incidents at the World Trade Center.
9/11
On September 11, 2001, Arellano arrived at New York's "Ground Zero" to photograph the aftermath following the impact of American Airlines flight 11 on the World Trade Center, later witnessing the crash of United Airlines Flight 175. He described the distressing scenes of thirteen individuals leaping from the towers. Initially covering a political gathering that day, Arellano suffered a severe knee injury during the collapse of the south tower, necessitating medical treatment. Among his images is a striking photograph of the South Tower shortly after it was struck by the United jet. The traumatic experience led to extended psychological challenges.
Exhibitions
Arellano's photography has been displayed globally, including a 1984 presentation at the Museum of Modern Art. In 1997, he established the Bolivar Arellano Gallery located in New York City's East Village, which remained active for ten years before closing in 2007. He continued showcasing his work through exhibitions such as a 2015 display at Columbia University, featuring twenty monochrome prints. In 2017, Arellano held "Puerto Rican Rebels," a three-day exhibition at the Julia De Burgos Performance & Arts Center, highlighting influential Puerto Rican figures like Oscar López Rivera and William Morales.
Book
On September 12, 2006, Arellano released a photo book titled September 11th: Through The Eyes of Photographer Bolivar Arellano, containing images taken at Ground Zero.