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Images and Emotions Connected Through a Camera Lens

(SANTA ANA, CA) – The current Community Focus Space exhibit at John Wayne Airport features photography by local academic and photographer Dr. Gerardo Canul, Ph.D. He focuses on creating images that serve as a testament to human resiliency. Sharp camera work captures the quiet lives of people and the history of spaces throughout the world. Select pieces from his photography collection will be displayed in the Thomas F. Riley Terminal through September 15, 2022.

After studying classical ballet and modern dance at the University of California – Irvine dance department starting in 1983, he went on to Washington State University, earning his Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology by 1993. Dr. Canul has been exploring the art of photography since 1984, producing images with the intent of establishing a connection to his academic interests.  

A licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate levels, Dr. Canul brings a balance of theory and practical information to his academics and photography. His interest areas are ethics, child psychology, and wellness. In his creative photographic work, Dr. Canul “shares the power of uncovering multiple sensory and emotional experiences of people and land through images of different countries around the world.” His first solo exhibition was in 1999 at UC Irvine Student Center Gallery. Since then, Canul has given lectures on using images as a therapeutic method in mental health intervention.  

Dr. Canul provides mental health and consulting services to individuals and organizations throughout Southern California. Over the years, he has incorporated artwork, the role of creativity, and photography into both his personal and professional endeavors. His current area of research focuses on non-traditional interventions in mental health — using imagery to facilitate the identification and expression of sensory and deeply felt experiences and emotions. 

The exhibit is viewable (pre-security) on the Departure (upper) Level near security screening areas in Terminals A, B, and C and the Arrival (lower) Level adjacent to Baggage Carousels 1 and 4. 

For more information about the John Wayne Airport Arts Program, visit our Arts Program page