'Facing East 2012: A Retrospective'

A lot can happen in a neighborhood in two days. You might not think so if you draw on only what you yourself see, but unleash a handful of photographers and videographers across that real estate to record what all they encounter, and you'll discover just how much life is erupting out there in that brief period. Harold McMillan has been proving as much with his ongoing series "Facing East: 48 Hours in the Life of East Austin." Over the past decade, the DiverseArts Culture Works founder has been using the annual exhibit to document the community life, traditions, and transformations of the Eastside in much the same way he's used the Blues Family Tree Project to preserve the histories and artistry of local musicians. This year, however, instead of seeing what all took place within the boundaries of just one two-day span, you can see several. At the New East Arts Gallery, McMillan is presenting "Facing East 2012: A Retrospective," a sampling of the outstanding work of years past. Considering all the outstanding images captured through the years by such photographers as Martha Grenon, Greg Broseus, Neesha Thakkar, Francis Cruzada, and Peter Staats, this should be a show of shows.

"Facing East 2012: A Retrospective" is on view Sept. 29-Oct. 22 at New East Arts Gallery, 1601 E. Fifth, #106. Opening reception: Saturday, Sept. 29, 7pm. For more information, visit www.diversearts.org.