Black Boots Ink y IMAJ Intervencion Publica
Black Boots Ink y IMAJ te invitan
Intervencion Publica
Domingo Familiar y recreativo con muchas actividades
Demostracion de Yoga Arte: www.yogarte.com.mx
Taller Infantil: Mesa de Artesanias Ludifiestas
Musica en vivo:
Anemik Apes myspace.com-theanemikapes
Sam del Burdel myspace.com-samdelburdel
The Juan Perez Perez Band myspace.com-thejuanperezperezband
Domingo 8 de agosto de 9:00am a 14 horas
Explanada Cine del Estudiante
Escorza e/Av. Juarez y Lopez Cotilla.
Via Recreativa, Guadalajara, Mexico
www.blackbootsink.com
Introductions/Introducciones
Te presentamos a Rodrigo Alfaro
http://rodrigoalfaro.photoshelter.com/
¿Cuándo empezaste a hacer fotos, ¿En qué proyectos estás trabajando actualmente y qué es lo que sigue?
Comencé a tomar fotos de pequeño, con una Canon T60 que era de la familia. El primer recuerdo que tengo es a los 10 años, en un viaje a Colonia ( Uruguay ) donde gasté varios rollos tomando fotografías de personas, construcciones antiguas… me gustaba mucho tomar fotografías, pero jamás había visto libros ni exposiciones de fotos y no tenía contacto con alguien que practicara la fotografía como prefesión. Mantuve las ganas y la inquietud por la fotografía, y a los 16 años comencé a trabajar en un medio local que hace reportes sobre bandas musicales ( el acople ), y simultaneamente comencé a salir a la calle, en manifestaciones populares sobre todo, de las situaciones cercanas a mí y de las que tenía conocimiento era lo que más me interesaba, con lo cual me sentía comprometido… pronto descubrí a Capa y a Nachtwey, a quienes tomé como referentes y lo siguen siendo hasta hoy.
El próximo trabajo que haré está relacionado con los habitantes originarios de Latinoamérica, es una idea que vengo trabajando hace algunos años y que pese a que se ha hablado y escrito mucho sobre ella, no se han hecho trabajos en el area del fotoperiodismo. Espero conseguir pronto los medios económicos para realizarla por que actualmente la situación sobre lo que yo pretendo contar está muy tensa, hay muchos conflictos y no se le da espacio en los medios locales ni internacionales a este asunto.
Cuéntanos sobre Paraguay y qué te llevó a documentar “Muerte por parto en Paraguay? ¿Qué esperas lograr con esta serie?
Sobre Paraguay me es díficil ser objetivo: Sé que es un país hermoso, donde seguramente hayan muchos lugares y ámbitos donde disfrutar y sentirse bien, pero en el mes y medio que duró mi recorrido por el país, he visto mayormente situaciones por las que nadie debería pasar. No sólo en cuanto a lo relacionado con mi trabajo sobre las muertes por partos inseguros, sino por otras situaciones que estuve investigando, relacionadas con la estructura social y política del país, las cuales son fáciles de comprobar, pero es difícil que tengan la repercusión suficiente fuera del país, y dentro de él es imposible decirlas, este es un capitulo a parte, que queda pendiente para mí, y el cual deberé continuar cuando cuente con el apoyo de algún medio o agencia que pueda respaldar mis investigaciones, sino estaría sólo contando una verdad que sólo me traería problemas y no ayudaría a cambiar nada.
Lo que me llevó a cubrir el trabajo fue, por un lado la posibilidad de demostrar y demostrarme a mí mismo que era capaz de ir a tratar un tema con el cual me siento comprometido, fuera de mi país, de mi ámbito ( las protestas sociales de mi país y mi pueblo ) y hacer algo que creía necesario, y por otro lado que existía la posibilidad de publicarlo en un medio relevante de caracter internacional… por razones ajenas a la fotografía esto último no pudo darse, pero creo que deberé seguir insistiendo para que los editores y encargados de publicar estos trabajos presten atención a Paraguay, sólo medios que no estén allí pueden hablar de estos temas, está demostrado, allí sólo les importa hablar de lo que es negocio, y los que se llaman a sí mismos “periodistas” son capaces de decir los más grandes disparates como si fueran noticias.
Hablame sobre tu serie “Acampe.”
Es una de las tantas manifestaciones a las que he concurridos en los últimos años, y es por donde entré en la fotografía comprometida con las causas populares, donde entendí por vez primera el valor de lo que yo podía hacer, fotografíando lo mismo que en los diarios de la Argentina se muestra como manifestaciones de “violentos” o “vagos”, y mostrar que en realidad son familias, hombres y mujeres ocn sus hijos, que lo único que piden es que les den la posibilidad de trabajar, de educar a sus hijos, de alimentarse, de tener al menos la mitad de lo que prometen los políticos que manejan el país antes de cada elección. En ese “Acampe” de 36hs pasé 30 en el lugar, sólo volvi a casa para bajar fotos, descansar, y volvi, quería estar, vivirlo con ellos, y creo que tomé algunas imágenes donde se ve eso, yo ya no era un fotógrafo que iba a mostrar desde afuera lo que veia, era uno de ellos que tomaba fotografías, y eso es lo que quiero ser, lo que me siento, no quiero ver las cosas desde afuera, quiero vivirlas. Eso también me sucedió en Paraguay, donde pasé bastante tiempo viviendo en los Hospitales, hasta que estando en Boquerón, en la frontera con Bolivia, enfermé por estar viviendo con las personas que se ven en las fotografías, en las mismas camas y en las mismas situaciones. Yo no soy un extranjero que va a los lugares a mostrar a las personas como algo exótico, como los otros, yo necesito ser uno de ellos, respetarlos y vivir lo que viven para entender qué es importante mostrar.
¿Que es lo que te inspira?
Creo que el primer paso para que las situaciones que consiero injustas cambien, es darlas a conocer, y yo estoy dispuesto a ir al rincón del mundo que sea necesario para mostrar lo que crea que deba cambiarse. Entiendo que es lo más valioso que puedo hacer con mi vida, y que tengo que insistir hasta lograrlo. Además, creo que la fotog
rafía tiene el poder de cambiar la forma de ver el mundo de las personas, y si cambia la forma de verlo, cambia el mundo, alcanza con que lo veamos distinto para que sea otro, para que actuemos de otro modo, y prestemos atención y se intervenga en los asuntos urgentes.
Les envío un abrazo a ambos,
Rodrigo.
Gracias Guadalajara!
El objetivo del proyecto es utilizar las imágenes como presentaciones, como las conversaciones, para hablar con la gente que está en las imágenes. – The goal of the International Artist Collaborative workshop 2010 is to use images as introductions, as conversations, to speak to the people who are in the images.
We are interested in returning the images of the street to the street. On July 18th, images from Guadalajara, and other regions of Mexico were posted on a wall fronting the Museo de Bellas Artes in the Rambla Cartaluña in downtown Guadalajara. The wall is a crossing point for the cities working class and the elite. Poetry and images Mexico were combined with silkscreens to continue the dialogue.
El Mural se encuentra en el Andador Escorza – Plaza Rambla Cataluña, Calle Escorza entre Lopez Cotilla y Av. Juarez. – The mural is located in el Andador Escorza – Plaza Rambla Cataluña, Calle Escorza entre Lopez Cotilla y Av. Juarez.
Esperamos su compañia en Agosto 1, 2010 alli mismo para festejar con musica de The Juan Perez Perez Band, Sam del Burdel y demonstraciones de Yoga Arte. Tambien habra acitividades para los niños con Ludifiesta. - Join us on August 1, 2010 to celebrate with music from The Juan Perez Perez Band, Sam del Burdel, demonstrations by Yoga Arte and art activities for the children by Ludifiestas.
Paritipantes: Isrohan Alvarez, Emilio Bañuelos, Eduardo J. Barragan, Jorge E. Barragan, Elena Carrasco, David Flores Magón, Iris Gallardo, Marshall, Jorge Rangel, Karla Tarin, Sam del Burdel, The Juan Perez Perez Band, Yoga Arte, Ludifiesta
Gracias tambien al Instituto Municipal para el Apoyo a la Juventud (IMAJ) y al Periodico Solo Ofertas por su apoyo con este poryecto.
Paritipantes: Isrohan Alvarez, Emilio Bañuelos, Eduardo J. Barragan, Jorge E. Barragan, Elena Carrasco, David Flores Magón, Iris Gallardo, Marshall, Jorge Rangel, Karla Tarin, Sam del Burdel, The Juan Perez Perez Band, Yoga Arte, Ludifiesta
Preparación para la Intervención
Gracias Jorge Rangel por el taller de serigrafía, fue un gran aprendizaje y por tu apoyo con el proyecto Vagando en Compañia de Desconocidos que viene a Guadalajara este mes! Este trabajo sera parte de la Intervención Publica en la Rambla Cartaluña de Guadalajara!
Thank you Jorge Rangel for the great silkscreening workshop and for you support with the Wandering in the Company of Strangers Project that is making its way to Guadalajara’s Rambla Cartaluña this month. All these prints will be a great addition to our Public Art Exhibit.
Paritipantes: Isrohan Alvarez, Emilio Bañuelos, Eduardo J. Barragan, Jorge E. Barragan, Elena Carrasco, David Flores Magón, Iris Gallardo, Marshall, Jorge Rangel, Karla Tarin, Sam del Burdel, The Juan Perez Perez Band, Yoga Arte, Ludifiesta
HAMBURGER EYES / FOTOVISION ANNUAL AUCTION FUNDRAISER
HAMBURGER EYES / FOTOVISION ANNUAL AUCTION FUNDRAISER
July 15th 2010 – July 25th 2010
This year Hamburger Eyes has teamed up with Fotovision to bring you epic masterpieces at amazing prices. With the success of last year’s auction, we decided to make this particular collection available worldwide.
The auction will take place on EBAY for 10 days, and people all over the planet will be able to participate and bid on photographs and paintings from Hamburger Eyes and Fotovision contributors, supporters, friends, and family.
Hamburger Eyes donations include:
David Uzzardi, Sean Jerd, Ted Pushinsky, Alexander Martinez, Oscar Mendoza, Ray Potes, David Potes, Dennis Mcgrath, Thomas Campbell, Jason Roberts Dobrin, Michael Jang, John Harding, Stefan Simikich, Josh Lazcano, Audrey Erickson, Andrew Schoultz, Hilary Pecis, Uri Korn, Catherine Ryan, Tracy Timmins, John Oliver Hodges, Jim Goldberg, Bill Burke, Emilio Banuelos, Elena Carrasco, Forrest Kelley, Mark Murrmann, Albert Reyes, Rich Jacobs, Lonnie Dean, Joe Brook, Ari Marcopoulos, Peter Sutherland, Barry Mcgee, Cali Dewitt, and more!!
Fotovision donations include:
Larry Fink, Dorothea Lange, Nick Waplington, Bill Owens, Herb Ritts, Michelle Vignes, Colin Finlay, Marcus Bleasdale , Tim Hetherington , Ami Vitale, James Whitlow Delano, Camille Seaman, Kim Stringfellow , Ian Martin, Doug Menuez, Matt Herron, George Ballis, Richard Gordon, Darcy Padilla, Michael Rauner, Chris McCaw, Ernest Lowe, Jack Picone, Antonin Kratochvil, and more!!
Fotovision donations also include signed, collectible books by:
Susan Meiselas, Sebastião Salgado, Alec Soth, Alex Webb, Ken Light, Amy Arbus, Chris Killip, Danny Lyon, and more!!
All proceeds will benefit photography by helping Hamburger Eyes continue to produce world class books and magazines, as well as operate their darkroom rental facilty, the Photo Epicenter. And the nonprofit, Fotovision, can continue to advance documentary photography and storytelling through education, dialogue, and community.
For the locals, the entire collection will be available for viewing. They will be exhibited at the Fotovision space during the length of the auction. There will be computers setup and you will be able to bid right there on the spot! And, on the last day we will have a closing reception at the space and people can make last minute bids and we can all celebrate the fundraiser.
FOTOVISION
5515 Doyle St.
Emeryville, CA 94608
Auction runs July 15th – July 25th 2010
Viewing hours Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
4pm – 7pm, or call for appointment.
Closing reception July 25th 2010, 5:30pm – 9pm
Please help us spread the word by re-posting, sending to people who might be interested, twitter, etc. Thanks in advance.
Stay tuned! Each site will have images, info on pieces, links to the auctions, a catalog PDF download, and more..
http://hamburgereyes.com
http://fotovision.org
** The above image is an 8×10 fiber based print by Bill Burke. It has drawing on the front, and it is signed and stamped on the back. If you win this photo, it comes with a small book of his!
Introductions/Introducciones Gina Esposito
We introduce you to Gina Esposito
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ginaesposito
What photography projects are you working on now?
I don’t necessarily consider myself seeking a professional career in photography, so I sort of take photographs to inspire me in my other artistic endeavors and life. I am a very visual person and always have a lot going on in my brain, so photography for me is a remembrance of something my eyes see as beautiful. My boyfriend asks me a lot “why I took that photograph”, and I always say “you don’t understand. The way I was feeling on the inside when I saw that, is indescribable and I needed to capture it to remember it forever”. Maybe I’m not giving myself enough credit in this response – I do find myself seeking out shots and setting them up/angling them in the way I feel they should be projected in the photograph, but most of the time it is about the feeling that is going on inside. As for projects, I am working on my clothing collection, just opened up an etsy shop to sell some photographs (http://www.etsy.com/shop/ginaesposito) and also have a blog to keep my inspirations always available (www.ginaespo.blogspot.com) – there you’ll see some building and garden projects I’ve taken up this spring as well. I’ve also done a few photography pieces for friends shops.
You are a fashion designer, how do you work in photography into your career, or do you keep that separate?
I definitely do not keep the two separate! My surroundings are constantly inspiring me and I honestly get the anx
iety shakes if I don’t have my camera with me because there is always something catching my eye. My eyes are peeled at all times looking for colors, textures, patterns, surfaces, movements; and like I said in the previous response: how I’m feeling on the inside about the situation or imagery I am in. So basically they go hand-in-hand for me.
How do you keep yourself from getting bored with your artwork, or your subject matter?
Well! Our world is ever changing, isn’t it! Can one really get bored with their artwork or subject matter?
Were you raised around the arts?
Yes. My grandfather is an architect and artist and my Aunt Diana is an artist; my entire family and the people we surround ourselves with are always patrons of the arts. I grew up on Long Island only 20 miles from New York City, so our family would go into the city almost every weekend and go to different museums, galleries, shows (our family loves off-off broadway shows), stores etc. and just explore explore explore. Pushing culture was huge for our family. My grandparents would always make my cousin and I sketchbooks made up of recycled paper stapled to a thick piece of recycled cardboard for every museum visit – and I’m talking since we were able to hold a pencil, yes they would make us sketchpads since we were 2. I wonder what happened to those sketchbooks! My Aunt Diana worked at the Brooklyn Museum, so my cousin and I would go to her classes pretty frequently and participate with the class even if the kids were much older than us. I am so grateful for this upbringing, it was truly wonderful
and prepared me for my future in the arts. My family continues to inspire me on a never ending basis. My grandfather is now 80 and is still working as an architect, sculpts out of wood and copper and continues to fill up a sketchbook in an unbelievable amount of time. They are people that are inspired and inspiring to no end. My Aunt Diana was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in the 1980’s, went back to school to become a librarian and even though her illness has challenged her artistically, she has recently taken up drawing again and goes to the beach every day at sunset to draw in her sketchbook. So yes, art has been instilled in my life since way before I was born
A letter from Rikki Ward
As a fellow photographer, you really should know about this awesome photo workshop I took this weekend. Its called “Wandering in the Company of Strangers,” its run by an amazing group of photographers called Black Boots Ink.
The workshop ran from Friday evening until Sunday evening and was totally packed with action and really well-structured.Friday we met up and introduced ourselves and talked about the way the program would run. Saturday the majority of the day walking all around San Francisco making photos and then looking at each others work. Sunday we spent all day editing the work we made. It was intense!
But the organizers were fantastic. They were super talented and super helpful. Emilio Banuelos and Ibarionex Perello were great co-Instructors, each had really strong skill set that complimented each other really well.
I also love the whole philosophy of civic engagement and world citizenry that Black Boots Ink seems to operate under. They seem to think of photography as a two way conversation in which both the photographer and the photographee are engaged, sharing with each other and learning from one another. Sadly, I think this view of and approach to the craft is uncommon these days. It seems that many photographers are more interested in boosting their egos than taking the time to try to connect with people they are photographing.
The other folks who participated in the workshop also seemed to share this idea. They were great to work with, and for the first time, I actually enjoyed shooting with other people.
The whole experience has really invigorated my desire to shoot for love and not just for money and made me remember why I started doing this in the first place.
We are having a show of the work made on the wall at 23rd and Valencia that will go up next week and be up until the prints disintegrate. Please come by and check it out. I know you will love it! I hope you are well. You should really check out Black Boots Ink website@ www.blackbootsink.com . Let me know if you want to take one of their upcoming workshops together.Cheers Riki
Introduction/Introducciones- Brad Evans
We would like to introduce you to Brad Evans
What do you look for when documenting life in San Francisco? How do you photograph people many of us would have difficulty approaching?
Have you become another character of San Francisco street life?
Ha, maybe I will after another 10 years or so. Most of the regulars who hang out in the downtown have a lot of years under their belt; Owen Dias, the No Sex guy has been out on his fire hydrant on Powell/Market for around 25 years. Rhythm tapper Edward Jackson has been out there 13 years. That kind of commitment fascinates me. I talk to all the other regulars whenever I’m in the area. Even the cops – they know me from taking a lot of their portraits on the street and coming back with prints.
Tell me about City Snaps Magazine. Who are the photographers, what is the mission?
My latest is a small booklet I give to people I engage on the street. Being handmade from sheets out of my my laser printer keeps the cost low enough to give them away free to people I meet. I also like the ‘zine aesthetic more than the fancier books and magazines I’ve previously made. That is the mission today. To give something back to people. For the last two years, I’ve been giving out 4×6 prints to subjects I subsequently see on the street, handing out more than a 100. I have a small lunchbox sized Epson printer that only makes 4×6 prints but the quality is really good. I love the reaction when people receive prints unexpectedly. I’ve mailed some to relatives who have discovered a son or mother on my blog. Their stories are very personal and it’s gratifying sending them photos.If you could have a beer with any person living or dead who would it be?
Wandering in the Company of Strangers the Magazine!
Order the issue now!
Black Boots Ink Issue No. 1 brings you the work of 44 photographers and writers working in Guadalajara, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
You can get your copy of our first printed magazine by clicking here.
Pida su edición!
Black Boots Ink Issue No. 1 lleva el trabajo de 44 fotógrafos y escritores trabajando en Guadalajara, San Francisco y Los Ángeles.
Usted puede conseguir su copia de nuestra primera revista impresa, haga clic aquí.
Work by:
Isrohan Alvarez, Guadalajara | Emilio Bañuelos, Guadalajara | Jorge E. Barragan, Guadalajara | Dana Barsuhn, Los Angeles | Dick Beery, Shreve | Caballo, Guadalajara | Monica Cardenas, Guadalajara | Elena Carrasco, Guadalajara | Zulema Carrasco, Stockton | Kevin Cortez, San Francisco | Michael J. Costa, San Francisco | Brad Evans, San Francisco | Noemi Flores-Zepeda, Zapopan | Sergio Garibay, Guadalajara | Sebastian Gladstone, Los Angeles | Yorch Gomez, Guadalajara | Francisco Graciano, San Jose | Ana Fernanda Goribar, Guadalajara | Rory Hejtmanek, San Francisco | Susan Hobbs, Cupertino | Cass Kissam, San Francisco | Karla Louie, San Francisco | Marshall, Guadalajara | Suzanne Mir, Victoria | Carl Mogerley, San Francisco | Thomas Murphy, Brooklyn | Paco Perez Arriaga, Guadalajara | Ibarionex Perello, Altadena | Unni Raveendranathan, San Francisco | John Rickard, Weed | Carla Saunders, San Francisco | Theo Slavin, San Francisco | Amanda Smith, San Francisco | RK Stephenson, Mesa | Karla Tarin, Guadalajara | Denisse Tatemura, Guadalajara | Martin Taylor, San Francisco | Patti Taylor, San Francisco | Rosella Tibig, San Francisco | Rikki Ward, San Francisco
words by: J. Eduardo Barragan, Guadalajara | Karla Tarin, Guadalajara
magazine design by the Photologists, Nancy and Jennifer Ahn.
Introduction/Introducciones-Thomas Murphy
We would like to introduce you to Thomas Murphy
Wandering in the Company of Srangers
You are a world traveler. What have you seen, tasted, smelled? Whom did you meet? Where are you off to next and what do you still have to discover?
I don’t consider myself a world traveler because there are so many places I have yet to see. My most favorite places are definitely in the more underdeveloped countries that I’ve been to. It’s in these countries where I met genuine people who seem to be happier because of their simpler lives. These people don’t have much, so they have less stress and worries. They are not distracted by materialistic things and have a greater sense of family. It’s with people like these who welcomed me into their homes and prepared the best meals for me. I was amazed by their openness and the hospitality I received as an outsider and even though there was sometimes a language barrier. It’s strange how powerful a simple gesture such as a smile can translate into any language. I’m not sure where I’m off to next, but India, Pakistan, Mongolia and Malaysia are on the top of my list.
Tell me about your street photography work. How do you get out to photograph the streets of New York each day? Do you have a rhythm? What is the focus of your work?
I’m pretty fortunate to live in New York, but for a while I hardly shot anything here. It wasn’t until I left the country for several months, that I realized how amazing NYC really is. Sometimes you have to slow down and take a step back to appreciate what’s around you. It’s very easy to get wrapped up in NYC and take things for granted. Now I realize how great the city is everyday. I truly believe there’s no other city in the world that’s like it. I try to shoot everyday, and almost always carry a camera. If I try to leave home without one, I get a nervous feeling in my chest and have to go back in and get one. I’m not sure what the focus of my work is yet. Some days I like photographing people, some days urban landscape, and other days abstract patterns. I know what kind of photos I like to look at and am always researching other photographers’ works. I try to absorb as much as I can in hopes that it will reflect in my own images.
You have a lot of photographs. How do you make time? What are your plans for this work?
I do have a lot of photos, but like I said, I’m always carrying a camera. During the week I try to shoot on my way to and from work, and during my lunch break. On the weekends sometimes I’ll just wander around aimlessly for a few hours. I love seeing my images printed and only until recently did I begin to share them with others. I enjoy looking at old pictures so I’m hoping that long after I’m gone, my images will be looked at by others with as much enthusiasm as I have when looking through photos.
If you could live any place in the world with one other person, where would you live, and what would you spend your summers doing?
Although I haven’t found the perfect place to live yet, I’m almost certain it would be somewhere in Asia. I’m fascinated by Asian cultures and history and would like to learn more. Also, its proximity to other interesting places makes it a great place to live. I most likely would prefer to live there alone. I’ve met more people and learned more about them while traveling alone because I was forced to interact with them more. I also think I take better photos when no one is with me because I have less distractions.
A letter from Francisco Graciano
I would like to take time to tell you about my weekend with BBI (Black Boots Ink). It was a great experience to hang out with various people from all walks of life, with one mind from to make a great photograph. If you ever have a chance to participate, you must! So many cool ideas and thoughts being shared. Look into it!
Introductions/introducciones- Suzzane Mir
We would like to introduce you to Suzzane Mir
Wandering in the Company of Strangers
http://suzannemir.wordpress.com/
Tell me about your collage work. How are materials selected and used, how do you work all these materials together and what are the finished pieces about?
For me, working with collage represents my own “sensitivity” to materials. I hoard, collect, buy and reclaim old and new papers, fabrics and junk. I’m a magpie and a collector of the mundane and the marvelous. The pieces are a library that help me articulate an idea whether it be literal or not. Sometimes, the pieces are part of the narrative and sometimes they are only there to break up the surface. I think collage is playful, rewarding and can often be a bridge between artist and viewer.
Incorporating the individual pieces with the whole is part of the process. At first I used glue and acrylic medium. Now, I am using fiber, threads and a combination of both. That is the richness of collage: the possibilities are endless. In this way, my creative process is always in the “on” mode. So when it is time to articulate a surface, I am ready to reach into my library and go to work.
I’ve noticed horses in your paintings and photographs. Tell me about your connection to these animals.
Horses are my soul mate. It has been that way since I was a little girl. I never owned a horse until a few years ago but even then the rapport had already been established. People who are “horse crazy” will probably tell you the same: it is a wonderful disease that lasts a life time. My references to horses in my work is very personal and cathartic
You live both in Mexico and Canada, what has this experience been like and have the two different cultures influenced your work in any way?
I have been fortunate to have lived in all three countries of North America. I started in California where there is hardly a city that does not have a Spanish name and the Mexican farm workers were part of the local climate.
Canada became my second home in the 1980’s when Pierre Trudeau was still Prime Minister. While I live on the West Coast of Canada I am still very connected to the West Coast of California: There is shared history with Spanish explorers, climate, and connections to Asia. Coming to Canada was a sort of homecoming for me, as my grandfather and his brother had immigrated from Canada to California in the early part of the 20th century.
Mexico, a country associated with my origins in California, has been a recent acquaintance and yet when we first visited, I felt I knew it because of my California roots. So, it is all really tied together, neatly or not. It is curious how the association of the three countries remind me of a figure-eight: active and continuous association of three cultures.
A letter from Patti P.J. Taylor
Jan 2010
Day 3 the final one, of the Wandering in the Company of Strangers photography workshop sponsored by Black Boots Ink & U can’t express what a fantastic & exhausting weekend it’s been. I feel like I’m leaving the workshop with an amazing set of tools & a renewal of faith in my work. I’ve confronted a lot of fears & insecurities I’ve had & best yet by the end of the weekend my fellow attendees are no longer strangers but fellow companions pursuing our love and passion for photography.
Patti P.J. Taylor
Introductions/Introducciones- Rikki Ward
We would like to introduce you to Rikki Ward
Wandering in the Company of Strangers
www.rikkiw.com
Tell me about your “Lusty Lady,”photo essay. What was your experience like, what were your challenges and what do you want your audience to learn from your essay?
When I first moved to San Francisco, I heard that there was an old-school peep show that was not only interesting for that reason, but was also worker-owned. I have always been interested in gender/body-image/sexuality issues and am also extremely interested in the dynamics of worker-owned organizations. I found the combination of a place that sells sexuality with a staff of independently-minded, empowered women (and men) of widely varying shapes, sizes, and identities to be a really fascinating concept. So, I did what I could to become intimately aquainted with the place and really put myself in the dancers’ shoes.
I wanted to make photographs that reflect the unique nature of the Lusty Lady and that portray the women who work there as strong and active participants in the images. This was challenging for me because my own experience there left me with conflicting feelings. I felt that it was an important place to document but it was actually really difficult for me. I was very very aware of being sure that everyone who I photographed was 100% OK with me documenting them .
You have traveled and documented in a few location, where do you plan to travel next and what have you learned form photographing people in different countries?
I LOVE traveling. I love the uncertainty of it and the constant newness. This is actually sort of funny because at the same time I have a difficult times making major changes in my life and tend to stay for long periods of time in the same place. Maybe traveling allows me a little break from this sort of anxiety and attempt at control. Anyway…
There are MANY places I’d really like to travel to next. Among them are West Africa, Russia, Cuba, Canada (never been), Alaska…
The list goes on. But, there are two places I’m actually planning to go to in the not-too-distant future.
My friend Waki, another photographer, recently moved back to her home country, Japan. I plan on going to visit her hopefully within a year. It would be such a privilege to be able to be introduced to Japan by someone who is so intimately familiar with the country and its customs but who has also spent a good deal of time away.
I am also planning a trip to Colombia, where my boyfriend Julian grew up and hadn’t been in about 20 years. I think it would very interesting to share Julian’s experience of being re-introduced to a place that he was once very familiar with but hasn’t really experienced it as an adult.
What I love best about photographing people in different countries, and cultures that are different from my own, is finding the commonalities between all of us while trying to understand different experiences and different ways of moving through the world.
What do you want to be remembered for?
My parents always tell my brother and I stories about their experiences growing up and the experiences of my grandparents and great-grandparents and their lives all sound so rich and I feel proud to be part of such a wonderful family. I just hope that if I have children they can tell the story of my life and their children will feel proud of where they came from.
If you were a super hero and you could choose a a super power who and what super power would you choose.
Hmmm, that’s a tough one. I think I would choose the ability to breath under water so I could explore the ocean without all kinds of crazy equipment. It’s not really a special “power” per se, more like a unique ability.
A letter from Ray Potes
Dear Elena and Emilio,
You guys killed it and it was my honor to participate in the workshop. Thanks for the inspiration and support!
Love Ray
P.S. Keep me in mind for future!www.raypotes.com
www.hamburgereyes.com
Introductions/Introducciones- Cass Kissam
We would like to introduce you to Cass Kissam
Tell me about The Fifty Grand Project and how are you involved?
The idea behind The Fifty Grand Project was the brainchild of two concepts. The first was my love of working with kids. When I was living in Oakland I worked with inner city kids who were in and out of gangs and running the streets and what I came to understand is that these were very smart, creative beings who if given the chance and attention could become even better young adults and people. I mean most of these kids just never had anybody care about what they saw or felt on a day to day basis. The second converging concept came from watching the Documentary “Kids With Cameras” about a photographer who goes into the brothels in India and gives these kids cameras and teaches a kind of Guerilla Photo Class. So what I would like to do is to combine those two ideas and give these kids in the inner cities of America the chance to take some images of the world around them, a world which just happens to be very gritty and real and sometimes beautiful and sometimes really terrifying. So the concept behind The Fifty Grand Project is that it’s kind of a mantra which means if you can raise Fifty Grand then you can change these kids lives, you can change the world. The fact of the matter is that you dont even need Fifty Grand to make an impact, you really just need to believe and roll up your sleeves and get dirty and take the time to go down into these places that most people wont go into. Once you do that not only will you help change other peoples lives you will end up finding that it changes your own life. All of that being said the website currently is just a figment of a dream and right now it’s really just acting as a place I can put up my own work as I havent had a chance to make a site devoted to just my own images. However my long term dream is that someday I’ll be sucsessful enough that I can get a website up and running and teach a workshop that is dedicated to the core values and ideas that are at the root of The Fifty Grand Project. I also have a problem of starting Blogs and then forgetting about them or I guess you would call it an addiction! So I have all kinds of links on my site to Blogs which I have started and then forgotten about. So if anyone wants to contribute, feel free!
Tell me about the narrative you are completing with the farmworkers. What has been your biggest challenge and what do you hope the farmworkers and your audience will learn from that narrative?
This is a project which was born from a discussion I had with my father regarding Fa
rm Workers in the Central Valley. The discussion started when, through the course of his own work, my Father brought to light that a lot of these people were being over looked and forgotten by the census as well as society as a whole. The irony is of course that these workers who are Mexican immigrants (mostly unauthorized) and indigenous coming from places like Mixtec, but also Triqui and Zapotec, these people are really the backbone of California and the United States as a whole. In large part their work fuels the economy of our state and yet they miss out on a lot of the basic rights that we take for granted. So the idea is to try to go along to interview them and hopefully get some images. From what I understand one group of them is living in a Cherry Orchard in tents or lean to’s or just small shacks. The biggest obstacle of course is that it’s a fragile situation and you cant just walk up and start taking photos. Your basically dealing with peoples lives and jobs, jobs which they use to put food on their tables or to send home to their families so it’s a situation and a project that may take a little time. Time to gain their trust. But I think that it could be a very interesting and compelling set of images which hopefully will show a very proud group of people who really are forgotten and under appreciated
Can photography be used for social reform?
Absolutely. I think Photography can be used for a lot of things. I mean for me images inspire. when I pick up a magazine or a book and I see an images that speaks to me, it makes me want to go to that place or to be that person or as a photographer to make a photo like that, because what are photos but the world through another persons eyes? That being said I think that if done correctly you can use photos to move people to make change, to WANT to make change, to care about something. Somewhere someone is looking at a photo and it’s making an impact and in todays world it seems that people are starting to become numb, so if you can do that to just one person your making a difference. So I think that as photographers it’s our obligation to try to reach out and show people what they wouldn’t normally see. We are obligated as Warrior Poets, as Image Makers, as human beings to at least try and if you do that I think along the way you end up having some fun and what’s more you can hold your head up high and feel good about yourself and the world. Because it really is a great world that we live in, there are a lot of things wrong with it, but that’s true about anything, but at its heart, in it’s marrow, it’s a great world and life is good.
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you do with your money?
I should probably say pay off my student loans but truth be told I’d probably end up traveling a lot and putting the money back into the things which I love, which also happen to be what Im hoping to do for a living and that is writing and photography. As silly as it sounds I would probably end up using the money to promote the things Im currently trying to do and to pay to further my career. I’m hoping one day to be able to Freelance and go and cover a story or something which catches my eye and be able to write and take photos, kind of like a roaming photographer. So if I hit the lottery I’d probably by a nice house somewhere warm and buy lots of books and cameras and gear and film and then I’d just go out and work. Which I think says a little something about the profession we as photographers have chosen. I mean most people, when they hit the Big Spin, the first thing they do is quit their job, right? But for me, taking photos, that’s like something I do when I have time off, that’s something I do when I have a free day, that’s something I do everywhere I go, so I think there is something to be said about doing what you love. Of course I’m not saying I wouldn’t buy my own Tropical Island or a a super fresh ride but that would probably be a little bit further down the list…
A letter from Susan Hobbs
I signed up for the Black Boots Ink workshop: Wandering in the Company of Strangers with no prior knowledge of the organization, teachers, etc. I am so pleased with my decision. The instruction was concise and relevant. We worked hard and were challenged to produce. The most priceless part of the workshop was the community built among the participants as well as the guests and instructors. The opportunity to be exposed to the work of these fine photographers was inspiring and helpful. I truly enjoyed the experience.
Cheers Susan
Introductions/Introducciones Carla Saunders
We would like to introduce you to Carla Saunders
Wandering in the Company of Strangers
What keeps you working every day? I just wake up every day thinking about photographs that are waiting for me on the computer. Right now I’m learning about post processing which is an interesting challenge for me at the moment.
Your mother exposed you to art early in life, would you say this lead you to your career as an artist? Probably. I’ve always been into art as long as I can remember. Who are your mentors? Two painters, Ralph DuCasse and Nell Sinton. Ibarionex introduced me to following the light.
What do you search for in your travels? Whatever is around. I have made photographs and paintings of a shaman in a Hmong village in Viet Nam and I’ve painted a little watercolor of an ice cream dessert in a fancy resturant in Italy. Do they inform your work, if so how? I’ll come back from traveling somewhere and spend a year or two working on ideas for an exhibit. Sometimes I make some artist books. Now I’m in the beginning stages of wondering what I’m going to do with the photographs I’ve been making for the past year.
What is a great day for you? I great day for me would be making art. Having friends and family around would complete the picture.
A letter from Martin Taylor
24/Jan/2010
I went into the Black Boots Ink workshop full of apprehension- I (was/am not) a street photographer, I had never been on a workshop before- I needn’t have worried. Emilio and Ibarionex complemented each other as presenters and teachers. They teach without preaching, condescending and more about the creative side of things, than the technical which is just what I needed.
We were kept busy and active at quite a pace- who knew shooting for a day could be so exhausting. We were pushed and challenged but not so much that we felt totally overwhelmed. I learned much about attitude and approach and left the week inspired to push myself. I wish I could have spent a week at this and not just a weekend but I’m fired up to visit Mexico next time-Maybe next year- I’ll have to buy my Roseta Stone Spanish in preparation.
Regards
Martin Taylor
Introductions/Introducciones- Theodore Slavin
We would like to introduce you to Theo Slavin
Wandering in the Company of Strangers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theodorewslavin
Tell us about your band and how your music informs your photography?
I’m in a funkadelic soul band called Illusion Lounge and I play the guitar and make noise with my voice. Music definitely informs my photographs, I try to think like a jazz musician, riff off what’s happening, improvise, raw and visceral, make it groove like Miles Davis in the 70’s. When I listen to music and close my eyes, I see colors, I don’t remember what that’s called but the wiring in my head. must be connected wrong, so music and image is interchangeable. But really, besides other photographers, I’m influenced by authors, filmmakers, musicians, comedians etc. I hope my pictures can ramble like Keroauc, have Andy Kaufman’s wit, Kubrick’s sense of space and narrative.
Tell us about your street photography, would you say your street photography is a reflexion of your personality?
Absolutely. I’m told I’m a “sarcastic prick” (in an endearing way I hope) and this definitely comes through in my work. I look for weird things, stuff that doesn’t fit, little fleeting moments you wouldn’t normally pay attention to because they’re so mundane. I mean, how absurd are cell phones? We walk around all over the place plugged into little computers and don’t smile at each other on the street and sit in a big metal box with wheels full of strangers that we don’t want to touch but share space with. That’s pretty damn funny if you ask me. I don’t pay much heed to shutter speed either, I like blur, out of focus, grain-these elements give the photos a surreal, weirdo quality. I’m not one of those socially concerned, Walker Evans types (no hate against that kind of photography, I know a lot of my friends do that and they make beautiful pictures), I guess I’m more attracted to the guy picking his nose on the street, than the junky shooting up. Hell, I see the junky everyday, but everybody thinks it’s rude to dig for gold in public
What do you have yet to photograph?
Besides projects for school and all that jazz, I’m going to start a series on the Financial District in Downtown San Francisco. The nine to five workweek, people in suits, coffee cups and I’m going to do it in color! Usually I shoot black and white film but I want to try something new for a change. I think I want to shoot some fashion, I’ve never done it before and I’ve gotta keep myself thinking in different ways because the worst thing you can do is repeat the same old thing over and over.
If you were given the opportunity to meet anyone in the world for an hour for beer, who would it be and why?
Oh man, I have to pick just one person? Woody Allen. I’d love to just sit and listen to that guy talk all neurotic and crazy. He’s one of the world’s greatest comedic geniuses and his books are almost better than his films and it would great to just have a drink and hear what he has to say. He’s getting old too, so we’ll have to make this happen fast! And hey, I just turned twenty-one so I could actually have a beer with him without getting him arrested for providing a minor with alcoholic beverages and corrupting the minds of America’s youth. Hot dog.
Thanks for talking to me, hope the answers are okay! And hope you all have your health and happiness and sunshine down in Mexico
cheers
theo
