STATEMENT -
I have always been drawn to the drama of everyday life – the mixture of cultures, the diversity of ethnic groups and rituals: daily life - la vida cotidiana.
Guatemala offers a rich weave of these elements – religion and ritual are key components of everyday community life and manifest themselves through a yearlong calendar of events played against the backdrop of tropical lands with dramatic volcanoes and exotic flora.
Much of daily life is lived in neighborhood gathering areas: parks and plazas - often associated with the parish churches, where food stands create a center for activity - children play, parents gather and chat, couples flirt...
It is this slice of life that draws me in.
ABOUT THE ARTIST -
I was born in New York City and when I was six years old, my parents moved to Guatemala. My three siblings and I followed our parents around the countryside; father collecting textiles and mother photographing people. Their influence on us as children instilled a great appreciation for the local artistry, craftsmanship and people.
Growing up and living in Guatemala is a wonderful source of inspiration for making things. It's not only the crafting traditions of Guatemala that you see everywhere, but their presence fostered a sense that if you want something, you can make it. This led to many projects as a child and gradually developed into a love of craft combined with a love of design.
I started working in photography when I was 11 or 12 years old. I have my mother to thank for my interest in the art - allowing me to use her darkroom with very basic guidance. Her style was to give me just enough knowledge to get started and then let me take it as far as I wanted, an environment I thrived in. You could say most of my learning has been self-taught with the advantage of having the tools needed on hand. A lot of experimentation and reading allowed me to grow and develop a fondness for pushing my limits as far as I could.