Jamie Salazar profiles Francisco Mata Rosas

As most of you are well aware, being an art student in Texas it is always a great thing to find the common thread between you and some of the world’s most recognized creators.

  One in fact has shown here locally at the Photography as Art Gallery in Fredericksburg, Texas.  He is one of the great Mexican Artists from Mexico City, mastering in Visual Arts from UNAM.  He received awards from all across the globe and has been included if not featured in many publications.

His various collections of works reflect an intense look at the people and society in Mexico, and the surrounding controversial topics from immigration, trade, gangs, drug enforcement, and border issues.  He not only sheds light onto these topics from a “Mexican” viewpoint, but that of the everyman.  His eye captures some daily life, traditions, and exceptional moments in life which all of us as viewers can find common ground and relevance towards.

The use of contrast and depth in his photos really led to the theme and reflection of reality in his works.  The truth in the subject matter come across instantly and yet there still seems to be a little more of a secret relevance included in the works.  Take for example his photos of children smoking, they seem dark and sad at first, but then you snap and realize “Hey that’s a child….smoking?!”  WTF?!  These are some of the truths reflected in his works.  I find the ones of the border crossing issues to be quite dramatic, even without the use of people.  He obviously has an award winning eye, but the relatability and honesty is the key to his works.

For More information on him or his work:     www.fransicomata.com.mx      &      www.5piecesgalleryphoto.com

                                
                                        

Hannah Rosales Reviews Fern Leigh Albert

Fern Leigh Albert, born in 1986 is a British film photographer who focuses her work on nature, the human life and the connection between them. She graduated from the University of the Arts London with a Post Diploma in Photography in 2013.

Her series "Wild Wood," which has received a numerous amount of attention through awards and solo/group shows internationally, explores the idea of living off the grid with just a community of thirteen adults and eight children. Her series is composed of ten photographs, three of which I will be discussing and comparing/contrasting more in depth.

In this first photograph, a woman is shown in contemplation inside one of the rooms of her house. When I see this picture, I think of life slowing down. The idea of living off the grid in a small community seems to take away "the bustle" of life. 

The second photograph is also similar, in a way that shows simplicity. This man is bathing in a metal tub. He's choosing to live this simple. He doesn't have to worry about the shower head breaking or the water system messing up. 

The third photograph shows two children walking along a dirt path away from the fire/cooking area. There's also simplicity depicted in this community. Without cell phones/smartphones, this community doesn't have the distraction of social media like most people do. In today's society face to face interaction can seem to be less common with all the technology today. 

Jamie Salazar Profiles Scot Sothern

Controversy…It is exactly what most artist love to create.  This may or may not be the truth behind the works of Scot Sothern.  Weather it was intentional or not, the controversy followed the collection of photos which were part of his book “Curb Service” & “Street Walkers” 

After forty years of working a variety of odd jobs, as well as photographing in his free time, Sothern finally found a place in vice.com.  There he not only could shoot photos, but he also had the opportunity to write and give a great background and insight to his photos. Evolving from a story he had started with vice.com, the photos were part of this behind the scenes sort of expose of the back street, underground world of street life and prostitution.  Sothern would interview and photograph these women (and men) in order to tell their true story.  He wrote these stories in a realistic and unbiased opinion.  He was being very careful to glamorize, or judge these individuals, but wanted to express the way they survived in this life in a funny and sometimes sad manner.

  

 

 The honesty and some of the comedy does in fact come through in these photos, but the honesty greatly outweighs the funny, for the manner in which Sothern chose to capture these ladies, almost in a way reflects their own individuality.   

For more information and other work of true life by Scot Sothern look at:

www.drkrm.com/lowlife.hmtl     &     www.mindysolomon.com/artist/scot-sothern

Jamie Salazar Profiles Graciela Iturbide

While studying Contemporary Mexican Art for my BFA, I came across many various artists, utilizing all sorts of styles and mediums to produce their very own voice of art.  One great example of these talented individuals is Graciela Iturbide.  

Born and raised in Mexico City, she started out studying film and cinematography at age 27, however she quickly found herself much more drawn towards the art of still photography.  Her works range from very humanistic and cultural reflections to deep, dark, and abstract statements.  She is a real expert at capturing the emotion from both her subject as well as reveal a little of her own.  

In the collection of images “Travel Notebook” she really utilizes the contrast which comes from black and white film photography to convey emotion.  Each photo contains a great use of very clean and clear bright whites, as well as deep, dark, sharp blacks.  The photos each project a sort of distance or loneliness, almost as a home sick view of her travels.  This longing to be somewhere, in an “Are we there yet…?” statement can also be observed throughout the works.  

Iturbide has a very influential voice in the Contemporary Mexican Art world.  She is someone to look up to and to keep looking towards, her works will continue to reflect the people, culture, and expression of her heritage, life, and times.

      

   

BELINDA FUENTES REVIEWS ZED NELSON

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            Photographer, Zed Nelson discusses a pressing topic in our government and society with Gun Nation. This series derived from his experience of his friend getting shot and him almost getting shot. An obvious juxtaposition or more so a reference to cause and effect, this body of work is a combination of images of guns as objects, images of people who own guns and the images of the danger of guns. Greatly, the reaction is based on the viewer’s stance on guns. For instance, in my case the images of the comfortableness with the guns in combination with the images of possible repercussions of using guns, is frightening. Additionally, the images with children holding guns or near the guns, is making me the most uncomfortable. More specifically, the image of the shelf crate of bullets is disturbing because they are being displayed like candy. Having these images together is more powerful and necessary than if they were a series on their own. Years later, Zed Nelson revisited this series, interviewed some of the people involved and reshot some of the images. The controversial photographs were defended by ideas of protection of themselves and their families and freedoms as an American citizen. This series is such a relevant topic and thus more impactful in this era of mass shootings.

Kelly Cuevas>>Brendan Carroll

Brendan Carroll is a visual artist. He received his BFA from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA, in 1996. He currently lives and works in Jersey City, NJ. He is very well know for his use of the polaroid camera and anecdotes that accompany the photos he takes. These anecdotes art from personal memory, actual events, other people's memories, or his imagination.


What is very interesting about these small polaroid photos is the way Carroll is able to create a story in his Money Shot (Frontal) series. With only a few sentences the viewer is able to imagine what that person is like and what their life is like. With just appearances and a small amount of information to go by the viewer can digest who they are. Whether it is accurate or not, we can play with the information given to us. In his series he has about 35 of these photos of different people with different stories. I believe its necessary to have so many because as soon as I read the first one, I just wanted to read more. He has a couple other series with this same take, but I felt like this series was the most compelling. Because you get a "frontal" view of the person and it helps put yourself in their shoes.

BELINDA FUENTES REVIEWS MICHELLE ROGERS PRITZL

          At first glance, Michelle Rogers Pritzl's series Not Waving But Drowning feels like its hard to breathe and tight chests. There is an automatic tension amongst the images with closed images and circle borders. Simultaneously, there is an inner scream with the faces being quiet yet the figural gestures being aggressive. The woman feels powerless. In her description of this series, Pritzl writes of representing an Evangelical marriage and the "cult-like manipulation". In a broader sense, Pritzl discusses gender roles and the hidden home.  This series speaks of marriages that appear flawless on the outside but inside the home is war. This type of oppression can be seen in other types of relationships as well, thinking about the amount of abuse that has been present among children. Additionally the circle frames and the photo process used aids in the dating of this lifestyle. Overall, Pritzl strives to be truth amongst this issue, once being in this situation, sharing, "This is my protest. I will no longer be silent. I choose to live."