Screening at Warehouse 21

Two of my films were screened at the Warehouse 21 Unity Bash 2011 last night. Featuring a concert by many local heroes headlined by Pictureplane and an art show in the gallery space. I was honored to be a part of the reunion celebration.

Works in progress

My MFA-1 solo show is January 28 - February 4th at CalArts. Here's a taste of what I'm brewing.

"No longer is the camera held by an outsider looking in; the camera is now held with brown hands opening familiar worlds. We document ourselves with a humanizing eye, we create new visions with ease, and we can turn the camera and show how we see you. The power of the image is not a new concept to the Native photographer - look at petroglyphs and ledger drawings. What has changed is the process."

- Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie

to sleep

to sleep

on a chaise-lounge

with a projector by my side

to sleep

on an upset stomach

with writing to be done

to sleep

on whiskey infused exhaustion

with questions left unanswered

to sleep

on this cold night

with longing, but comfort of my work all around me

a self portrait, with new shoes

The Valley

making magic

Minoush

Feeling slightly out of focus

Devices of Illusion

"Indigenous like corn, like corn, the mestiza is a product of crossbreeding, designed for preservation under a variety of conditions. Like an ear of corn - a female seed-bearing organ - the mestiza is tenacious, tightly wrapped in the husks of her culture. Like kernels she clings to the cob; with thick stalks and strong brace roots, she holds tight to the earth - she will survive the crossroads."

- Gloria Anzaldua

nights spent dreaming

3 nights in the studio, 1 night in the Jeep, 1 night in a motel room

I promised the cat I'd sleep at home this week.

But now this place is carrying ghosts.

And I'm reminiscing on Highly Refined Pirates, This is Evidence, The Photo Album.

So much more. What would I think of myself now ten years ago?

Back in Action

Step 1: Load up your Jeep with cameras, film, tent and sleeping bag and drive into the desert.

Step 2: Talk to whomever talks to you, take their portraits. Answer their questions, smile, let them buy you a drink.

Step 3: Watch the bar fight, but don't get involved.

Step 4: Drink coffee.

Step 5: Opt for a motel room instead of the tent if it's below freezing. Sleep.

Step 6: Drink more coffee.

Step 7: Sit in the hot tub early in the morning and contemplate the desert and the coming rain.

Step 8: Back up the mountain, back to burned out trees. Always carry a towel to cover the cameras from the rain.

Step 9: Explore: abandoned houses, corrals, dirt roads, turbines.

Step 10: Drive West.

Pappy and Harriet's

teaching makes magic

Still from the hand processed roll of film we shot in the 16mm class I taught at Echo Park Film Center last week.

Camera Obscura

My first grad school photo

Made from three filtered black and white negatives to create a full color image.