Preparing for POP YO TRUNK!

(please)

This Saturday is POP YO TRUNK, we will be making Guadalupe st. our gallery. I decided to take this opportunity to introduce my photography project to the public. So I made stuff, and prepared my speech. I will be selling buttons, totes, stickers, fanny packs, and patches. All of which have been silk screened, sewn, pressed by hand by me (and 2 people who I don't know what I would do without, Joe De La Cruz and my husband, JJ Lopez). I would like to thank my awesome and supportive friends who really helped me in attaining the things I needed to make everything. PURO DIY!

So, again, my goal: Raise $5000.00 in order to purchase (2) lap tops and (15) digital cameras (for now). With this equipment in addition to a curriculum I am building I will then be able to take my photography workshop into non-profits, after school programs, museums, etc. Having the necessary equipment and resources means whoever is hosting my workshop will not have to provide me with the tools, I will already have it all. And the effect: Making photography more accessible to the youth of our city....for FREE.

If you are in the area come by POP YO TRUNK and help me reach my goal, please.

buttons.

totes.

stickers.

fanny pack with patch.

patch, also available in pink.

Stickers.

Get your very own sticker and support youth in fotography! (stickers on their way)

No doubt.

You may have reservations about donating your money to help me reach my goal of $5,000. A kid with a camera? You may think what's the big deal? I can assure you, to educate is to motivate. To teach a skill gives an individual assurance and purpose. To provide opportunity where there is a lack of, is to empower the powerless.

Over the summer one of my jobs was to be the lead photographer for San Anto Cultural Arts photo week. I have folders full of photographs that the kids took. I think it's time to share them. Here are just a few of the snapshots they took with disposable cameras. They were each given a camera at the beginning of the week and told to tell the audience a story of their lives through photographs. Here are a few of the results:

These photographs were taken by students between the ages of 8 and 15 years old.

The plan.

The idea of putting together a permanent mobile (youth) photography program that I can take wherever I would like has been in the making for a while. Based off of my experiences working with youth and facilitating photography workshops I have compiled my needs. The plan is basic, and I have a few goals that I intend to meet while I work through the details of planning the program/curriculum.

I need $5,000 ::crickets::

It's a good thing I am half optimist, because I feel confident in reaching my goal. I know how I will attain funds.

Q: What's the $5,000 for?

A: O, I'm so glad you asked. It's to purchase 15 digital cameras and 2 laptop computers.

Q: Who will use this rig of very nice equipment?

A: The Nin@s!

Q: What is the name of your program?

A: That's a hard one, I have been brainstorming. I've spent many hours on rhymezone searching for words that rhyme with Photo, but to no avail. It will come to me..

Q: Where will you conduct workshops?

A: In the hood, at community centers, at arts organizations, apartment buildings, at the park, in the schools, at museums.

Q: How are you gonna raise all this money, mija?

A: For now I have some merchandise in the making. I have my eye on this nice little artist grant. Kind donors and supporters of youth in the arts.

Q: Do you think this can really happen? Do you think you can make a program, attain equipment, and empower youth through photography?

A: No doubt.

It's on.

Sources.

My two sources of inspiration for my next long term goal:

Tony Rocco

and

Donna Ferrato

Why fight it.

On June 25th 2009 I wrote my first blog, and I used this space as a chronicle of accomplishments (and setbacks as well). A year and some months later I hope that it will serve it's purpose once again. I set a few goals for myself, and Im proud to say that I lived up to them, plus some.

Here I am again, with ideas and goals in mind. I have no choice but to take the plunge, I allow myself to follow the signs, and trust me. The once far fetched anticipation of photography school still hovers close. My love for photography, and working with youth is a definite fact. I must face it, I have to keep going and take the next step. What's hard to face down is the nagging pull of security. It's hard to fight myself, when the tendency to settle and give in seems like the best thing to do. How do I conjure that youthful indifference to complacency that fueled me for so long. It's been a while since I needed to do that.

I'm working on my plan, I'm pulling at my resources, and I'm gonna go for it (once again).

The first thing I need is a name. A name for my photography program for youth. A program that will be free to participants, one where they will each have a camera to use and computers and programs to learn and work with. It's time to build my rig of equipment. Here is my most recent addition, a Beseler enlarger:

Wish me luck.

My Homegirl Kristin

The series I did of Kristin for our show "HOMEGIRLS" in Wilmington.

Los Angeles, California.

Texas Humidity.

I think our TX humidity is under appreciated. I have been busy enough to where I haven't been able to shoot the randomness that I love so much. Gotta make more time for that.

San Anto Cultural Arts 2010 Summer Foto Week crew.

I was the lead fotographer for San Anto Cultural Arts 2010 Summer Foto Week. We had four days to teach photography to the participants (ranging in ages from 7-16 yrs old). We had an amazing time, each time I reflect my eyes water.

Our show is July 10th at the Smart Project Space, located at 1906 S Flores. Stay tuned for a foto recap and for details on our youth fotography show.

At the end of the first day we shared written reflections with each other. I told them a long time ago I dreamed of one day teaching kids photography, and now they now, that they made me dream come true.