Ides of March / Seasonal Update

I thought I'd take this opportunity to check in with all my readers (maybe just one or two regulars, haha!) and fill you in on what I've been up to over the past few months. It's been a challenging time, and I've been doing my best to stay positive while focusing on my personal work, my health, and my life in general. The world around us can feel increasingly overwhelming, but thankfully, I have my studio—a true sanctuary. It's my safe space to create, reflect, and grow every day.

I’m excited to share that I currently have two exhibits here in Albuquerque. Over a week ago, I had the opening of my solo show at Zendo Coffee. The work on display is from my Burn Index desert series, which features photo collages with encaustic wax. The opening was really special to me. I had a great turnout and was thrilled to sell some pieces on the very first night. I also released a companion zine to coincide with the show, and I still have a few copies left. If you're interested, you can grab one by following this link.

As I write this, I’m preparing to head downtown to 516 ARTS, Albuquerque’s premier contemporary art space, where I'll be part of a group photography show titled New Tableau. The show is curated by a good friend of mine, Daniel Ulibarri, and features a mix of local and international photographers. I’m truly honored to be included in this exhibition. The work I’m showing at 516 ARTS is a very personal new series called Sic Transit Gloria Mundi. It explores my relationship with my father, who is featured prominently in the artwork. Like my previous work, these pieces combine photography and encaustics. The series consists of 31 images, each printed on old Latin textbook pages, mounted onto board, and then covered in wax.

While it’s incredibly exciting to have my work displayed, this also feels like a period of closure for me. It’s giving me the space to unplug and decompress, allowing me to focus on other things—like hitting the gym several times a week, working on my podcast, and dedicating time to my day job, which thankfully keeps the bills paid.

Looking ahead, I’m excited for the months to come. A trip to Sicily is on the horizon, which definitely adds a little excitement to my life! But I’m also eager to explore new creative avenues.

So, that’s my update! I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to as well—feel free to share in the comments.

Treasure From Trash

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From time to time, I spend a few hours in a community darkroom here in Albuquerque. Though it open to “select” members of the community, the nicest thing about it is that when I book time there, I have the entire darkroom to myself. No fighting over when to turn on the lights, and I can use multiple enlargers at the same time. I like to experiment with expired papers, odd exposure techniques, and often times, found negatives.

One a recent visit, I found some “failed” film on the ground, stuffed in the corner of the darkroom, covered in dust and dirt. A few rolls that someone had obviously loaded incorrectly into the developing tank, it had chemical marks, streaks, and plenty of evidence that the film stuck to itself during the processing. The creator obviously discarded the film, seeing no value in it. On the other hand, I find these kinds of mishaps intriguing. I sometime distress my film intentionally to get the kinds of random results that this artist clearly distanced themselves from. I rolled up the forgotten film and brought it back to my studio. I eventually got around to scanning it an manipulating it in Lightroom. I like the unrestricted chance to play with this film, allowing for panoramic abstractions that are more about the medium itself than the need for any recognizable image. I love the results. I suppose I should give credit to my anonymous collaborator. One person’s trash is another’s treasure, indeed.

Upon Returning

I am taking tentative steps back into life after a challenging couple of weeks. Regular readers of this blog will notice that I tapered off a bit from the weekly posting towards then end of 2022. I have decided to continue a more sporadic posting for the time being. The weekly writing practice is less necessary for my thought process, I have found. The constant work that goes into my podcast, and my daily journaling feels like it is enough to keep me engaged in the “life of the mind.” I certainly have enough work on the horizon to make the blog section of this website a less than regular outlet. Yet, I refuse to let it go dormant completely. I think I’ll post when I have something relevant to say. Sometimes the strongest statements are made by saying as little as possible.

2019: 45 (Breathing Lessons)

To frequent readers of this blog, it will come as no surprise that I have a deep fondness for the Rio Grande bosque that cuts through the middle of Albuquerque; a ribbon of life in the middle of the dry desert. It seems whenever I need space to clear my head, a wander through the bosque usually does the trick. In recent years, I’ve focused my cameras on that environment, and it has provided an endless amount of inspiration and creative fulfillment. So much so that I am undertaking a new long-term project, returning to the bosque once a month to document the changes of the seasons, across the span of a year.

What the visits to the bosque also do for me is to allow me to let go, and deeply exhale. Not only in the literal sense, but also in a spiritual way. Recently I’ve been working hard to reconnect with myself; with my body and with my mind. Realizing that life depends on breathing, I’ve been using the focus on my breath to be the foundation for a renewed sense of mindfulness. Frequent yoga has been helping as well. These things are my attempt to stay grounded. I am grateful for each breath I can take, as well as for every visit I can make to the bosque.