AMERICAN SATELLITE
As a curator at Station Museum of Contemporary Art, Houston, I developed my voice and grew as an artist under the guidance of director James Harithas. This is when the socio-political side emerged in my work. The most ordinary images became poignant artifacts. Street culture, club culture, and queer culture all seemed familiar and my vernacular changed. Prolifically weaving my American experience through an international viewfinder covertly revolving like an American Satellite.
Through the lens, I try to anticipate the actions of a subject. Behavioral patterns such as a simple gesture, social movements or acts of nature vary and take years to uncover. With a patient eye these patterns emerge and the truth of humanity rises to the surface. It’s in the vernacular that connects us all like puzzle pieces, a tapestry of nuances waiting to be understood. From regional language to its architectural surroundings, I find familiarity in every turn. We are influenced by technology, politics, religion, socio-economic causes, biases, and war. This reflection of humanity can sometimes be compared to a slow melting glacier disappearing into the ocean or move as fast as the click of a shutter. Both ephemeral, these optics taking space in this illusion of time.
I’ve been documenting these patterns since I was 13. My relationship with the camera has evolved from unconscious to conscious imagery. Throughout my adult years I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to countries and cities unlike mine here in America. From Iceland to Italy, Berlin to Brazil, the voyage continues. Trying to find the interconnectedness in us all once words disappear. This is where my camera begins to tell the story of human nature. I follow in the footsteps of artists that studied and shined a light on life’s contradictions, reshaping the constructs of line and shape, delving into conceptual realms while preserving the essence of reality. This is where the artists intuition becomes an invaluable tool. With this I continue my search for common ground and self identity.