The Questions

I began this photo essay almost 10 years ago. Inspired by my sister-in-law's connection to the earth and colorful nature, and my older brother's knowledge on Eastern philosophy. But it must have not been time yet. I did all the research and had all the intention of creating photographic materpeices! I kept all my notes and would come across them every couple of years. The last time I found them, I needed and wanted a project that expressed all that I've learned and become to this moment. Now is the time and the place.

I've been taking pictures ever since elementary. I had a purple camera, with lime green accents, 110 film and the kind of flash you had to flip every time you used it. Now that's some vintage 80's stuff. I took photographs to capture my memories. It's a generational thing. I am a third generation photographer. My grandpa, and my dad, are both photographers. We take pride in our work, and do it for the love.

My pop's is known for his Latin Jazz and Salsa photographs. This is one of the photographs from the Los Van Van concert at Yoshi's SF.

I have been slacking on my photography. A little because I let the excuse of finances stop me from carrying and using my film camera. Now that I have a digital camera, I sometimes fear loosing or breaking it, as it's much more costly than my film cameras. Pushing the excuses aside I began my photographic journey...

I now have all but one Goddess. I am looking for Demeter, the Mother Energy. She is the Goddess of nurture and protection. Know one? Send her my way! I would prefer is she is pregnant.

When I was writing out my goal for the photo essay, and what I wanted to express, it became apparent that I was making the connections between our ancestors and today. I asked two questions of every Goddess applicant.
1. How do you stay connected to your heritage?
2. Tell me six words that describe you.

I believe it's important to always stay connected to your ancestors. In today's world of disconnect, we need that grounding. Being a multicultural woman, I sometimes lack that grounding. I am Puerto Rican, Philippino and German American. I cannot be labeled with one word, nor can I connect fully, individually to each ethnicity. I am the growing number of children in the United States. Those of mixed parents and cultures. To be American, dose not mean to be white. Nor does it mean to be just Latino, black, Native or Asian. We are each a part of specific cultures. We need to all find ways to reconnect ourselves.

The Puerto Rican side. My mom's mom. May she RIP.

 The German Side. Great grandmas and all. May they, and my grandma RIP.

What does staying connected mean to me? Staying connected to my ancestors means I incorporate many different aspects of living. I cook to keep that ritual of cooking from scratch, with love, to nurture my family. I educate myself to pass on the gift of knowledge to my seeds. I don't conform to ideals set forth by colonization, so I can continue to have my mind be free. I stay passionate about my moral codes of integrity, strength, knowledge, compassion and ganas. Music, food, art and love keep me connected to my ancestors.

My six words to describe myself: compassionate, funny, intense, hard-working and playful

Me. Circa 1980

How do you describe yourself?

Till next week, remember to breath deep and love yourself.

Kali. Creator & Destroyer

Kali is a Hindu Goddess, and her roots go far back in time. She was first heard of in 400 A.D. She is a creator and a destroyer, she is not one to mess with. Although she is now a Hindu goddess, she predates the Hindu religion. Her origins in Hinduism are from the great goddess Durga-in one legend she springs from Durga's forehead to help her defeat her enemies. She is known as the forceful aspect of the Durga, and appears in legends of battles as a bloodthirsty and ruthless fighter in her destroyer aspect.

Goddess Kali 1770

However, the other side of destruction is creation, and in her creative aspect Kali is credited with creating the Sanskrit alphabet and painting the symbols which is written on the skulls that hang around her neck. By creating Sanskrit, the forerunner of Indo-European languages, she brings a whole new world of experience into being.

My goddess energy is Kali. After many years of learning about myself, my capabilities and my weaknesses, I have been able to find my inner most goddess. I no longer fear my ability to be and do greatness. I live the way I see fit for myself and those I love. It's interesting that my goddess energy can be misinterpreted as one of evil destruction. I think of it as, it takes a lot of fight to accomplish your goals, you have to learn to either live with yourself, or keep creating better versions of yourself. You can say I am constantly "killing" the versions of myself that I see unhealthy, or needing to grow. Like Kali I am unafraid of the darkness in my nature. I understand how it may come off to others, but I understand that darkness can bring many other things, seeds of life grow in the darkness. Kali is the archetype of the powerful mother, she creates life within her body, but will kill without mercy to protect her young. It's a balance that Kali, and Aphrodite alike, struggle with. Living outside of societies norms, to live out what makes you breath, can sometimes makes other uncomfortable, and at times, I am guilty of not being aware of my power and it's affect on others. 

 In my photo essay I want to have a conversation with the viewer about these balances we face. We are Americans, but have ties to other places and cultures, and still want to stay connected to our Mother Land. Whether we participate in cultural rites, or immerse ourselves in the ever changing cultures of our own community, we always need to harness the part of ourselves that makes us amazing beings with the ability to birth life. It's not always easy, especially with the demands of today's society. We are constantly divided by our financial, race, gender, education, family structure, etc, so we are ever morphing and changing to meet the demands of everyday life. But we still find those moments of peace, tranquility and light. I will recreate those moments, vintage film camera in hand. So come with me on this journey. Meet some of these amazing women, who's goddess energies come from Aphrodite, Diana the Hunter, Demeter, Athena, Hecate, and Kali. You'll meet them here on this blog and get to go on my adventure of bringing the goddess to the concrete jungle.

Make it a great week! Remember to breath and smile often.

Women's Multicultural Experience. Photo Documentary

I am finally back at the computer, ready to blog about my next adventure! For those of you that are new to meeting me, I am an entrepreneur, artist, educator, hip hop feminist and lover. I currently teach at a charter middle school in East Side San Jose, I am the art teacher, teaching Cultural Studies. I am an internationally published hip hop photographer, and pride myself on my integrity, compassion and ability to laugh easily. I also co-own a woman's clothing line, Divine Orchid Creations, with my man. Together we create wearable art for men, women and business (we have a garment decorating business, too). My first introduction to the blog was for San Francisco Etsy, I wrote a weekly blog called The Savvy Entrepreneur. I enjoyed writing that blog more than I realized, and I excited to be back!

One of my most widely published photos. It's included on the cover of a book called Fresh, Bold & So Def Women. This is Eternia. She's one dope emcee, and why my favorite rapper wears a skirt.

Join me on my next artistic pursuit...a photo documentary on multicultural women in America. I want to be able to keep culture alive by creating a connection between the cross-cultures we navigate, while keeping the Goddess alive within us.

I've studied the Goddess (however she manifests for you) for many years. Surprisingly, I found her in Seventeen Magazine back in the late nineties.  I tapped into her intuitive nature when my bf and I took a quiz, trying to guess what the other was thinking. After that moment, I have always reached for the humbleness and greatness of that higher power. I, and we women, conjure her power when we need it most, for inspiration, compassion and strength. She blesses us with the ganas to survive, live and love.

Truth be told, this photo project started 11 years ago. I was keeping notes and planning for a photo documentary about women and the use of color in various cultures. Given my growth as a women, and an artist, it has manifest into what it is today.

The goal of my photo documentary is to capture women in their Goddess essence, while being apart of everyday American culture. I will do this by creating connections with our personal Goddess, our Chakras and cultures, to reveal the complexity of our cross-culture experiences and how reconnecting to our ancestors' rituals we can connect with our high selves. I will paint with film.

If you're interested in being apart of this photo documentary, please answer the following two questions:
1. How do you stay connected to your heritage?
2. Tell me six words that describe you.
3. Take this survey, look under the notes tab.

Please email me with any questions at: do.creations408@gmail.com.

Make it a great week! Peace and blessings!