Reading Rites and Artistic Process

Reading Rites:

The fourth chapter of Black and Green by Brian Dooley, “Irish America,” aimed to illuminate the similarities and differences between Irish and African Americans. The struggles to assimilate into the American culture were quite similar in many ways. Both groups were initially seen as lower class citizens, if they were even considered citizens, and had few rights. Although we typically think of slaves as only African Americans, Irish Americans made up a large portion of the slave population, as they were unable to get jobs outside of labor in most cases. These similarities and differences prompted an interesting dialogue between them.

One of the aspect of Black and Green I found very interesting was the dynamic relationship between the Irish Americans and African Americans. At the time, both groups were marginalized groups who lacked equal rights or opportunities when compared to other Americans. In some cases, this common factor brought the two groups together in a collaborative effort. I was shocked to find that almost 80% of Irish Americans surveyed at one point said that they would vote for an African American president. In other cases, however, the groups were still pitted against each other. Some African Americans still saw Irish people as just as bad as other white people and did not want their help. Once they advanced in their fight and got equal rights, many Irish Americans switched their tune and argued that African Americans simply needed to wait their turn.

The connection I am making here in Ireland is a little abstracted from the main idea of Black and Green, going off the idea of oppressed groups. One thing I have noticed is that there are still homeless people here. I do not know why I expected that there would not be homeless people here, but I admit that I was a little surprised the first time I saw one. This goes to show that there are some situations that are universal. As I got to see more of Cork, I realized that it is just like San Francisco, with crowded streets, lots of action, and clearly visible differences in class.

Looking back through history, it seems as though there must always be an oppressed group and their oppressor. From Native Americans to African Americans to Mexicans, there is always at least one group that is a treated as less than others. Do you think that we, as humans, have a natural need to have a sense of hierarchy between people or is this something we have learned and sustained over the years? Do you think we can ever truly find a balance or some kind of equality between groups? Is it fair to assume that there will always be a rotating cycle of groups that gets pushed to the bottom of the social ladder?

Photo by Natalie Leduc

Artistic Process: 

The workshops we have taken while in Ireland have helped me to find different ways of brainstorming as well as some writing strategies. I found the freewriting exercise where we just spend five minutes writing nonstop about anything with Cathy Darcy especially helpful. One of the vulnerabilities one could say I struggle with is that when I sit down to try to think of an idea for what I want to do on a project, I completely overthink it and have a difficult time. I am trying to just write down any ideas as they pop into my head now. For my project, I am currently considering trying to juxtapose images of nature and images of man-made cities or structures. With this, I aim to show my audience the beauty of the land and how important it is to conserve it. 

Artist Statement and Statement of Resistance

Artist Statement: 

At times, pictures can provide more sensory stimulation and captivation than words can with the variety of colors and textures that can be captured in a single frozen moment. For someone who typically has a difficult time putting ideas into words, I have been drawn to photography as a way to express myself and explore the world. I am a digital photographer who focuses on and is inspired by the beautiful landscapes that surround me. I traditionally found beauty in natural spaces where plants and animals have been allowed to live unaltered by man, but have also come to find beauty in created structures. During 2015, I studied under Tracy Lukehart, a professor at Solano College, where I produced my first collection, “The Road Less Traveled,” and gained knowledge in technical aspects of photography such as lighting and composition. However, I have found that self-teaching and experimenting is one of the best ways to expand one’s craft. Through this experimentation, I have discovered my own style as an artist and my passion for the environment.

At the core of my photographic work is environmental preservation. Preserving the environment is a hot topic as of late as scientists are beginning to monitor the effects and bring their concerns into the public eye. Temperatures are rising, icecaps are melting, and animals are having to adapt to these and other changes. This is a subject that I hold close to my heart, as I was raised in a family that went camping every year and spent a great amount of time enjoying and admiring nature. Year after year, we would return to Lake Almanor during summer and find the area relatively unchanged even though so many other things in this world change every day. However, after looking closer, the effects of global warming were clearly evident in the years of drought when the lake level dropped to 4475 feet in October of 2015 and rose to 4493 feet in February 2017 after the first significant rainy season. I have witnessed this continual change through my annual visits and am devastated at the potential loss of this beautiful recreational space. Land like this must be protected and cared for. For this reason, nature is one of the main subjects in my work. When I am out exploring nature, I try to capture nature and the things I find beautiful in the best way I can.

With my photographs, I want to be eyes to those who are unable to see for themselves the places or subjects I photograph. An economic or physical impediment or simply an inability to pay attention to or see the beauty in subjects could prevent an individual from truly understanding the beauty and importance of nature. Art is typically not accessible to all so I want to be able to distribute my art in a way that can reach a wider audience. I want to show an audience how beautiful our land is in order to inspire them to work harder to preserve it in any small way they can. I want them to feel the same joy I feel while on location as if they were there with me in the moment my shutter snapped closed. 

Photo by Natalie Leduc

Statement of Resistance:

As I create this project, it is important for me to identify what I believe and what I aim to do here. I strongly believe that nature is worth saving, and that small steps can make a large impact. I recognize that I am not alone in fighting this issue. Many have come before me, and many will come after me in the fight for environmental preservation. I resist those who refuse to acknowledge that this is an issue worth fighting for or simply brush off so called tree huggers. I must celebrate the fact that there is a large community of people who are also passionate about this issue and reach out to join them, for a community is stronger than an individual. We must recognize and celebrate the progress that has been made so far, but also that there is a long way to go.