Brief Regularity

"Brief Regularity" is an installation piece which focuses on time, labor and alienation. For this piece I projected two videos on opposite walls of the gallery and placed multiple speakers in the grid above in order to create a space for the viewer to experience it. The goal is for the viewer to stand in the middle of the gallery and experience the passage of time without seeing any of the labor being performed in the videos. The nature of this work offers the viewer an opportunity to see things that they might not if they experienced it outside of the gallery. On one side there's a line of cars going through a drive-thru that never ends, and on the other a woman cleaning a room that is only visible for a few seconds at a time. I chose to use static video images of these two jobs in the service industry because of the unseen/unnoticed labor involved.

My interest for this work originates from my visits to fast food restaurants and hotels, along with my relationship to people who work or have worked similar jobs. I have also worked in restaurants myself and know how demanding these types of jobs can be. I have witnessed people work jobs that appear to be easy but when done over and over for years become extremely demanding and some of the people performing these jobs get trapped in an ongoing cycle of monotonous work. Over time the people working those jobs become machine-like, performing the same tasks day after day becoming more and more alienated with the people they serve. The people who are not performing the labor but participating are also involved in this cycle, they are so concerned about being as efficient as possible that they themselves become machine-like. It is almost like time is being used to control people, some need to work harder and faster because their time is being bought to help others move through as efficiently as possible. This system of operating is creating a lack of communication, we are so concerned with time that we don't make time to really talk to people, we say thing like "hi" and "how are you doing" but more often than not we don't have the time to listen to how people are doing. We just continue moving forward and forget to look around from time to time

My intention was to have the static video images projected and give the viewers the opportunity to think about themselves and have memory come into play through the roles that they themselves participate in.

Gallery installation shots

Do you ever feel sure that you're not sure?

Sometimes things feel right and effortless which then make me wonder if they really work. Someone once told me me that I have to take what I can get, and I need to trust my stuff. I guess this is easier said than done, I'm talking about making work. Sometimes I make work and I almost feel that I'm cheating because it comes together pretty easy, and people seem to really like it, at least that's what they tell me. I guess simple work is better, not to mention easy to make, in theory.

The wheels are in motion!

I've been trying to fall asleep for a couple of hours now but I can't. I have my thesis show coming up in about a month and it seems like a lot of ideas have been developing in the last 48 hours. I'm really excited because I'm going to do things for this show that I have not really done before. I plan to work with photographs, sound and maybe video. I also plan on making the gallery a more interactive space for the viewer as well. That is what I was talking about with all the ideas, basically how to create the experience in the gallery for the viewer. I've been trying to go to sleep but I keep thinking of things and get up to record them with a little hand held recorder that I keep next to my bed. I'll have more information in the next couple of days about the work. For now its just a matter of brainstorming at night and napping during the day.

Lines of Communication

Treehouse

The Dakota NYC

This photograph was taken in 2008 outside The Dakota Building with a box camera from the 40's/50's. I like the aesthetic of this photograph but I also like the feel it has. I think this photograph sums up New York pretty well, it has a classic timeless feel and the blurriness adds a feel of flux which New York is constantly in.

Wrong number etiquette

I'm currently doing some work for the Community Arts Partnership (CAP) which requires me to call former CAP participants and ask them if they want to take a voluntary survey in order to improve the CAP Program. I've been making calls for the last couple of weeks and have literally called hundreds of people. I can't believe how many people interrogate me only to tell me that the person I'm calling for no longer lives there or that I have the wrong number. It blows my mind!

Modernity

When we move forward in life we can't help but leave some things behind, we embark on new adventures and slowly begin to overlook some of the things that make us who we are. We sacrifice beauty for convenience. We lose touch with the people around us and gradually we ourselves are left with a void. The things we once knew slowly begin to evolve or disappear. We continue to make advancements but no matter what we do we can never go back. We are left wanting more and getting more, but it’s all just a false reality. We are willing to give up the beauty in the world in order to continue our growth. The beauty in things which once gave us inspiration is now gone.

Fishing in Mexico

I recently found this photograph of me fishing in Mexico when I was about 5 or 6 years old. This was my first time fishing and sadly I didn't catch me a "General Sherman".

New Business Cards

I wanted something clean and simple for my business cards.

Nazizona

Designed by Harry Gamboa Jr.

Interventions Show

This is a sign I made for the Intervention Show at CalArts. This is also my first installation piece, it sure beats having to measure, hang and level stuff to the wall.

The show runs from April 25 through May 1 at CalArts in A402

Gallery Shot

Close-up Shot