Dear Brave Souls: every now and then people ask, as Ive answered about here before, to see more pictures of me. Some are nice about it, just inquiring. A few arent. I use a couple different photos on my works--photos taken long ago because the image-makers of those were deeply soulful people who approached gently, had no agenda whatsoever, didnt want to sell my image, put it in their portfolio, but were genteel and humble artists who I so appreciated--for as a deep introvert with family, they respected my privacy, my familys privacy, and my religious convictions about photos-- without question, in fact, with a dear empathic resonance. I try to preserve my familys and my privacy, for untoward things have occurred over the years, and still, including unwarranted intrusions by strangers, ill persons, and other which we definitely have not invited in any way and some of which require legal and law enforcement means. I realize most do not realize what occurs to private life when the world perhaps comes to ones door... So, Im just writing to you a bit here about some very ffew of the realities: I gradually realized after my work went into the world, that some few feel proprietary as though the artist, not their work, belongs to them-- to enter without knocking, and at will. I am so happy to meet people and happy to speak to people who come up to me at bookstore, or when Im out and about. I will always take time. Especially if they bring their children or their old ones to me, or are just filled with happiness, or are in need of prayer. But, long ago too, I found that some, recognizing me from my image, literally began tapping me on the shoulder in the middle of my rosary at the chapel I pray in, and came right through, though I was wearing my mantilla as a veil covering my sight and face... but i realized they likely didnt know the signal of the old believers which is to make the veiled refugio around ones face to pray in a world far away and far closer to heaven than earth. So, that was not the first, but it was the breaking point where I realized that if some few without meaning to, could cause that sudden painful tearing of ones body out of spiritual trance, that it would be better, for many reasons, some for safety, some for privacy and preservation of the Spirit self, and some for religious reasons, just to let my image be as it is on my works. Just the same ol same ol image, in part for i really do not particularly care to concentrate on how I look outside, but hopefully the inside self is worth looking toward, at least sometimes.. I am sorry if my not updating, giving out more pix has caused distress to anyone, and as Ive mentioned here before, making of images, whether painting or photos have to be for a reason. I am not one who loves casual snapping of iphones and digital ipads. I despised the flash cameras as well, and I find the rush to capture intrusive unless I have a clear and good reason my soul agrees with. Id mention too, just gently: There is a misunderstanding about why those of us from certain ethnic backgrounds arent keen on picture taking. Ill try to explain. A false explanation came into the overculture long ago, and is repeated often even today: that deeply ethnic and tribal people dont like their photos taken because we believe people are walking off with our spirit or soul. In one way yes, but in another way, no. Yes because of the seeming over-hunger of some to take and take and collect without having a true relationship to the persons they are snapping and snapping. But/and, I would like to strongly suggest an entirely other reason that is often far more to the point. We have in our ethnic groups here in the southwest and in Mexico and throughout the Americas including Native, African American, Latino and other immigrant and refugee groups... we have been and often still are, polite as a form of honor. So much so, that we never want to say no outright to innocent or stranger people --meaning people who do not live with us, struggle with us, build with us... even when they are intruding on us. Thus, we have, since forever, -- and this is the CRITICAL part-- we have at least five versions of Yes that all mean No. The problem came/comes when those not from that /our ethnic group also did not understand the cultural ways of honor and courtesy going hand in hand. And what does all this have to do with respecting the privacy of individuals and image-making and so on. Many of us believe it is up to the individual to decide what to make and when and if --to make a fan, a knee bell garter, a drum skin, a painting, a song, a ritual, a house, a garden, a crop, a clothing... and in modern times, that includes photographs. Im grateful in one way for the photos taken by some in the late 1800s of tribal people across the world that show often old ways and means. But I decry the naked breasted emphasis of young girls here and across the world in tribal groups-- that kind of nakedness not being a part of modest tribal dress before strangers-- and if nakedness was part of tribal dress, it was not to be imaged, sold across the world, as it has been. That-- is a stealer of spirit for making young women the source of oggling and more-- by those who are not kept to boundaries by the tribe itself. So, without veering out farther here... have already run into knitting a three-sleeved sweater here by writing about one of the heartaches, to me, of the often poor fisher people and poor hunters groups and poor farmer groups across the world being looked at as curiousities in photos and held out for other nefarious reasons as well... far far too often in exchange for nothing, or for what was not good for them without their realizing it. Thus, just to say, if you want details of who I am and what I look like, please read my works, listen to my voice, hear what I have to offer you from my heart. And in fact, if its a real picture of me youre wanting, I probably could maybe put up a picture of the extensive medical heart image-ings I had to have done last year. But Im afraid youd only see the sacred chambers that bless me by keeping me alive. That last was a little joke-icito.lol. Thank you for understanding my choices if you do. And if not, I hope you will please abide with me in grace. Sincerely so. And with love, dr.e
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 07:07:52 +0000
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