We were lucky to catch up with Alexandra Uzarraga recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alexandra, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I was never a “smart” student under the academic standards or perception – except for the art class. As soon as I ended high school, I took a few years off school because I couldn’t see myself going back to this structure/system not really knowing what I wanted to pursue until I met a friend who was studying art – specifically photography in central Mexico, in a school that only teaches photography, the technical career for 3 years. Photography has always been my interest since I was little but, to be honest, I took this opportunity to go back to school to study something that aligns with me mostly, because I knew this was a well-paid job never knowing the deep connection I would have with this art form and where it was going to take me. After I graduated in 2011, I came back to Tijuana/San Diego to put into practice everything I learned but where I felt the true love for this art and passion was traveling taking pictures of landscapes. In 2016 I started working in the non-profit sector teaching photography to unserved youth and this path took me to study art therapy using the camera and images as a way to address our emotions and get to know ourselves better in forms we could not explore other ways.
Alexandra, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
As an artist in the photography field, I create permanent visual images for an exceptional range of creative, technical, and documentary purposes. I work with clients to discuss the images they require and how they want to use them and collaborate with other professionals, including graphic designers, writers, gallery managers, commissioning editors, and art directors. I practice this art in different ways, mainly in the capture of landscapes as my passion and love for the art. I use my camera as an engine to explore the world.
As a teaching artist, I create curriculums and teach lessons that advocate and provide art education through an extraordinary range of high-quality in-school and community programming by using art and narrative therapy methods to address behavioral health, linguistic ability, and social capacity. The curriculum also encourages youth to think critically about their identities, develop leadership skills, and become agents of personal and social transformation. I make use of photography in the community as an exploration and expansion tool to generate a social impact and transform social environments.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Prioritize funding arts education in schools and communities to foster creativity, critical thinking, and self-expression among future generations to ensure artists have the resources they need to pursue their creative efforts, especially in unserved communities so we can amplify more voices and promote diverse representation in the arts. In order to sustain a creative ecosystem, we need fair compensation for sustainable living and accessible/affordable spaces to create, showcase our work, etc. I would also encourage collaboration and partnerships between artists, cultural institutions, local businesses, and government entities to create opportunities for collaboration and resource-sharing.
By prioritizing these actions, society can nurture a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable creative ecosystem that benefits artists, creatives, and the broader community alike.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My creative journey is deeply rooted in personal healing and fostering connections within my community. Photography has become a therapeutic medium for self-expression, allowing me to capture and share the diverse narratives of the world around me, specifically through landscapes. By creating projects around social justice with community members which shows the beauty and challenges within my community, I aim to create a platform that encourages dialogue, understanding, and empathy. Ultimately, my mission is to leverage the power of photography to promote healing and social transformation, not only for myself but also for those who engage with my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.aleuzarraga.com
- Instagram: aleuzarraga
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleuzarraga/
Image Credits
Ale Uzarraga