We recently connected with Joe Dominguez and have shared our conversation below.
Joe, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
That would be the one I’m working on now addressing climate change in my lifetime, it’s meaningful because it’s addressing a time sensitive issue, dives deep into my familial history with environmental racism, the media, my culture and political powers shaping climate policy.
Taking on big topics like this is exciting and represents the height of what art can be, an act of persuasion and soft power used to shift public views on real world issues or ideas shaping our lives. Think of the work Artists like JR or Ai Weiwei create; they might not get results over night, but in time their work and the issues they raise on human rights have gained traction and public support which leads to broader change.
Since starting this project on climate change, I’ve been able to connect with others like myself also impacted by air pollution, environmental pollution and partner with communities in the valley working towards a healthier state. This project couldn’t have been made were it not for the support of my family, friends and locals in the valley who helped connect me with people also passionate about climate advocacy and environmental justice. 
Joe, 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?
For sure. I would describe myself as an emerging exhibited artist and storyteller who uses photography to document the world around me from a scientific, imaginative and historical point of view. I also offer portrait photography services to the valley for individuals, couples and families in need of a fun and memorable experience behind the camera. I stand out from the crowd by delivering a great product, client experience from start to finish and valuing craftsmanship. I’m not interested in booking 60 clients a month and delivering stock photography, that ends up impacting the quality of work; being a small operation I’m able to select which projects I take on and ensure no detail is over looked. I also offer digital albums, high quality prints in a variety of sizes and mixed media images where I paint over the prints to create a custom look.
I’ve always know I want a creative career of my own goals and intentions, but getting there has been a detour. As a youth I enjoyed working with my hands and entertaining myself through my imagination. Learning to embrace mistakes at an early age helped me get comfortable taking risks and encouraged me to continue studying other art mediums like painting, illustration and photography. After high school I started college and surprisingly wasn’t sure what path to take; I’ve always had an interest in human behavior, journalism and illustration so I studied psychology, photojournalism and drawing for a few years but I couldn’t see myself working in these fields forever, so I switched to focusing on my core classes while figuring out my degree path and taking photo classes on the side. It wasn’t until I transferred to ASU where I learned I could combine all of my interests into one message where I finally got serious about studying photography as an art form and honing in on my message.
At the end of the day, I am most proud of the accomplishments I’ve made to date as an artist and the support system I’ve built along the way. Since graduating college I’ve had more time to invest my time in meeting other creatives and connecting with other media outlets nation wide supporting emerging artists. I’ve partnered with The City of Tempe and ASU to photograph events and was recently published in Southwest Contemporary issue number five and am currently planning my next show later this year. I’m also proud of the work I’m doing lending my voice and skill as an artist to take on the climate crisis.
Anyone interested in working with me to either collaborate on my climate project or book me for portraits should know I’m all about the details! If you book me to shoot one on one, I’ll ensure your taken care of from start to finish. I geek out on brainstorming and preparing for shoot day and share all of my tips and tricks with you to look your best on camera. And if you’re interested in collaborating with me to support my climate project, please contact me directly with your personal experience with climate change and what you hope to gain out of sharing your story with a broader audience. And to my potential fans and followers, thanks for the support! I appreciate your messages, DM’s and interest in my art. I hope you also use your platform to cover issues also important to you. 
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Hmm.. theres no easy answer to that question, but I think shifting our values to prioritize long term goals instead of immediate profit driven results and a deep revision of the public school system in the United States is a great place to start. As a kid, exposure to wide range of ideas is essential to developing a sense of self and a creative drive or interest in the arts. I was taught under a S.T,E,M education curriculum in grade school ( Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) where an emphasis on linear thinking and measurable results were encouraged and exploration of niche topics was discouraged. I was fortunate enough to have an arts education outside of school at home, on the weekends and later on in high school, but not every kid has that opportunity. If the U.S were to federally integrate the arts as an essential subject in K-12 public schools (S.T.E.A.M), I think the culture as a whole would start to value abstract thinking, artistic skills and art as a valuable contribution which leads to support for artists in the long run. The National Endowment for the Arts is the closest agency offering support to artists federally, but supporting policy makers who prioritize arts education, invest in the enrichment of cultural institutions and jobs in the arts is a great place to start making that goal happen.
Community is foundation for any creative ecosystem, the most effective way cities could support artists is by designating zoned real estate in arts districts or neighborhoods to be used exclusively by artists off limits to developers or contractors. This one act would ensure future generations have a space to produce and support one another for years to come. Present day however, I think everyone can support artists by attending their shows, sharing their work and connecting them with opportunities, people and supporters who want to see them grow as an artist.
: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
YES! While I love shooting portraits and working one on one with people, my main mission as an Artist is centered on advancing marginalized ideas, people and communities by providing an artistic platform to dispel misinformation or highlight their intentions. I am also driven to expand the scope of subject matter in art by prioritizing the Latino and Indigenous diaspora in my work; did you know less than 2% of artists represented in all major US museums and galleries are Latino and over 85% are white and male? What does that say about American culture when much of the high art in prestigious galleries reflects one point of view? These are some of the questions I ask myself when producing work. Given the opportunity to contribute or collaborate on an exhibition at this level, I would love to see more galleries expand their permanent collection and reflect the the true range of talent in the United States.
Contact Info:
- Website: joedominguez.art
- Instagram: jpg.jo
Image Credits
me, Joe Dominguez