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In a gallery near you
In a Gallery Near You
Extending an invitation for you to browse my portfolio.
Thank you for taking the time to experience my contemporary
art pieces.
A Season to Fall
Award Winning Elsah Museum
The collection of images showcases the color and vibrancy that can appear during Autumn. Autumn is a time to feel the change truly. This project wants to expand how we view the months during fall and what it may represent. Not everyone can experience this season, most purely, but it's to be many people's favorite time of the year. The position of the earth compared to the sun is in perfect distance for fall to bloom. Autumn is the preparation of a new season that welcomes the winter. It invigorates the idea that death, the beginning or the ending of something, can be a beautiful and necessary part of life. The photos also invite the audience to look at the picture differently. The reflection of the tree line onto the water gives a kaleidoscope effect. What these photos mean to me is that the reflection you may see of yourself, or others may see of you can and will be distorted, but once you focus on the bigger picture, things become clear—a season to fall. You might fall over viewing the landscape. Focus to see the whole picture.
Toxic Tourism New Orleans
When traveling, people have similar experiences but see different things. Though we can see the same city, there are specifically curated moments for you, and only you, to enjoy.
According to television and the internet, the southern waterside city of New Orleans is on the list of the top ten cities to visit in America. So, what characteristics make up a city with that stature? As I wandered the town unbounded but scripted, I saw the allure of this prosperous city. The sounds you feel are live music, laughter, ambulances, drumming, breaking glass, loud laughter, or screams. I came to realize what happens in a street full of bourbon.
The French Quarter is breathtaking, and you feel thrown into a different period where the oldness is fascinating. A city that holds mystery, but the number of unhoused citizens is not a secret. As you travel a little outside the quarter, you encounter vintage buildings, local businesses, children leaving their co-ed schools, and art and simple family homes painted in vibrancy, all engulfed in greenery. This quarter is where the actual city resides.
If you travel even farther out of the city, you get a taste of nature, the country, and the people of the land. New Orleans is rich in culture, where you can find alligators alongside lilies. Is the city just like the fairy tale of the princess and the frog? Bits of history spring to life, set against the backdrop of Black culture, Southern nuances, and island life. You can taste this in the food that you have to try there, and even after you travel back home, you'll want to keep eating it. A must-indulgence is gumbo, fresh charred oysters, fried catfish, étouffée, blackened shrimp, and sweet beignets. The cuisines will distract you from the piling of garbage in the streets.
The city is vast, with beautiful people and spiritual entities at every corner. I have always believed in psychics, growing up watching "That's So Raven," but the native people of New Orleans got me thinking, "How did they know that?" In a way, it makes sense because the ancestors are flowing in the street, and the ancient memories are transferring from one soul to another
How can you truly know a city after a few days? The only thing I truly know is that the weather is fantastic and the town is full of hustlers, so do not get hustled. Louisiana is prosperous, and people from all over should continue to travel and experience this one-of-a-kind place, making the city lively. Traveling here will broaden your knowledge and provide an unforgettable experience. As you connect and interact with people while traveling, continue to wonder where you fit in this vast timeline. Tourism uplifts New Orleans, but it may also conceal the truth about this city.
Toxic Tourism Arizona
When traveling, people have similar experiences but see different things. Though we can see the same city, there are specifically curated moments for you, and only you, to enjoy.
If you have ever traveled to Arizona, specifically the Sedona and Scottsdale area, the first thing you would say is that it is beautiful. It is so beautiful that even the naked eye cannot fathom that beauty, and photos cannot capture the wonder of Arizona. But what is Arizona known for? If you travel, you desire to see these gigantic earth structures and immerse yourself in the outdoors. In many ways, most people travel to Arizona to relax in the many luxury resorts and golf courses. You also wonder where people lived in Arizona. The amount of terrain and elevations truly makes you feel like you are on a different planet. Though be wary if participating in libations and medicinal drugs, the elevation could hinder you from passing out and saying this as a personal experience.
As I traveled through the scenery and blessed my eyes with Arizona's beauty, I thought again, what is Arizona known for? It is not the food. I spoke with different locals and asked them. Unanimously, the first sentence that came out when I asked, "Hot" or "known for being too damn hot." As tourists traveling in the fall, they told me that this is the only time we'll be outside, as the heat can make people angry, and they said we may not be the nicest people during that time of year. But then God provided air conditioning and the millions of pools covering the land; even the poorest civilians will have access to some pool. Therefore, speaking to the locals, my question was answered. Arizona is not particularly known for anything, and maybe I didn't talk to enough locals; however, multiple times I was told that Arizona is a fantastic place to raise a family, own a home, and pursue education.
As a tourist viewpoint, they are truly known for the God-given beauty, and that should be the reason to travel to Arizona. You can party and drink in many cities but gazing at this terrain is like no other. Wow, what a gift to be alive.
You are probably wondering what toxic tourism is. It is not just a headline to capture your attention, but to raise awareness of the various ways tourism can impact culture, sustainability, and political issues. Arizona struggles with different topics such as over-tourism, unsafe highways, gun trafficking, unregulated chemical industries, and uncontrolled drug trafficking. About sustainability issues, Arizona faces several challenges, including water scarcity, urban heat islands, and the impacts of climate change. There is much to protect in Arizona so that future generations can continue to experience this area of the United States for years to come. Beautifully, Arizona has a sustainability roadmap that aims to improve the quality of life and protect natural resources, with a focus on long-term environmental, social, and economic success. I wish I were more exposed during my trip to the indigenous history and culture that is imprinted throughout the night sky. So, travel to Arizona; you deserve to see this in real life. But be mindful that you're stepping on sacred ground. I will see you again, Arizona.
Again, can you truly know a city in a few days?
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