METHOD Summer 2015
CONTENTS P.9
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P.43
P.57 1
Join Us Online
Yo u r M e t h o d . c o F a c e b o o k /YourMethod I n s t a g r a m @YourMethod Tw i t t e r @PcolaMethod ON THE COVER
VINTAGE SWIMWEAR P.23
MODELS (FROM L TO R) HADLEY FEROCE LILY SHIMP CHANEL CEGIELSKI MELISSA WILSON PHOTOTGRAPHY ARROW SALON & SPA HAIR BY CATHY SHELDON MUA ANNA SCHNEIDER SWIMWEAR FROM YEARS AGO GO
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CONTRIBUTORS WE LOVE
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METHOD MAG MUSIC VOL TWO -- ANTHONY NAVARRO
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ART IN PENSACOLA - AUSTIN GARCIA -- DANIELA SUMMERS
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IT’S NOT WHAT WE DO THAT DEFINES US ... -- STERLING BARNES
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SIMPLY VINTAGE SWIMWEAR -- MELISSA WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY
P.43 MY LIFE AS A TRANSGENDER, MY VOICE AS A HUMAN BEING
-- VALENTINA TRICOMI
P.57
BENETH THE SURFACE - RACHAEL PNGETTI -- DANIELA SUMMERS
METHOD Editor-in-Chief
Ashley Simmons
Creative Director Creative Assistant
Jesus Nieves
Anna Mohrbacher
Staff Writers Valentina Tricomi Daniela Summers
for behind the scenes footage Follow Method on Instagram
@YOURMETHOD
Sports Editor Brooke Adams Contributors Melissa Wilson Photography Sterling Barnes Anthony Navarro
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CONTRIBUTORS WE
Cathy Sheldon is the hairstylist behind our cover spread. She brought her ‘A’ game to this shoot with these organic vintage styles. She has grown up on the Gulf Coast and has been creating wedding and vintage styles for years. Before joining the team at Arrow Salon & Spa, Cathy has been doing freelance and wedding styling. She enjoys doing hair for the really special moments in someone’s life. It means the world for her to be able to finish a look someone will always remember. Method has been waiting to plug Cathy into one of our shoots and finally the opportunity arrived. See the full spread on page 23.
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Anthony Navarro has been creating Method’s music playlist for the last three issues and we absolutely love them. Anthony is not so bad himself. He is a Pensacola born music producer/engineer. Recently transplanted back to the 850 from Atlanta, he works with Artists to help create the future of music. He also teaches audio engineers business hacks at www.smartaudioincome.com Be sure to check out this months’ summer playlist on page 7. You won’t be dissapointed. His passion for music and putting new artists out there for you to discover.
Daniela Summers, our Art in Pensacola writer, has been with Method since this time last year. She is a dedicated writer who always inspires us with her love of the arts. Daniella is a Graduate of Fine Arts under the Ministry of the Education, University and Research from the “Accademia di Belle Arti”, Italy. She is one of Method’s staff writers and adds a piece to each issue. This issue be sure to read her article on Rachel Pongetti and her interview with Austin Garcia. If you are interested in working with Daniela or hiring her, she can be reached at DanielaSummersArt@gmail.com for writing and commisioned art inquiries.
Summer P laylist by It’s about that time. Finally. Time for some sunshine, road trips, bbq’s, and the beach. Summer is basically here. Yeah.... it’s effin’ hot outside. To keep you from becoming sweaty basic bitches and basic bros, we’ve created this eclectic mix of music you should be listening to right now – right now to get you geared up for summer. Play it loud. Play it soft. Play outside. Welcome to Method Magazine’s 3rd Playlist designed for all you playa’s out there. Get your Sunday ears ready and put some sunscreen on. Listen and follow the playlist on Spotify hover to select the link!
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y A nthony Navarro
Link: www.tinyurl.com/MethodSummerPlaylist
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Pensacola’s People Mural by Austin Garcia located at 528 West Garden Street, Pensacola, Florida, 32502. This mural is ever-changing. Garcia plans to work on it every three to four months and making this an event to attract attention and bring more art into the city.
An interview with Austin Garcia Written by Daniela Summers
Pensacolian, Austin Garcia, is a hair stylist at Self Salon (in Pensacola, FL) and a self-taught artist. Through a friend, Garcia had a chance to follow the teachings of Bill Clover – a ceramics creative: an experience that left a big impact on him. Taking advantage of the circumstances Garcia tried to make the most out of it: with drive and with passion. Coming from a creative family he started expressing himself at a very young age. After the brief ceramic experience at Pensacola Junior College (now Pensacola State College), Garcia moved briefly to Tampa where he had a chance to put his valuable lessons to work at the St. Petersburg Clay Company. Soon after, Garcia moved back to Pensacola where he finished his General Associates Degree at PSC. Since then, Garcia has been enjoying his job as a hairstylist and has continued to pursue art as self-expression. From ceramics to murals, bone carving to jewelry making; Garcia’s drive to create is strong and comes from within.
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hen I was asked by our Editor and Chief to interview Austin Garcia, I didn’t know what I was in for. I knew he was a hairstylist and an aspiring artist, but that was about it. It became clear to me as I met him in his salon in downtown Pensacola that Garcia was indeed an interesting personality and as my editor said: “an all around great person.” When I got to the salon to do the interview, he had already started on a new mural. I couldn’t dismiss his enthusiasm. He had my attention, so I was ready to have a chat.
The Interview Hi Austin, tells us about yourself. Who are you and what do you do. I know you are a Hairstylist first. What do like about your job? “I guess what drew me to [hairstyling] was the creative aspect of it. To me I look at it as another medium like painting or sculpting. With hair for example, hair cutting it is like carving and sculpting, and with [hair] color it is like painting. I am more interested in working on the educational side of hairdressing in the long run”. Where did you learn ceramics? “I started out at PJC (now Pensacola State College)” “… I was working under Bill Clover, my instructor there, just a phenomenal instructor. He is a phenomenal ceramic artist for one thing, mainly. I just kind of treat it as an independent study more than anything; I was just going there. I was going in there all the time. It didn’t matter if it was my class time or not. I was there until it closed, just working and making pieces as much as I could. Then I lived down in Tampa for a little bit and while I was living in Tampa I was going to school there, just at the community college. I worked in their studios doing ceramics.” “… When I was living in Tampa, I was also working at the St. Petersburg Clay Company which is a beautiful studio: It’s an old train station that they converted into this massive ceramic studio … then I moved back to Pensacola and I continued working at PCS until I finished my General Associate’s Degree.”
Photo to left: No Name, Austin Garcia Photo courtesy of A. Garcia. This pieces was inspired by a DJ’s performance Garcia attended in 2013. He was inspired by the resonance of the bass that made him feel like the sound was coming from underwater.
Do you have any formal training in art? Tell us a little bit about your background. “[I have] just a general Associate’s [degree]. I never went to school for Art. I just never really felt that was the route to take for me. Because like I said, I never tried to make a career out of it.” “… It was never like: I want to be an artist for the rest of my life! I already knew that I would continue to create for the rest of my life, whether I was making me money or not. So I didn’t really see the necessity to go to school for art. I would love to go to school for art just because I would enjoy it … .” Would it be correct to say that you would like to be part of the art world? I mean, I know that is not your objective but if it turns out to be that way, you would love that. Correct? “… I guess it’s not something that I am 100% working towards. I am not opposed to that if [art] would kind of take over. Part of me doing that mural … was to draw some attention here [at the Salon]. But, I was also hoping that it would spark some sort of attention as far as public art in the downtown area.”
“What drew me to hair styling was the creative aspect of it.” -Garcia
Urban Art? “Yes, because the downtown area is beautiful. [Pensacola] It has grown so much in the past five years… and there is so much going in downtown … .” “What I love about gallery night is that you can go downtown and show your work. There is such a vast audience to show it to …” “ … [but] I wish there was more art.”
go, depending on the process [of drying].” “… you kind of have to alter your vision of it. All the ceramic pieces I always do have always been based on the pottery wheel…but I always had an organic style, rather than a mechanical or geometric style. Really with everything that I do, even my paintings are more in the organic style.” One of the pieces stood out from the rest for it’s suggestive power. It is what I personally like to call “the Multi Personality Piece”. Tell us more about it. Is there any inspiration behind it?
How did you start making art? Did someone inspire you? “ … one day I just found “That was a time I was … some paints in my mom’s and I don’t know why I closet. My mom was a was kind of intrigued by painter when she was weird shapes and faces younger (my mom is a … .” “Really it was kind hairstylist as well). My dad’s of a learning process for father was a painter as well drawing and sculpting. … .” “I was always inspired Just the way the cheekbone by urban art, graffiti, street will flow into the jaw or art; all of that was a big the chin and everything, inspiration when I first just kind of like, stretching started painting. Over the it; morphing it but still years my style has evolved. having that flow.” “That When I started painting I Candle Holder, Austin Garcia. Photo courtesy one has 8 faces, they all was very much in a graffiti of A. Garcia. Designed for lighting by casting different have interconnecting eyes kind of style and then its shadows from different angles. and they all have different kind of evolved through the mustaches.” “It’s just years into more into kind of design or surreal I guess you would say. But I don’t like a big jar, around about 2 feet tall. But I don’t necessarily have a specific style. I feel like all my always have a reason why I do most of my works. work is very cohesive but it’s not just one set style.” Occasionally there is a piece where I was specifically doing it for a reason but not often. More often Let’s talk about your pieces. Let’s start with I do it just because of the process of doing it … .” “Actually, PSC purchased that piece for their the little sculptures and the pottery you permanent collection after one of the student shows crafted. Tell us more about that. “With ceramics it is a different approach for me, that I submitted it to. So that was pretty phenomenal. because you are in a time crunch … because you have For me it wasn’t because I got money for it, it was to deal with the drying process …” “For me, I don’t because some of the [other] work that is in that always plan everything out, I just have a general idea same collection. Just knowing that my piece is part of what I want to create; I kind of make it up as I of the same collection … that’s pretty phenomenal.
“People call me an artist, but I don’t necessarily call myself an artist. I just like to create.” -Garcia
I know that you enjoy making murals and paintings. When I see your piece with the bird, the background somewhat reminded me of the sky of Van Gogh (The Starry Night, June 1889). Is he perhaps one of the artists you look up to? Talk to us about the piece.
“You know, now I actually think I remember where I made this. It was actually some kind of show, some DJs were playing and actually the background was supposed to be like the resonance of the bass. And it was kind of like water the way it sounds and resonates. … Sound and water. Sound-waves” Do you have any Artist that you admire or draw inspiration from it?
“ … I have, thousands probably, but I’ve never been a name person. If I have to give a name I’ve always been extremely intrigued by Salvador Dali’s work.… And then when I was in Tampa, they have the Salvador
Dali’s museum down there…… his work has always inspired me. It got that surreal… that cross between that very realistic and abstract otherworldly style… I mean I follow other different artists through social media, Instagram, Facebook, mostly Instagram where I can take inspiration from the vast collection of pictures and pictures. And just different magazines like “Juxtapoz”… “Hi-Fructose”… and even friends I hang out with it…. Just really everything around me” Do you have any other upcoming projects that you are working on or that you wish to work on?
“ … Outside from that mural, I have a mural that is going to change every three to four months. So I will be working on that one toward the end of May. I will start working on a new piece out there. Because that one is the most exciting to me, because it is my own space and I can continue to change it. I am just hoping to do some more Murals throughout Pensacola.” What is the message behind your art? “… I guess it is more about the beauty of the process of creation.” What do hope or wish to achieve in the future? What are your goals ? I have a lot of different avenues; I have dealt with a lot of different mediums: paintings, murals, sketching, hairdressing and styling.” “I also did a little bit of bone carving and jewelry making. I kind of snuck into some jewelry making classes at PJC. I would sneak into the studio and make some stuff”. “Bone carving is really interesting. I got into bone carving two or three years ago. After Smokey Joe [a local bone carver] passed away people were invited to come to his home to get something to remember him by… there was all this stuff like precut bone, tools, and little drill bits, so I asked if I could take it and use it and make something out of it, so they (Smokey Joe’s family) gave me some bone and bits and pieces…Then I just started to play around with it (bone carving).”
Mural, Austin Garcia. Photographed by Ashley Simmons Austin Garcia working on a new mural at the “Self Salon”located in Garden Street. Go check that out at SELF SALON 528 WEST GARDEN STREET, 32502
It’s Not What We Do That Defines Us... Article by Sterling Barnes
It’s no what we do that defines us; we define what we do. I was in my midtwenties when I began to make that realization. At the time, I was working for Soiree Catering and studying Elementary Education at the University of West Florida. I was a wandering twenty-something. By that I mean that I was aimless, I had no sense of identity, and I never quite felt like an adult. I couldn’t identify as a student, a future teacher, or as an adult. I think a great deal of young people go through this murky transition from always being told where to go and who to be being a self-actualized adult. Though I’m still not convinced if that’s the way it’s always been or if it’s just a Millennial thing; I can’t really account for the other generations. But to be honest, I think I was waiting for someone to put expectations on me, but all my parents really expected from me was to be happy and find myself on my own terms, which is all any parent should hope for their child.
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Ultimately, I think what scares young people so much about growing up is the idea of committing to something that’s going to define the rest of their lives. In reality through, I believe life is a series of moments. One moment you’re a student, the next you’re a teacher. And most older people will tell you that your first job out of college really doesn’t define your career in any way, shape, or form. Once I got older and started DJing, I’ll admit that for a while I was embarrassed. When people asked what I did for a living I would mumble that I was a DJ; their ears would perk up and they’d get excited and say “Oh! Where do you play at?” I’d have to stop them and say “Don’t get too excited, I’m just a wedding DJ.” Not the greatest first impressions, I’m sure. Being a profession wedding DJ takes a little getting used to at first; it can be a really fun and emotionally rewarding line of work, but it’s also one that often gets mocked in the cultural zeitgeist. I was insecure about being pigeonholed into a stereotype of a birthday clown in a tuxedo. It wasn’t until I met other people who shared my ideas of what someone in my line of work can and should be that I became more secure with myself and my career. Simply put, I saw other DJs that weren’t dorks. I saw that there was a way to make a name for myself doing something that didn’t have a great reputation. It was never about being cool, it was about redefining something that drastically needed a cultural facelift. Basically, I learned that instead of letting myself be defined by the stereotype of “wedding DJ,” I could define for myself what it means to be a wedding DJ in how I present and market myself. It’s now a creed that I live by: “It’s not what we do that defines us; we define what we do.” I know a lot of people in their twenties who need to start thinking this way. Once we start submitting ourselves to labels, we are essentially disempowering ourselves from ever doing anything different. Talk like “I’m just a server, I’m not a business owner,” or “I’m a college dropout, so I have nothing to offer” is the kind of self-defeating inner monologue that holds us back; not only from selfactualization, but also from community actualization.
Community actualization is a term that didn’t exist until you read it just now, but it is a way of describing what happens when the members of a greater community start living as the best versions of themselves and begin to create projects and movements that develop together and grown the community as a whole. I believe Downtown Pensacola is undergoing a form of community actualization right now. A perfect example of this is the recent rapid development of the SoGo area (Palafox Street south of Government Street). I think that what has happened has been a string of separate business owners trying something new and putting themselves out there around the same time, and that has quickly matured into an entirely new point of local culture. Seriously, if you haven’t been yet, go check it out today. Okay, maybe this is starting to sound a little bit like a manifesto on trickledown economics, but my argument still stands that chasing your dreams makes the world a better place, even though it sounds corny as hell. Either way, living as the person you want to be is just as easy as living as the person you are; you just have to take yourself seriously and have some self-respect. Whatever you are going to do in life, be the best damn version of that possible. The more you self-actualize (and keep in mind, it is a gradual process) the more other people will see you and be motivated to set and achieve their own goals. In the end, success is only partially based on the thing you create; the other part is your inspiring others to go out and create for themselves.
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Simply Vintage Swimwear Melissa Wilson Phototgraphy Models Hadley Feroce Lily Shimp Chanel Cegielski Hair Cathy Sheldon Arrow Salon & Spa MUA Anna Schneider Swimwear Years Ago Go Production Ashley Simmons & Jesus Nieves
850 450 7892 1010 N 12th Ave suite 121 Pensacola Fl 32501
My Life as a Transgender, My Voice as a Human Being Article by Valentina Tricomi Photography by Jesus Nieves Photography Who is a transgender person? The word is used as an adjective to describe people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. Gender identity is not a preference, rather someone’s internal sense of being a man or a woman. Trying to change that is much harder since it is who we are, not what we like. Many transgender people in fact (not all though) alter their bodies to best align them with their gender identity. According to the “National Center for Transgender Equality and the Task Force,” In 2012, 53% of homicide victims in the nation were transgender women and 90% report experiencing discrimination or harassment. That means transgender people are at a higher risk of suffering discrimination and violence against them than any other “classification” of individuals. It is very important to learn and respect his or her decision just as you would anyone else. They are human beings and live their lives just like anyone else, no difference.
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I was able to interview three individuals, all originally from the Gulf Coast area or nearby. Three very different human beings with different life experiences, all united by one community.
Meet Austin
Austin is a 20 years old man; he grew up in Pensacola but relocated to New Orleans, LA. He likes nature, cooking, no-wave feminism, psychology and arts among other typical millennial interests. He’s a full time psychology student. When asked about the difficulties he goes through as a transgender person daily and, whether or not to disclose it to others, he replies: “I face the difficult decision of whether or not to disclose my transgender identity to those around me (classmates, professors, etc.). This process is almost always extremely uncomfortable because I have to consider my safety regarding the setting I’m in at any given time (you never know how receptive someone will or will not be) and that often leads me to staying quite, despite how painful it is to hear someone refer to me as a ‘girl’ or using ‘she/ her’ pronouns.” About disclosing it to friends and family, Austin says, it was easy to tell his friends, they have been really supportive throughout his journey and, he’s grateful to have them in his life. His parents are a different story. “Currently they are as supportive as they can be. We don’t talk much about it, but I’m severely grateful for the support I receive from them regardless. When I told my mom, she was initially receptive and supportive, but a few days later she had a meltdown and told my father before I had a chance to. Most of my extended family have turned their backs on me and a few have been extremely hateful towards me because of their religious beliefs.” Austin states that, “for the most part, I’m pretty good at judging whether or not I should disclose my identity to new people, so overall, people have been accepting and supportive, which really warms my heart. The LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community in Pensacola was relatively small, however I am really thankful for the people I met at Emerald City. They acted as a support group, which I really needed during such a vulnerable time in my life.” In New Orleans where he resides now, Austin found a great LGBT community and resources, which he’s happy to call that home. He has one piece of advice for other transgender individuals: “Being yourself and loving who you are is a beautiful and revolutionary act, you are not alone.”
Meet Chase
Chase is a 23 years old admirable young woman, originally from Chumuckla, FL, she moved to Pensacola just this last year. Chase works as a hair stylist and lives with her boyfriend. In her free time she enjoys shopping and watching psychological thrillers. She lives quite a simple and harmonious lifestyle. “I’m an over thinker (she says), always concerned about consequences, ‘not in any circumstance, what I do today is going to affect my life negatively tomorrow,’ that is my motto. Chase has always known who she was. During middle school is when she decided to be more in touch with herself. “I bought a purse and brought it to school one day, I kept it in my backpack but finally one day I tried to wear it. My mother told me I shouldn’t at first and, that made me so upset, I couldn’t understand why [according to others] that action was so wrong. Then, while in high school, one Halloween I decided to dress up as a girl knowing fully that’s who I wanted to be everyday. The next day a picture of me in costume was shown around the school, not many recognized me but hearing kids commenting on how beautiful the girl in the photograph was made it easier for me to accept myself. I couldn’t picture myself growing old as a male.“ Growing up in a very small town still made her somewhat skeptical to tell the people around that she was a girl for fear of injustice. College is what really changed that. “I found it easy to be myself during that period, no one cared about my appearance and that made me feel free. And returning home after, I started caring more about my life rather than what people thought. I was 18 then and started wearing girl’s jeans and blouses. That’s when my mother questioned me and I confided in her. She was very understanding, I still remember what she said to me: ‘ There are a lot of people who are not going to be nice to you, this world is a dark place, but, there is also a lot of good in it. I wouldn’t want this hardship on my child, never the less, if this is what you need, I’ll fully support your choice’. My whole family did in fact. I was also lucky enough to meet Josey, a dear friend I still feel close to. She helped me evolve into the person I am today.” Chase also found a helping community here in Pensacola (Safe Port, http://asafeportpensacola. org/ or http://www.gulfcoasttransgenderalliance.com/transgender-friendly-professionals. html). By referral from her family doctor she finished the 12 months counseling required before meeting with the Endocrinologist she has been under the care of for her hormone therapy, Debra DuBose, LCSW. Her advice to any young transgender going through a similar life experience? “As long as you’re happy with the person reflecting from the mirror, be yourself, the people who love you will support your choices.”
Meet Taylor
Taylor is a 24 years old and confident, beautiful young woman. Taylor is originally from Lafayette, LA and moved to this area as a teenager with her family. She attended cosmetology school and subsequently became a hair stylist. Like any girl her age, she enjoys shopping and loves to dance. She’s a big SCI-FI movie fan but her all-time favorites are nature documentaries. Taylor lives in Pensacola with her boyfriend and their cat. Taylor has felt she was a woman since a very early age; “I always knew since I can remember” she says, “I don’t feel as if I had a realization at any particular age. I played with dolls, I wore pink, I’ve always known I am female, yes I might have been born with a male organ but that’s not who I felt and luckily I was able to surgically change that later on in life. My family was really supportive from the beginning, especially my grandmother. They all addressed me as ‘she’ and accepted me for who I was.” Do you have any difficulties being accepted outside of your family circle? “There might have been times when I was slightly nervous out on the streets, anyone can feel that way not knowing if people would ask uncomfortable questions, but thankfully, I’ve never experienced any difficulties. I hear of a lot of beautiful girls in our community going through some level of discrimination, not in my case though. I think a lot has to do with one’s attitude also. I don’t necessarily disclose myself to others, I am fully comfortable affirming if anyone asks but I don’t feel the need to. I feel very lucky being who I am, being a transgender woman has opened a lot of doors for me.” “When I was 18 years old, I went to Emerald City (nightclub in Pensacola, FL) for the first time and as soon as I walked in there, I discovered a new world I wanted to be a part of. I wanted to perform, wanted to be in the spotlight, so I auditioned and joined the cast. I became a dancer, one of the members of the ‘Heart Sisters’ trio. I had some ups and downs being a performer, mainly because of the pressure of always having to look perfect and, as we all know, that is very unrealistic, but, at the same time, I loved being on stage. I danced for 3 and half years until I decided it was enough and after meeting my partner, something in me changed. I left the stage behind and even though I miss it sometimes, I’m really happy with my life now.”in a positive light, public figures like Laverne Cox, Carmen Carrera, Candace Cane have made a big different in our world. They certainly were a big inspiration to me.”
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Art in Pensacola
“Beneath the Surface… There is always more”
Dance of the Angels, Daniela Summers, 2004, Oil on Canvas, Image of the Artist.
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Beneath the Surf ace… Article by Daniela Summers First City publishing, Pongetti Arts Center located is now working on in Pensacola, FL, a Book about the in collaboration Graffiti Bridge Project. with the Pensacola When asked what Museum of her thoughts were on Art hosted the the exhibition Mary exhibition of Hartshorn, Director Rachael Pongetti of Communications at earlier this year. the Pensacola Museum This show, entitled of Art said: “… As a “Between The native Pensacolian, Layers” includes the I have driven “Pensacola Graffiti underneath the graffiti Bridge Project” RiP, Rachael Pongetti, 2011, Photography. Picture courtesy of the Artist bridge hundreds of and an interesting times. I had always display of details in pictures; expressive frustrations, sorrows, passions, driven right past it without really of Pongetti aesthetics. Rachael creativity and various art. giving it a second thought. With Pongetti is a photography graduate Inspired by the ever-changing Rachael’s Graffiti Bridge Project and from the Savannah College of Art & aesthetic of this local landmark, her exhibition at the PMA Between Design and has been an instructor Pongetti started a photographic the Layers, it brings the bridge to life. I at both Pensacola State College record of the Pensacola bridge in feel like I have a personal connection. and the University of West Florida. 2011: a full year of observation and It is a place where people can go and The exhibition of the recording of the changes. Through express themselves, whether it be “Pensacola Graffiti Bridge Project” is time, Pongetti became familiar with grieving a loved one that has passed a visual diary of the Graffiti Bridge, some of the taggers and their stories. or advertising an upcoming event, the located at 17th avenue; the train trestle The time spent observing the changes community can put whatever they’re in Pensacola, FL. For those who don’t made her connect with the bridge thinking on that bridge. It’s amazing know, the Graffiti Bridge in Pensacola in such a way that she was able to to get to have photographs displayed is a popular landmark where distinguish the day-to-day changes. in two galleries to get to view how people come to express themselves After a kickstarter campaign, where people expressed themselves through through messages, announcements, more then $25,000 was raised for this bridge over a year’s time.”
Continued pg. 69
Orange Crush 2, Rachael Pongetti, 2011, Photography. Picture courtesy of the Artist
Layers of Paint, Rachael Pongetti, 2011, Photography. Picture courtesy of the Artist
Sealed Survivor, Rachael Pongetti, 2011, Photography. Picture courtesy of the Artist
National Championship, Rachael Pongetti, 2011, Photography. Picture courtesy of the Artist
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The structure of the bridge almost a metaphor of life. She noted “Once I became familiar with and the camera itself are the only that even through the changes, the area surrounding the trestle, I fixed elements in Pongetti’s visual some order can still be found naturally became intrigued by the record, as everything else is mutable Once asked how those texture, color and richness of paint. and unpredictable. Therefore the beautiful abstracts came to The mixture of a variety of materials light changes, the weather changes be Pongetti says: “… I started (glossy paint, old paint, spray and even the graffiti changes over photographing abstract after a paint, wheat paste, dirt, vines, rain, time. Between the fixed structure difficult time of personal loss and humidity) provided a great backdrop of the bridge and the ever-changing transition, … I wanted to create for the abstract. I slowly began to environment, see an order among a car moving the chaotic nature underneath the of the incompatible bridge leaves a materials left on the strike of light bridge by multiple behind. The story participants. behind the photos How we view life involved the is really up to people and their each individual. will to express It’ a matter of themselves. perspective. I guess Pongetti brings for me, I want to look locals, everyday at how things come people and together. Basically artists alike, as photographers inside a museum that is what we do. b e c o m i n g We reduce visual somewhat the space and bring protagonists along some sense of order with the Bridge in to our frame. I was this visual display. always trying to find In the a balance between process of showing the graffiti recording the tag as a piece of e ver-changing art vs my visual view of the interpretation of the bridge, Pongetti, space based on it’s captured some abstract qualities.” of Pensacola’s It is in those talent. A moment pictures of details otherwise lost in a Top: Untitled, Rachael Pongetti, 2011, Photography. Picture courtesy of the of the bridge shot that further, that Pongetti’s Artist Bottom: Crusin’, Rachael Pongetti, 2011, Photography. in her abstract sensibility can be Picture courtesy of the Artist interpretation found stronger then of the bridge, becomes even more images that eliminated a personal ever. Some pictures, as beautiful as personal to her artistic vision and story (ironically I learned all about abstract paintings, show us the “eye” visual sensibility. Between fixed and personal stories through the bridge).” of Pongetti. Pongetti’s vision seems mutable elements; a graffiti marking “So when I started the real, concrete, not overthought and from yesterday becomes the never- bridge project, I was already overly complicated but flowing lost history of today. The observation thinking in abstracts. I was also with the natural rhythm of life and of the changes, becomes for Pongetti teaching abstract photography …” at the end … attracted by beauty.
tist, r A e h t t M ee tti e g n o P l e a Rach
Many Thanks to Rachael Pongetti and Mary Hartshorn To know more visit: http://www.pensacolamuseum.org To donate or receive more information regarding the Pensacola Graffiti Bridge Project, please visit: http://firstcityart.org/support/graffiti-bridge-project To preorder the purchase of the book “Layers of Paint�online: http://mkt.com/gbp/pre-sale-book Rachael Pongetti website http://www.pensacolagraffitibridgeproject. com/
Coming up next at the PMA: The Lure of the Ocean: Original Works by Guy Harvey From May 9 - To August 9, 2015
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