Ali Goodwin, Curator & Fine Art Photographer
Circo Madagascar
Archival Pigment Prints, 2012
In February 2012, I met an Aztec family of five who were running a small Mexican circus around the Southern Yucatan peninsula. They were setting up their tent for a performance in Akumal Pueblo in Quintana Roo. For three days I worked alongside the family, animals, and workers, photographing the daily life of a Mexican circus. The circus in Mexico is a dying culture. Families are no longer able to support themselves and must keep moving quickly to find new audiences that their competition hasn't already visited. It's an exceptionally hard life for the people and the animals. On the night of the first performance, the circus lights went on, the crowd cheered, the first acts began and suddenly, the power went out. The power line they had rigged from the tent to the top of the telephone pole shorted out the power grid for the whole town. A generator on the Mac truck was started, extension cords were run to a pair of construction floodlights, and the show went on. Photographing these people, this lifestyle, the animals, is never allowed. I was fortunate enough to have gained the trust of several of the hired workers from the pueblo over the course of several months, and they vouched for my legitimacy as a photographer who was not there to exploit them or make any kind of statement about the treatment of animals. I was only interested in capturing the images, their story, and sharing my experience of three incredible days. Exhibitions: ONDARTE, Akumal, Mexico, Group Exhibition Drift Contemporary Art Gallery, Solo Exhibition The Center for Fine Art Photography, Portraits 2013 Exhibition View The Complete Series |
|
In Those Dreams, AwakeArchival Pigment Prints, 2012
"I open my eyes and look up through the surface as I reach for it. There is no sun, just grey swirling shadows of a mark-less sky. I break through at the bottom of a swell and gasp for air, another taking shape above me. I only have a moment before I will be under again. I know this. I accept the weight of water. I do not ever think of saving myself. I feel around me for the black shape, a tail, a foot. I must save him, my sweetest love, who never learned to swim. He struggles to reach me, snorting at the water. Biting it. I feel nothing. There has never been land. There is never a boat. There is never anyone else. There is only water. There is only a wave washing over muffled ears. When I wake up, my arms will ache for hours from treading. My voice will be hoarse from silent cries for help. Phantom limbs will reappear for days. My heart will ache from remembering, and then remembering differently. This will be the only thing I can count on. In those dreams, awake." Text & Photographs ©2012, All Rights Reserved. View The Complete Series |
|
Body Language
18-24, 2013, Archival Pigment Print, Digital Audio File
In her most recent project titled 'Body Language', Goodwin explores the art of storytelling through words and pictures by capturing what she calls, “a person’s last, most final statement – one they literally take to the grave.” Black and white photographs of the words friends, family and complete strangers have chosen to tattoo on their bodies will be paired with audio files of the person telling their "story."
The audio files will be accessible by scanning a QR code next to the photograph with a smartphone or other device. Bringing ear buds or headphones is suggested when visiting the gallery.
The audio files will be accessible by scanning a QR code next to the photograph with a smartphone or other device. Bringing ear buds or headphones is suggested when visiting the gallery.
|
Alicia (Ali) Goodwin is the Director and Curator of Drift Contemporary Art Gallery, and a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design. "YOU’RE A PHOTOGRAPHER AND A CURATOR; HOW DO YOU RELATE THE TWO AND WHICH ONE IS MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU? They are symbiotic. When I think about other galleries and curators and their backgrounds, they are via definition, art history majors. I went to RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) — I have a degree in graphic design — but I did a large portion of my work in photography. I started curating while I was at RISD — I worked as a designer at Hasbro, the toy company, where I curated the president’s office and created site-specific installations in their corporate buildings using artwork and toys from the archives. As a curator you have to have a keen eye — that’s your strength — so being a photographer, artist and designer myself, having a clear, distinct vision is the most important element, and has served me well." Read more of ARTSCOPE MAGAZINE'S Interview with Ali Goodwin Please contact Drift Gallery at 603-379-6560 to inquire about availability.
|
