Page 19 - the NOISE May 2013

Janelle cordova’s photography is part of the art-rageous showing at the firecreek coffee company this may.
deeper into places with hopes of returning with a visual story. It constantly forces me to look at the world and people with a different perspective.”
Mr. Snider tells me about his travels through Asia: “Arriving with an open mind and an empty stomach let me jump head first into the different culture. I was touched when I went to a Thai orphanage in the south with a local friend and saw firsthand how rough some people in the world have it. That emotion I felt pushed me to later inter- act with other locals across all the countries I traveled in hopes of making a real connec- tion with someone.
“Another time that stands out was in the hills of Sa’Pa in North Vietnam. A Hmong woman named Saa told me she walked 8 miles to sell trinkets in the city every morn- ing and again every night just to make enough to feed her grandbaby. We talked for a long time and I remember her saying she had never traveled farther than about 50 miles from that town. She was 72. She allowed me to make her picture and if I can find her when I go back next year, I hope to give her a print. Talking with this woman changed the way I take pictures. If I hadn’t walked with her I would have never heard her story or been able to capture the emo- tion on her face.” abesnider.zenfolio.com
ACTIVE ART
“Art-Rageous is a grassroots movement providing community connection through the arts and creative expression!” alika middleton tells me. Ms. Middleton, along with kory miller, kelly zarcone, cloie premeau and Janelle cordova will be fea- tured during the May First Friday ArtWalk at the new Firecreek Coffee Company, 22 E. Route 66, Flagstaff (where Sundara used to
be). “Each month Art-Rageous will choose a cause to raise awareness and funds for. The first month will focus on art education and the lack of funding it receives. We hope to raise money for a local school so students will have sufficient art supplies for the com- ing year. A portion of the art sold on First Friday will go towards this cause as well. Art- Rageous’ mission is to provide community connection through the arts and creative expression. Artists are coming together to promote the arts and help benefit and em- power the community.”
I ask Ms. Middleton about inspiration, “Art is the creation of momentary inspiration. It silences the chatter in our heads and allows us to be fully absorbed in the moment. Art- ists are nothing but observant listeners to the inner call of expression. Art is not nec- essarily the end result, it is the process that unfolds organically with creative release. Art lets us be, just as we are, nothing added and nothing taken away. We are whole when we lose ourselves in expression. Art gives rise to stillness in the mind. It soothes anxiousness and allows us to be.”
“Art is an ever-changing exploration of the self and our relationship to others in the world,” Ms. Zarcone says. “Throughout my entire life creativity has offered me a safe place to organically listen to the subtle pulls of my heart. Art is not only intrinsically heal- ing, but it also empowers us to have a voice and speak to hidden pains, dreams, and ideas and calls them forth into fruition.”
Ms. Cordova first began making photo- graphs when she was 12 and moved to New Mexico. “I think it was the New Mexico sun- sets that got me,” she says. “The skies were different every night and so fascinating ... I just felt that they had to be captured.”
“Photography is amazing because it can
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thenoise.us • the NOISE arts & news • MAY 2013 • 19