Documenting History

Document: Something, such as a recording or a photograph, that can be used to furnish evidence or information.

As an artist have you ever thought of yourself as documenting history? I think artists in all genres end up recording history. Just recently, I've re-discovered how many treasures my ancestors were able to preserve through music and lyrics. Even in works of fiction things like dress, attitudes, language and ideas are forever documented. It's certainly more apparent in painting and photography. If I think of photography from this point of view it definitely makes me want to shoot better photos. And the older I get the more I feel it's my responsibility to leave this behind for future generations.

I never thought of myself as a reporter even though I have a degree in broadcasting. I naturally gravitated toward fiction and expressing myself behind layers of flowery poetic words, abstract paintings, fictitious worlds, creatures and people. It didn't matter if the instrument was a pencil or video camera I was always in search of 'el mas alla'.


Yesterday I ended up documenting Occupy Miami. It was a rainy day so I did the best I could knowing that my camera doesn't take good pictures in bad light.

Miami Florida 10/15/2011

People of all ages in front of the Ponce de Leon statue.

I wanted to capture the Freedom tower in the background.

I wanted to give people a voice.

There are many more photos in a flicker album if you want to check them out.

And HERE's the article I contributed to Latino Rebels.

Synonyms: archive, certificate, credentials, deed, diary, evidence, form, instrument, language, pages, paper, record, report, script, testimony, alphabetize, arrange, catalog, catalogue, categorize, classify, deposit, docket, document , enter, index, list, pigeonhole, record, register, catalog, recount