THROUGH THE LENS… perspectives

A photography exhibit featuring artists from Florida and Puerto Rico.

Opening Friday, May 7, 2021 at MARA Art Studio + Gallery, Rosemary District, Sarasota

Julio Alejandro

“WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WORLD AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, YOU REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING IS IN THE SHADOWS AND YOU CAN ONLY SEE IF YOU ARE SEEKING FOR LIGHT, FINDING IT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE.”

Jessill Ayala

“WE WERE BORN FRAGILE BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE SHOULD LIVE SUBTLE, BUT DEDICATED, FOCUSED WITH FIRM AND CONFIDENT STEPS.”

Barbara Banks

“BECAUSE THEY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO BEING IGNORED AND OVERLOOKED, THE EXPRESSIONS OF HONOR IN THE EYES AND FACES ARE FOREVER ETCHED IN MY MEMORY. YOU ARE VISIBLE. WE SEE YOU. WORKER IS A RECLAMATION OF THESE INDIVIDUALS’ VISIBILITY.”

Jesse Clark

“I FOUND THAT GROWING UP, THE DEPICTION OF BLACK MALES WAS SOMETIMES LIMITED AND A LOT OF REPRESENTATION THAT EXISTED WAS BASED ON STEREOTYPES. I FELT AS THOUGH I DIDN’T FIT THE PRESUMED IDEA OF THE BLACK MALE NOR DID I WANT TO BE LIMITED OR DEFINED BY THE PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS.”

Orlando Negrón

“PHOTOGRAPHY MEANS 'DRAWING WITH LIGHT'. SINCE I LEARNED THAT, I BECAME OBSESSED WITH HOW THE LIGHT REFLECTS ON EVERYTHING. COMPOSING A PHOTO, IS PAINTING WITH LIGHT. ”

Elsa Ortiz

“MY CAMERA IS THE INSTRUMENT THAT CONNECTS ME WITH MOTHER NATURE. IT'S THE MEANS THAT LEAD ME TO DISCOVER, EXPLORE, OBSERVE, LEARN AND CREATE MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST FOREVER.”

Vanessa Vélez

“THROUGH MY LENS I SEE IT ALL IN A SHIFTED PERSPECTIVE AND I CAN EXPLORE SO MANY NEW WAYS TO VIEW THE SUBJECT IN FRONT OF ME. THE CHALLENGE IN IT FOR ME IS ALWAYS BRINGING IN THE DEEP CONNECTION OF BODY AND SOUL THROUGH MY PHOTOS, THIS IS WHAT I STRIVE FOR IN EVERY IMAGE CAPTURED.”

Enuel Viera

“WHEN I GRAB MY CAMERA I WANT TO SEE ALL THE IMPERFECT THINGS AND FIND A WAY TO CAPTURE ITS ESSENCE SO THAT THOSE THAT CAN'T ALWAYS LOOK BEYOND THE MESS CAN LEARN THAT THERE IS IMPORTANCE THERE, THAT THERE IS PURPOSE THERE.”