PROJECT TIMELINE

Spring 2024

-Develop Year Plan:

1. Locate events/spaces/community members to focus on over the next year

   1. Build photo assignments that center family amongst Vaquera/x/o spaces

2. Build list of network and community contacts that can assist with the completion of project—UPDATE: it is possible! Cash in all of my favors!

   1. Think through: Who can help me with research? Where can I use as a studio/workspace? Who can help with distribution/publishing?

-Research:

1. Preliminary Research on following topics:

   1. Cultural Products of Resistance, Preserving Culture after Immigration, Redlining in Los Angeles County, History of Vaquera/x/o’s in Los Angeles County, Play Therapy

2. Start a Literature Review:

   1. Locate current literature on the history of Vaquera/x/o’s and locate whats missing in the larger body of work already out—research papers, archival materials, etc. Surface level Lit Review!—UPDATE: I have located 10 relevant articles through online Autry Museum database!

-Equipment—UPDATE: I have all equipment needed to complete this photo project!

1. Cameras:

   1. 35mm, Action/In-Field photographs: Nikon FM2 and Nikon FM3

   2. 120mm, Portraits/Staged/Editorial photographs only: Mamiya RB67 and Pentax 6x7

2. Lighting

   1. Strobe and Flash: Neewer Vision 4 Strobe; Fujifilm EF-X20 Flash; Godox Flash

      1. Trigger, #1, day to day use: wireless

      2. Trigger #2, back-up: wired

   2. Continuous Light, studio work only: Aputure Light

   3. Light Stand + 3 Tripods

3. Studio

   1. Backdrop Stand

   2. Backdrop Paper

   3. Stool

   4. Sandbags

   5. External Light meter

-Locate and Apply to Funding:

1. Grants: materials, support research, publishing opportunities

   1. Apply to The Working Assumptions Grant—UPDATE: Submitted, application under review!

   2. Ask William Camargo for grant recommendations—UPDATE: Building strategic list!

   3. Apply to grant #2: [Locating zine/book, photo, or research grant at the moment]

2. Residencies: studio space and mentorship

   1. Ask C.A.S.A. Zamora to use space on weekends and for studio productions (portraits of Vaquera/x/o’s in charro)

      1. Ask to use backyard for screen printing when building 200 copies of softcover zine in Spring 2025

3. Community Networks: Share project proposal with friends, photographers, and community organizations—ask directly for their assistance!

   1. Avocado Heights Vaquera/x/o’s: ask to document ranch in Avocado Heights, CA

   2. Horse Man in Action Sylmar: ask to document a day in the life of a Sylmar rancher

   3. Francisco “Hand-talker” Valencia: ask for help in connecting with old ranch friends from Montebello

      1. Gavino Valencia: ask for connections to getting on Pomona farms—new generation of Vaquera/x/o’s

   4. EC Production: ask about the major Vaquera/x/o competitions and asl for access to private practices (offer to PA (Production Assist))

Summer 2024

-Document Summer Vaquera/x/o events, Photo Assignments and Essays:

1. Rodeo competition practice sessions in Sunland, CA

   1. Charro events in Sunland, CA

2. A Day with a Vaquera/x/o (sunrise to sunset): Avocado Heights, CA

3. Farm Life in Pomona, CA

4. Pride night at Picolandia: Street Vaquera/x/o

   1. Ask LA Taco for connections to the venue space

5. Activism: community sessions, cross county collaborations, protests/large public movements

6. A Vaquera/x/o Band: Wedding, Quinceanera, Birthday

7. The San Gabriel River: Horse Stables and Horse Trails

-Archive Digging (Avocado Heights Vaquera/x/o’s, C.A.S.A. Zamora Archivists, etc.):

1. Michael Papias’ Archive: Locate family archives of horseback riding, interview Francisco “Hand-talker” Valencia aka Abuelo/Grandpa

   1. Understand the personal history of horseback riding as a family practice, what does this practice mean to my family?

      1. What did horseback riding look like for my family in Mexico? Why was it important to bring the practice here to the US?

      2. What drew Francisco to live on a Los Angeles farm of all places? What is his relationship to the animals, culture, Vaquera/x/o life?

   2. (1) Begin making high resolution scans of family archives; (2) Photograph three-dimensional materials that can not be scanned

2. Community Archive: Source community archive materials (scan and photograph original documents/materials for community members)

   1. Informal interview/conversations with community members on Vaquera/x/o lifestyle (focus on family)

3. Research:

   1. End of summer goal: hit “point of saturation” in literature review, draft literature review that will be used in the introduction of the photobook

   2. Begin transcribing summer interviews

   3. Collect notes from photo assignments and draft essays to accompany thematic photographs

-Photobook & Photozine:

1. Draft photobook Logline/Synopsis using themes that are showing up across body of work

2. Create InDesign file: determine dimensions and orientation, begin organizing photographs into themes (color, landscape vs. portrait, textures, etc.)

3. Receive notes, input, and creative suggestions from mentors/allies

-Self-Reflection:

1. How is this project making me feel so far? Write an essay on how this practice relates to healing, or growth, with my relationship to Vaquera/x/o life

2. Am I hitting the goals I have set up for myself?

   1. If not, what is missing? What needs to change?

   2. What approaches have I liked so far?

3. Create action plan for the Fall/Winter—what did I miss in the Summer that I can focus on in the Fall/Winter? Have I been able to capture the images that I like seeing? What images do I want to create? Make a shot list (with help from Eduardo Martinez)!

   1. Visit a few photography exhibitions; read photobooks; watch films on photographic processes (from marginalized artists)—implement all teachings in photographic practice over course of the photo project

Fall/Winter 2024

-Document Fall Vaquera/x/o events, Photo Assignments and Essays:

1. Sunrise to Sunset with a Vaquera/x/o, Sylmar

2. The Fire-pit: Storytelling across Generations

3. Puddles: What do Vaquera/x/o’s do when it rains?

4. A Vaquera/x/o Christmas and New Year: Celebrations in Sombreros

5. Activism in the Winter

6. Family Practices, Vaquera/x/o’s

-Archive Digging:

1. Finish transcribing summer interviews, start transcribing Fall interviews/conversations

2. Finalize Literature Review

3. Draft preface and introduction to the photo book

   1. Receive edits from mentors—especially on research sections

4. Continue scanning and photographing archival materials

-Photobook and Photozine:

1. Mockup #1:

   1. Create project “mood board” to build color profile for design process/elements—stick to these colors for all materials moving forward

   2. Design handmade hardcovers: work closely with Asia Dunn (an artist friend of mine) to build a hand-made paper through a Mexican paper making method

   3. Mock up softcover zines: build cover title card on ProCreate, determine screen printing ink colors, choose binding methods and yarn colors

   4. Draft one sheet, contains: project synopsis and mockup #1

      1. Share with producers in my network: create conversations around distribution, exhibition, and printing help

-Brainstorm Exhibition:

1. Locate exhibition spaces for late Summer 2025: C.A.S.A. Zamora

   1. Research, locate, and apply for exhibition funding

2. Locate public opportunities/spaces to showcase work

   1. Fund a guerilla public art display

      1. Use a non-traditional method that applies the artwork over the legal restraints placed on marginalized voices practicing self-expression

   2. Work with local private community spaces to showcase work: Cafes, Restaurants, etc.

3. Begin construction of website for Familia-r… — focus on virtual accessibility for all people

   1. Create website outline

   2. Construct graphics

   3. Moving pictures: using digital canvas to create storytelling through moving graphics that will accompany essays, online

Spring 2025

-Document Spring Vaquera/x/o events, Photo Assignments:

1. A Trip to the Valley: A Family History of Horse Riding (Carlos)

2. Portraits in Charro

3. Editorials on Vaquera/x/o activists

   1. Focus on the voices that have built a community network that has been used to create solidarity for vaquera/x/o advocacy

4. Sibling and Prima/x/o Relationships

5. Spring Ride Along—a new day

-Photobook, Photozine, and Darkroom Prints: submit print files by 1st week of May 2025

1. Finalize book and zine layouts:

   1. Mock-up #2

   2. Finish layout with new spring photographs

   3. Graphic design: chapter titles, quotes, interviews, etc.

   4. Build online promotional materials for project release: graphics, videos, posts, etc.

2. Construct photozine by hand—follow a process that maintains a hand-made approach

   1. Zine will be printed at locally owned printer

   2. Binding will take place by hand, using: yarn, beeswax and a binding needle (I will give myself 1.5 weeks to bind 200 copies)

3. Print photobook, construct hardcovers by hand with partnering artist: Asia Dunn

   1. Document this process through photography and video (ask Eduardo Martinez for video assistance)

4. Partner with the 818 Community Darkroom to use facilities to create Black and White prints of favorite Black and White shots of production

   1. Analogue printing process using enlarger, photo sensitive paper, and chemical bath

-Exhibition:

1. Locate exhibition spaces for late Summer 2025: C.A.S.A. Zamora is a community built art house, located in the historically marginalized city of El Monte

   1. Research, locate, and apply for exhibition funding to cover exhibition costs: frames, printing, hardware, installation programs,

      1. Create program for opening night: community performances, community food, artist Q&A, etc.

2. Locate public opportunities/spaces to showcase work

   1. Ask my contacts at the LA Department of Arts and Culture for opportunities to create temporary installations of artwork across Los Angeles County

   2. Reach out to Kodak House for any opportunities to showcase artwork—tap more into photography spaces across Los Angeles county

3. Continue editing and updating website with new photographs

   1. Website deadline: 2nd week of May 2025

Summer 2025

-Photobook and Photozine:

1. Deliver free copies to public spaces: La Puente Library, C.A.S.A. Zamora Community Library, All Power Books, etc.

2. Deliver free copies to all community members that were photographed in the project, contributed archival materials, or had any major role in the construction of the final project

3. Use first-run prints to promote project outside of Los Angeles county

   1. Ask contacts for support in accessing larger platforms to showcase the project

-Exhibition:

1. Public Exhibition

   1. Conduct an Artist Talk, share experiences from photo project with audience

2. Engage in guerilla public art display: display photographs in and on public spaces

   1. Use these displays to promote exhibition

   2. Build larger community support for project—focus on public art displays that will be interacted with by the community

3. Continue to promote website for digital interaction

   1. Consolidate website data: any patterns? any interactions taking online that can influence physical installations, talking points, etc?

-Next Steps:

1. Print Funding:

   1. Locate funding, or partnership, to create more copies of Photobook and Photozine that can lower/eliminate barriers of access

   2. Build more strategic partnerships with institutions that are frequented by the community

2. MFA:

   1. Over the course of this two year long project I have understood how much I love visual storytelling—at the end of this photo project, I will take seriously the idea of pursuing a terminal degree in photography, or social art practice. My goal is to make Familia-r… one of the staples in my portfolio and a project I can use as reference for my work in any future MFA program.

3. Project Promotion

   1. Open Calls: Submit individual photographs and full collection to open calls, fellowships, grants, and other artist focused resources

   2. Portfolio: Update portfolio with Familia-r…

   3. Artist Talks: Locate any opportunities to talk about project in front of a live, or virtual audience

   4. Social Media: ask friends, with large social media followings, for advice/support in showcasing project online

4. Final Summary/Reflection:

   1. Does not declare the end of the project, but is a 1 year summary that captures project labor, accomplishments, and notes of advice from 2024 to 2025. I want to make sure that as I seek more grants in the future, apply to fellowships, or establish more industry connections—I will complete an executive and long summary of Familia-r… , assisting the project as it grows beyond its first year. Where mistakes did I make on this project? What went really well? How can I apply the skills I gained over the past year, into the next year of project promotion and project growth?