The Apricots at Grand Canyon; Rebecca, Javier, Rony, Geoff |
Its just the word for apricots in Spanish, but it took
so long to learn, it sort of became our group nickname.
I was accepted as an Associate Photographer in Through Each Other’s Eyes a couple of years
ago. The organization encourages people
around the world to understand and appreciate diverse cultures through
photography. We do international exchanges, exhibitions, and educational
programs.
I confess that this exchange with Guatemalan Photographers was
one of my main motivations for joining; an opportunity to work with and learn
from them.
My readers will know, of course, that my husband and I have
spent some time in Guatemala. Rony Mejia is the country
director of the nonprofit we support and has become a friend over the years. Fortuitously, he’s a photographer. I think Rony and I may have started to talk
about this before I was officially a TEOE Associate. Maybe quite a while before. Now we’ve completed
the first half of this adventure which I couldn’t have pulled together without
him.
Gold King Mine, Jerome Arizona |
My Arizona partner in the endeavor is Geoff Reed. He and I became Associates at the same time,
so we were grateful for the guidance we got from the elders in the organization
as we planned our itinerary.
Javier Alvarez
Vassaux is our second Guatemalan photographer, rounding out our team of
four.
We thought we knew what to expect during
our Arizona travels, but we experienced some remarkable and surprising things.
Mexican Gold Poppy, Lake Pleasant |
I don’t suppose I thought too much about the name, Through Each
Other’s Eyes, before our exchange. We
found that Arizona looked different to them (through their eyes). For example, Geoff and I were excited
about the profusion of annual wildflowers this year. Rony and Javier were a bit puzzled by this
because they come from a country where there are always flowers. For them, the vast landscapes and unique
geology were much more interesting.
With Kerrick James (left) in Tucson. |
Rony made the point that we all got to know each other more quickly
than he expected. We introduced the two
of them to as many photographers as we could (more on that later) and found
that the common ground we share allowed us to feel a connection remarkably
easily. We are all geeks of the same tribe.
At the Arizona State House with Maurice Sartirana (left) and Chuck Fitzgerald (right) |
TEOE Associates and other folks, generous
with their time, transformed our exchange to a rare and rich experience. At various times, we traveled with Associates
Gina Santi, Mark Lipszynski, Maurice Sartirana, and Kerrick James.
Sunrise, Monument Valley |
Ron Chilston and Jay Kinsella (Jerome Historical Society) gave
us the insider tour of Jerome. Alan Fitzgerald introduced us to Art Intersection in Gilbert and we saw
the fascinating current exhibit, “Light Sensitive.” Navajo Photographer LeRoy DeJolie talked with
us about his most recent project and about being Dineh (Navajo). Guide Danny Woods safely
navigated us through a gale on Lake Powell and Ray Begay dazzled us with views
of Monument Valley. Chuck Fitzgerald, Sergeant-at-arms of the Arizona State
House of Representatives, showed us the inside workings there.
Cold on Lake Powell. Captain Danny Woods, left. Mark Lipczynski, right |
We experienced the extremes of weather
typical of an Arizona Spring, from temperatures in the 40s and blowing
whitecaps on Lake Powell to the 80s in the desert. Between layering up and loaned clothes, we managed to stay reasonably warm, if not always dry. Javier in
particular seemed to not have been in that kind of cold before. We were all pleased to return to
short-sleeve weather.
Mission San Xavier Del Bac |
There were some moments of
serendipity. Javier had mentioned that
he’d like to photograph a roadrunner.
Delightfully, there was one at the Titan Missile Museum which seemed to
be habituated to humans. The bird
approached to within 8 feet or so. Rony,
a big baseball fan, ran into hall of fame player Rollie Fingers and scored a
selfie. At San Xavier Del Bac, there was
a powwow happening. Though we weren’t
allowed in, we did have the pleasure of photographing sunset to the sound of
powwow drums. I had a chuckle when the
nice man at the gate, with a big smile and three teeth, asked we whether I was
there to dance. We also happened on an
Arizona Photographic legend, Larry
Lindahl, at a viewpoint in Sedona.
Tucson Barrio Viejo Detail |
Our culinary experience was varied as well. We had special
experiences like Arepas at
Gina’s house and sushi (the Blue Buddha in Page is surprisingly good), hurried
fast food like Taco Bell and Subway, A Navajo Taco in Kayenta, and Rony’s Pepian
and Jocón tacos
at our welcome party. Oh, and lots of
good beer. And on the road, we had a few albaricoques
secos.
Addendum; what we did with Rony (Javier’s schedule differed a bit)
Desert
Botanical Garden
Cactus
League Baseball
Yarnell
Cooking
traditional Guatemalan food
Hike at Lake
Pleasant
Hike at
Phoenix Mountain Preserve
Heard Museum
Jerome City
Tour, Gold King Mine
Sedona
Art
Intersection (Gilbert) Gallery and lab tour
Tempe Camera
Shopping
Tempe Town
Lake
Page; Little
Cut, Glen Canyon Dam, Dam overlook
Dinner with
LeRoy DeJolie
Lake Powell,
Rainbow Bridge
Monument
Valley, Grand Canyon South Rim
Tour of
Arizona State House of Representatives
More Shopping
Tucson;
Titan Missile Museum, Center for Creative Photography, Barrio Viejo, Mission
San Xavier Del Bac
Downtown
photo walk
Scottsdale
photo walk