Anderson Ranch Arts Center 2015 Summer Workshop Catalog 1 | Page 8
fall 2015 field expedition : mexico
San Miguel studio exterior
October 30 - November 6, 2015
PHOTOGRAPHY FOCUS
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS:
San Miguel de Allende
SKILL LEVEL II - IV
Ed Kashi & Andrea Wallace
Holly Hughes & Doug Casebeer
CONCEPT
Our setting, San Miguel de Allende, is a Unesco
World Heritage Site rich in history and authentic
Mexican culture. Día de los Muertos (Day of
the Dead) is simultaneously a very personal yet
widely celebrated Mexican tradition that can be
traced back to a pre-Columbian past. Integrating
both Catholic and indigenous traditions, the
Day of the Dead is easily one of Mexico’s most
fascinating and well known festivals. This threeday celebration that includes Halloween, Día los
Niños and All Souls’ Day is filled with a variety of
time-honored traditions.
In addition to working in San Miguel, we visit
nearby small communities to experience the
authentic traditions from an intimate perspective
including preparation of altars in homes and
cemeteries. A day trip to the famous colonial city
and mining town of Guanajuato, the prehispanic
settlement of Cañada de la Virgen pyramid &
archaeological zone just west of San Miguel and
the sancutary of Atononilco are included.
Deluxe accommodations are at the Antiqua Village
Santa Mónica Hotel, located in the Juarez park’s
borders and a five-minute walk from the city
center. Single, double and triple pricing is listed
on page 7. Tuition price includes all breakfasts and
two group dinners. www.santamonica.mx
6 andersonranch.org 970/923-3181
During our week in San Miguel, you have the
opportunity to experience, document, and
immerse yourself in San Miguel’s famed Day of
the Dead rituals – a feast for the visual senses.
Whether it’s a series of streets portraits or an
exploration of local cuisine and architecture,
you are encouraged to discover a subject that
speaks to a personal passion and document it in a
compelling and unique visual style.
This workshop focuses on how to create a
personal documentary project in a land of rich
culture, and infinite photographic opportunities.
Ed and Andrea work personally with students in
the field. The workshop includes individual and
group reviews, personal assignments and lots
of fun. Our goal is to return home not only with
images to be proud of, but with newfound skills
that expand our overall photographic technique.
We strike a balance between fieldwork and
discussions and the freedom to explore and
photograph this spectacular region. Students are
encouraged to bring a lap top computer to edit
and process images.
PHOTOGRAPHY FACULTY
ED KASHI is a photojournalist, filmmaker and
educator whose sensitive eye and an intimate
relationship to his subjects are signatures of
his work. He is a member of VII Photo Agency.
Through his photography, filmmaking, and
work as a mentor, teacher and lecturer, Ed
is a leading voice in the photojournalism and
visual storytelling community.
www.edkashi.com
[email protected]
Ed Kashi, Donia Remedios, Mexico 2014 (detail)
ANDREA WALLACE is the Artistic Director of
Photography and New Media at Anderson
Ranch. She received her M.F.A. from the
University of Colorado at Boulder. She exhibits
nationally and internationally with numerous
shows throughout the Americas, Europe, China
and the Middle East.
www.andreawallace.com
CERAMICS FOCUS
SKILL LEVEL Open to All
During our week in San Miguel, painters and
ceramic artists will delve into decorating tiles
and plates – this class will encourage the
development of a visual vocabulary of marks and
imagery. Sources in nature as well as Mexican
culture and history will serve as starting points.
Participants will be encouraged to experiment,
moving between the improvisational and the
planned, between abstract and descriptive
imagery. The emphasis will be on individual
style and discovery. Drawing inspiration from
the local culture, we proceed to make test tiles
of our own. Sketching, drawing and painting on
paper, students work individually on projects and
try things from a menu of suggested options.
Holly and Doug give one-on-one guidance and
lead group brainstorming sessions. We strike a
balance between studio work and critiques and
the freedom to explore this spectacular region.
CERAMICS FACULTY
HOLLY HUGHES makes paintings, prints and
ceramics with imagery drawn from nature
and sources in the decorative arts. She paints