Esta Soy Yo: Out Loud
Through the lens of self-expression and exploration, Out Loud showcases the poignant narratives of students from our self-exploration class. Each image, a reflection of their journey navigating themes of identity, gender, and self-discovery, unveils the complexities of personal narratives. Utilizing photography as a medium for introspection, these artists delve into the essence of self, intertwining their experiences with broader societal influences. From the raw honesty of self-portraits to the intricately layered mixed-media projects, this exhibition invites viewers to contemplate the many facets of identity, the profound impact of self-representation, and celebrates the transformative power of art in illuminating the depths of human existence.
TEACHING ARTISTS: Coffee Kang and Kenzie Floyd
TEACHING ARTIST ASSISTANT: Paola Jaime
MENTORS: Ale Sone, Alondra Costilla, Angelica Saucedo, Chloe Cusimano, Hailey Guerrero, Jeanne Heo, Juli Perez, Kat De Guzman, Leah O'Connor, Manny Castro, Melly Bautista, Nicole Maturo, and Susanica Tam
FEATUred
Photographers
Aimee Hernandez
Alé Rivas-Vargas
Andrea Curiel
CITRUX&STAR
Delilah Mendez
Elise
Emi Rodriguez
Emma Gonzalez
Ezra Nunez
Eztli De Jesus
Jalynn Orozco-Mundo
Jocelyn Torres
Julie Rebollar
Ketzally Alcala
Lola Garcia
Maelie Espinal
Maya Reyes
Meadows Stevens
Miranda Aquino
Sandra Luis Grijalva
Sara Arana
Sawyer Sariñana
Honorable Mention
Daria Salazar
Esta SoY yo 101 - CLASS PROJECT
Esta SoY yo 201 - CLASS PROJECT
(L to R): City of Stars, Into the Water Puddle, ¿Hasta Cuándo?
City of Stars
For us, the “ghost” is a presence that isn’t always there. Los Angeles is our ghost, where we always find ourselves but do not reside. While L.A. is a diverse place, it is not always home. Places in Downtown L.A. bring us comfort but are constantly changing throughout time. With time, we grow older and nothing will stay the same. Los Angeles one day will no longer be our meeting point but there is some familiarity within this vast city.
Into the Water Puddle
We think the theme revolves around reflections in life; reflections revolve around us everyday and mirror our genuine selves. We find reflections in physical and spiritual elements of life such as in mirrors and ponds or in our expression and thoughts. The way we express ourselves is a reflection of how the world perceives us.
¿Hasta Cuándo?
Each artist dives into the connection of what was once their childhood. The feeling of being alone happens through different routines as artists transition into adolescence and leaving things behind with nostalgia.
Aimee Hernandez, age 14
ABOUT ME: My name is Aimee Hernandez. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, it has been my home my whole life, for 14 years. I have many different hobbies but recently picked up photography. It allows me to capture people's lives and I have now become more comfortable with capturing my own. Photography for me has been an outlet for self-expression which gives me lots of inspiration and I hope to learn more.
Azul
Blue has always been my favorite color. It is the color that water is associated with, and is tied to peace, tranquility, and many other feelings. It has had a big influence on me–it represents me as a person and who I strive to be. I embody blue.
REFLECTION: Working alongside many talented people was really cool and a great learning experience. I was able to draw inspiration from the others and I got to learn more about their ideas and point of view. Doing this project really helped me learn from my teammates and how to have better and proper communication.
Alé Rivas-Vargas, age 17
ABOUT ME: Alé Rivas-Vargas is an artist based in IE/LA. They have been part of Las Fotos Project for almost 3 years now and will pursue a career in art at UCLA in the fall of 2024. They are a mixed medium artist who focuses on photography and cinematography. Their work stems from their emotional and intersectional experiences. Alé is a firm believer of advocating for the silenced and oppressed. Alé’s goal in life is to help foster and uplift a space where art for underrepresented communities is free and accessible.They create art to liberate themselves from their past, present, and future.
Commute
Picture taken at Union Station in DTLA around 4:30pm on a Friday.
REFLECTION: The theme of self portraiture gave me the opportunity to reflect on how I have evolved for the better over these past 4 years. As my high school journey comes to an end, this project is a tribute to the work I have put into my artistic/personal goals. Physical spaces and finding a “third space" is my main focus on this project. The goal is to capture how the different environments I surround myself shape the person I am.
Andrea Curiel, age 16
ABOUT ME: My name is Andrea Curiel, I am a 16 year-old photographer based in East Los Angeles. A few interests of mine include listening to music, reading, and showing my creativity in various ways. I like to create, I like to draw and paint, crochet and create clothing pieces, or fashion statements. In the future, I would like to pursue journalism, whether it is through writing, or photography with an inclusion of social justice. I am an extrovert and very social. I love meeting new people, especially when they have similar interests to mine! I draw inspiration from musicians like Frank Ocean, A$AP Rocky, Kali Uchis, and much more. In my photography, I express emotions and feelings, whether it’s someone else’s or my own, and through lighting and motion.
Pink Matter
In Pink Matter, I present myself as I am now, with the mindset of going back in time. I portray myself as a young adult, rather than as a child. I present myself with bold makeup and heavy jewelry to make my features stand out, portraying pink matter. When taking these pictures, I did come out of my comfort zone to show the person I aspire to be when it comes to photography.
REFLECTION: It is my first semester at Las Fotos Project and it has been a great experience for me to begin my photography journey. Photography has been something I’ve wanted to get into for a while, and this program has helped with that. I have had so much fun, aside from the photography but also with the people in my class. I’ve built relationships with everyone and it has been a positive experience. The program is filled with positivity and enjoyment!
CITRUX&STAR, age 12
ABOUT ME: Hello I’m Lucy Anne Olvera, I’m 12 years old and I live in Boyle Heights, California and I’m a passionate sketch artist. I draw my characters in their natural space. I normally don’t take pictures for fun but I thought that I could experiment with photography since my dad is very experienced with photography. I was hoping to express myself in a new way in a safe space where I can learn and grow. I enjoyed creating Cyanotypes with fabrics and making relationships within my community at Las Fotos Project.
The Undefined
I chose some of the items in my room to present my inner self. Most of the inspiration I chose were from my interests, my religion, and my life to create my work.
Delilah Mendez, age 15
ABOUT ME: Delilah Mendez, a 15-year-old Mexican-American born and raised in L.A. county, uses her constantly changing environment to capture small moments that are easily overlooked. She enjoys music, having time to herself, Gatito, teaching others her passions, and spending time with friends and family. Through a lens, Delilah captures moments filled with raw emotion in her art. Her intention lies in capturing moments of youth to archive and preserve memories. To Delilah, art is a space of comfort which allows her to be in control of each piece she makes. She finds it allows her to express how she sees the world and show her perspective.
Intertwined, Sewn Together
My project may be confusing at first glance, but it is a representation of the people that make me who I am. The stitching brings the work together, as my friends in the photo bring me together. My friends are a big part of my life and I spend a lot of time with them. Knowing I have support around me influences my art. This work’s purpose is to connect with others and let them reflect on how the people in their life shape them.
Elise, age 13
ABOUT ME: Elise is 13 years old and attending middle school. She was born in Long Beach and raised in L.A., where she currently lives. She is the youngest in a family of four artists. One of her favorite things about photography is seeing the outcome of what she captured. The other art forms she enjoys are visual arts and music. She hopes to become an animator.
Come on you hermit
In my project I include a picture of a figurine I have, a photo of a relative, and one of my favorite songs. The figure is an anime character called Madoka Kaname, the relative is my grandma holding a baby picture, and the song is Cocoa Hooves by Glass Animals.
Emi Rodriguez, age 17
ABOUT ME: Located in Los Angeles, Emi is a 17-year-old photographer. She is one duck among 7 silly gooses. The California sun, style, vibes, and smiles call to her. The lights, cameras, actions, and shadows follow her photography, reflecting the atmosphere around her. Her film will continue to capture her adventures as a young woman who loves to look through the camera lens and find a new appreciation for the earth we live on.
Can Makeup Cover Everything?
I, like many others, wear makeup everyday to feel put together, and feel my best, but how much can makeup cover? I mean, makeup covers my dark circles and my acne, but it fails to cover up my tears, my sadness, and my anger. Not to mention stress and anxiety that appear from time to time. Makeup is great until the tears hit my face until I realize I cannot hide everything. It is like a temporary cover that can come off.
REFLECTION: This semester was inspiring as I learned new concepts and camera settings. This class was special because it was my first time editing photos in Lightroom and Photoshop. I began to lean into my love for black-and-white photos and it will be a semester to remember as it was a stepping stone into what my photography style is becoming and will be.
Emma Gonzalez, age 17
ABOUT ME: Emma Gonzalez is a young photographer on a path to finding where she belongs. Gonzalez has held onto her identity throughout all the changes in her life having just moved to Santa Clarita and now relocating elsewhere. Gonzalez is making strides to focus on her style of photography while practicing with different lighting, various exposure levels, and portraits. Growing up and being a young adult brings many changes. Adapting to the changes can be difficult but Gonzalez knows that despite changes, there will always be constants like her family. Gonzalez knows that change brings new memories and emotions in her life that can be photographed and held frozen in one frame.
Everywhere All At Once
This would be my second time moving. I have packed my room into so many boxes that I don’t know where my stuff is. A year ago, I believed Santa Clarita was the place for me but I know there are other plans for me. My future is unknown but I do know that I have my mom. She is the person I can count on when I feel that my life is everywhere all at once.
REFLECTION: Working with a group this semester was easy. The group first started with Ale and the following week Miranda joined. Ale and I had decided on an interpretation theme previously, and Miranda was able to further solidify our theme through specific ideas of photos. This task was unnerving at first but once we took time to figure out the major details such as how many and the type of photos we should use, everything else fell into place.
Ezra Nunez, age 14
ABOUT ME: Ezra Nunez (she/her) is a 14-year-old trans latinx youth raised on the outskirts of downtown–Historic Filipino Town and Boyle Heights. She loves photography, music and art. Her photography is driven by a deep yearning for natural spaces, and a search for how to honor those spaces in a systemically underfunded community. She captures moments of beauty without an exploitative narrative. Ezra draws from her relationship with Nature, and the microcosms that break free from urban control. They tell a story of escapism, environmental racism, loss and beauty. They see forgotten beauty, overlooked beauty, discarded beauty.
Light Shines Where Children Rest
REFLECTION: Although this is only my 2nd year being a student at LFP, I have created a strong bond with students, mentors and staff. LFP has given me a sense of direction on what I want to do for a living and has helped me express these big emotions that I have. It has also given me resources to show my perspective on certain topics such as the genocide in Palestine, environmental racism, and youth activism.
Eztli De Jesus, age 18
ABOUT ME: I’m Eztli De Jesus, a 17-year-old Mexican-American artist in the making, from East L.A. Photography is one of my favorite creative outlets that has allowed me to express myself. I strive to highlight my community and loved ones in my work. I enjoy shooting all kinds of photos, but portraits are my favorite. Portraiture allows me to highlight others' personalities and emotions. I think there is something so beautiful about capturing people whether it be through candid imagery or staged. I believe our bodies are able to tell stories in different ways whether it be an image of eyes or hands, the small details are all a part of someone's story and being. Aside from photography, I am passionate about all kinds of art forms, including journalism, literature, and activism.
Todo conectado
For my cyanotype, I chose photos of places and people that are important to me. The red string and yellow pinpoints represent the way we are all connected. Everything I have learned and encountered is now part of me.
Jalynn Orozco-Mundo, age 17
ABOUT ME: Jalynn Orozco-Mundo is a 17-year-old artist from the Inland Empire, based in Ontario. Jalynn has always used art as a guiding force of motivation and essential output for emotions. Photography serves as a captivating medium which can capture the peak of a significant moment. In essence, they rely on art as a means of self discovery through expression and navigation through the experience of life. They have always been passionate about art and aspired to be an artist as a kid. They take deep inspiration from their loved ones and gothic, religious imagery. Photography allows Jalynn to express themselves through capturing self-portraits, still life images of significant objects in their life, and through paintings and drawings.
Self
REFLECTION: This is my first semester here at Las Fotos and I am very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this new, welcoming community. Navigating through this project challenged me to reflect on myself and how I interact with the world around me. I was able to gain skills in collaborating with other artists. This has allowed me to feel closer to my community by growing connections with others and exploring myself more in depth.
Jocelyn Torres, age 17
ABOUT ME: Jocelyn is seventeen-year-old from Chinatown, Los Angeles. She is currently a senior at Grand Arts High School, and this is her first semester at Las Fotos Project. Photography has gone from a new skillset to something she enjoys sharing with her friends and family and has given her a better appreciation for filmmaking. By making her art, Jocelyn is honoring her mother who inspires her with her creativity. Her work is influenced by the physicality of film and the qualities that aged media provides. In the fall, she will be studying film and television at Cal State Northridge. She wants to be a director or screenwriter to share hers and other people’s stories.
Fear of Growing Up
Jocelyn’s square is a reflection of the coming-of-age moment happening right now in her life. With a fear of growing up, her work reflects the innocence of childhood contrasted with the angst of adolescence. It also serves as an archive of her emotional journey. As she moves toward adulthood she carries the memories and lessons of the past with her. She hopes this reminds viewers to honor their inner child.
Julie Rebollar, age 17
ABOUT ME: Yuliana Hernandez is a 17-year-old photographer who grew up in the heart of South Central, Los Angeles. She is a first-generation Mexican-American teenage girl who has always enjoyed photographing her perspective on life. Her work is always categorized as intimate and personal. Her mother, who helped spark her interest in photography, is a key motivation and inspiration in her photography journey. She supported Yuliana’s expressiveness by passing along her digital camera from when she was young. Yuliana always had a passion for photography and beauty and is grateful to have found a space to share it. Outside of Las Fotos Project, she enjoys swimming, listening to music, learning, and spending time with family and friends. Her work showcases simplicity, nature, people, and herself. Esta Soy Yo has expanded her understanding of herself and showcased her life outlook to others.
Blossom
With “Blossom,” I wanted to express my gratitude for being young and how growing into a young woman feels like how a flower blooms during the springtime. Things that grow without humans have always interested me, like plants, trees, evolution, and the seasons. As I was sewing my piece together, I thought about all the different people, experiences, and challenges that have been woven into my life and that have helped me bloom.
Ketzally Alcala, age 18
ABOUT ME: Ketzally Alcala is an 18-year-old photographer based in East Los Angeles. She is currently attending Roosevelt High School and plans to attend San Diego State University in the fall. Throughout her photography journey, she has been able to experiment with different niches but specializes in portrait, editorial, and lifestyle. As seen in her work, Ketzally incorporates her Indigenous roots and beliefs into each image that is curated. Her ultimate goal is to highlight the voices that often go unheard in the media.The people who surround her play an extremely important role in who she is as an artist and individual and they have allowed her to view the world differently. Through her work, she hopes to elicit a sense of belonging and comfort, as she has felt a sense of misplacement. Through images, she can create memories that allow her to retrace her identity when in moments of self-reflection.
Untitled
When asked to create a piece of who I am, I think back to who I was as a child, revisiting moments of color, patterns, smiles, and arts and crafts. Through my final piece as a student at Las Fotos Project, I look back at how my photography has allowed me to enjoy my last years as a child transitioning into a young adult.
Lola Garcia, age 15
ABOUT ME: Hi, my name is Lola, I am 15 years old, born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I live with my dad, my mom, brother, and three friendly cats. I’ve always had a strong passion for the art of photography ever since I was a little girl. I absolutely love taking pictures of the world around me, especially taking pictures of my family and friends. I gradually got better at taking pictures and my family suggested that I start taking photography classes. I fell in love with taking pictures on an actual camera and also loved how the moments captured through my images are endless. This is my third semester at Las Fotos and they have all been incredible. This semester I experimented with photoshop and I can’t lie, it was definitely a new experience for me and the more I did, the easier and more exciting it got. My favorite things to photograph would be my family and my cats.
Self
REFLECTION: I deeply enjoyed this semester and the way I pushed myself outside of my comfort zone. I normally don’t do photography involving editing or photoshop so it was definitely challenging at first, and still is from time to time. My group project, though, was really fun for me to experiment with. I started really loving taking pictures of reflections and water because the photo can say so much yet so little. Photography can say so much about a person and it’s a great way to express yourself.
Maelie Espinal, age 13
ABOUT ME: Maelie, a Salvadoran, is a Latina born in Los Angeles. Currently, she is in the 8th grade at Thomas Starr King Middle School, and she hopes to be a professional musician one day. Some of her favorite artists include Faye Webster, Elliot Smith, and Adrianne Lenker. In her free time, Maelie enjoys watching TV shows and movies. Her favorite movie is Isle of Dogs and her favorite TV show is Avatar the Last Airbender. Maelie’s work is influenced by the work of Hayao Miyazaki, and various nail artists she finds online. This semester (her second with Las Fotos Project), Maelie is much more comfortable using her camera. Her older sister Melania inspires her, and Maelie is looking forward to exploring other arts such as ceramics and textile arts in the future.
Nearsighted
As a guitar player, Maelie is used to using her fingers to create. By incorporating hand-stitching, beadwork, cyanotypes, and collage into her square, Maelie creates an optical illusion. With her eye as the anchor, Maelie’s work appears to follow the viewer as they move around the room. Imbued with a sense of haunting, longing, and melancholy, her patchwork gaze makes viewers confront how we visualize ourselves.
Maya Reyes, age 13
ABOUT ME: Maya Reyes is a young 13-year-old Indigenous artist who resides in Pasadena. She is currently attending Blair middle school as a 7th-grader. This is her second semester in Las Fotos Project but her first complete year as a student. As many people have, she has also faced mental health challenges in the past, but Maya transforms her struggles into a driving force to continue pursuing her passion for art. Maya's art reflects her inner self and thoughts of life. She always tries to push herself out of her comfort zone to create her art. For this particular work, Maya forced herself even further to completion, despite questioning every move – this is the first time she has ever displayed a self portrait in her art. She reminded herself that every piece is a work in progress and doesn't have to be perfect.
Time
REFLECTION: The group project was both scary and exciting. By including a self-portrait in the group project, I managed to confront some of my fear of judgement and push myself out of my comfort zone. Initially, I didn't think I would participate or submit on time, but I did it and I'm proud to present my work.
Meadows Stevens, age 18
ABOUT ME: Moving to L.A. from Las Vegas, I yearned for a big city experience unlike any other, and in El Sereno, I discovered both authenticity and vulgar truths about the place that became my new home. After five years of growth, I’ve become determined to use my photography to shed light on the things I love about my community, its people, and the real L.A. experience using an editorial and documentary approach. With my work I aim to explore the contrasting softness and strengths at the heart of my world.
Untitled
I’m grateful to have explored a personal aspect of photography in my last class at Las Fotos Project. As someone who’s been consistently in CEO, community support is always prevalent, but a personal investigation in Esta Soy Yo has helped me realize different, important principles of photography.
Miranda Aquino, age 17
ABOUT ME: Miranda Aquino is a 17-year-old from the east side of Mid-City, Los Angeles. She is a current junior in high school. As her final years of adolescence come within reach, her explorations have led her to a few interests in the arts. Dance – her first love – photography, journalism, and filmmaking, are all subjects she plans to pursue, to produce narratives on womanhood and the gift of Hispanic/Latinx culture. In her photography, she’s captured elements from the neighborhoods of Los Angeles that she has surrounded herself in, forming her identity. In every art form she performs, Miranda longs to portray growth, restraint, and admiration – all those sentiments she’s once felt, and dreams that others can be in tune with, to weave a similar melody of being.
De todos lados
I'll go there, I was over there, but now, I'm here.
REFLECTION: “A Ghost in Between” led to my understanding of preservation. Being from Los Angeles County has always felt like a gift, but never one that was obvious. Each class gave more understanding to treasure our hometowns, despite them never feeling like they’re always ours. This group was so special to be a part of, as it not only meant getting deeper within our surroundings of Los Angeles, but bonding through how we approached them.
Sandra Luis Grijalva, age 16
ABOUT ME: My name is Sandra Luis Grijalva I am 16 years old, a junior attending Warren High School. This is my fourth semester at Las Fotos Project. Photography is something that I discovered when I was a freshman, through my aunt, and I have loved it ever since. It is my form of expression and I feel like my images reflect exactly what I'm feeling in the moment that they are being created. I’d say that I’m an introvert and I keep to myself a lot and my photography is a reflection of that.
I’m 17 but in my mind I’ll always be 7
I chose to get out of my comfort zone for this piece. I used handwriting, quotes, and sewing in my photos. What inspired this project was the growth and change from childhood. A little girl was holding onto a childhood that didn’t really exist but I accepted that my childhood doesn’t need to be a shadow lingering over me forever. The little girl within me will always deserve better and she will always be a part of me.
Sara Arana, age 14
ABOUT ME: Hello! My name is Sara (she/her) and I am a 14-year-old artist from Southeast L.A. I am often known as quiet and one that keeps to myself. I am a photographer, pianist, writer, and drawer who enjoys listening to music and watching rom-coms. I find joy in photographing flowers, plants, animals, but also random objects like newspapers, trash cans and fire extinguishers. I get most of my inspiration from listening to music and reading, particularly the singer Laufey and poetry. I am a huge fan of taking photos of things most people don’t notice at first glance.
Untitled
Surface hides layers,
Searching for identity,
Abnormal project
Sawyer Sariñana, age 17
ABOUT ME: Sawyer Sariñana is a student artist from Los Angeles. Inspired by her community in Echo Park, human failures, and the nuances of routine, Sawyer attempts to bridge the abstract of fine art to the intention of commercial work. Her work ranges from conceptual to documentary in its approach, and she is currently interested in using photography and artificial scenarios to explore the mysticism of L.A.’s urban sprawl. In the fall, she will continue her education and art practice at the University of California Irvine.
And saliva and hair
Made of Heavy metals.