Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Rodriguez.
Renee, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
At eight, I asked my parents for a Bible and a 35 mm camera for my birthday. I definitively knew that I wanted to become a professional photographer. After obtaining a B.A. in Photography at Sam Houston State University (1993), I pursued my quest to become a photographer in Dallas/Ft. Worth area initially as a high-volume contributing freelance photographer. Life brought me home to Galveston, Texas in 1996 and I remained in the Houston/Galveston area then pursuing a new path of fine art photography as an exhibiting gallery artist while fulfilling a full-time administrative assistant career with the State of Texas.
Cancer diagnosis struck me in 2010 turning my path strongly to follow my inherent and natural gift of photography which then became more intense as an artist with a strong desire to simply bring awareness to all things forgotten. On June 12, 2016, tragedy struck at the PULSE Nightclub in Orlando, Florida and after returning home from infusion therapy treatment the same day, I witnessed the TONY Awards ceremony on television. Lin Manuel-Miranda, provided the inspirational words in his acceptance speech that validated my inner desire to create a visual tribute to the 49 souls of the tragedy. I’ve since published my first book, “Redemptive LOVE” as a visual tribute in their honor that was presented at the March/2018 FotoFest International Photography Biennial Meeting Place Reviews in Houston, Texas. I received resounding reviews from 20 of the most influential contemporary reviewers that my message of awareness was very strong and invited to now present nationally and internationally starting next week at the AMA: Art Museum of the Americas – Organization of American States in Washington, D.C. on November 9, 2018.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
As a 50-year-old Greek/Mexican fine art photographer, I’m motivated to simply bringing awareness to all things forgotten!
I uniquely exercise my spiritual nuance which guides me to visualize my creative series. I conceptualize a plan and embark on the photography experience. My creative journey began at eight years old and peaked with a 2010 and recent 2018 FotoFest International Biennial Meeting Place Review participation. Since Hurricane Harvey wiped me out 100% in Galveston, Texas, I had to teach myself how to publish a photography book in 53 hours just months shy of the event held in March. I had no work to physically take due to the flood, so I published a 20-page visual tribute titled, “Redemptive LOVE” honoring the 49 Souls of the 2016 Orlando PULSE Nightclub tragedy. The tribute (inspired by Lin Manuel-Miranda’s 2016 Tony Awards acceptance speech) was my single catalyst for embarking on my ultimate creative conceptual, social art awareness message how love will always overturn tragedy against violence within America.
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
Artists have very challenging conditions today, I feel as there are absolutely no benefits for actively working artists to my knowledge that exist aside from a full-time job role perhaps within a company that provides the coverage. Thriving artists I imagine still have to provide their very own health coverage out of pocket which is not conducive for most.
From my perspective, life for artists has become even harder now with the social media wave. Social media has allowed immediate visual access to the masses, however, created an even higher plateau to climb to attract the attention of your own work in a sea of millions now.
I’m located in Galveston, Texas (45 minutes south of Houston). I know the Texas Arts Commission exists, however, once I’m established more, my heartfelt goals and intentions are to lobby in Austin, Texas to collaborate or initiate talks for health care coverage for artists inclusive within the budgeting for creative opportunities. It’s amazing that art is essential to all life and photography is to mine yet, the one genre that affects literally every human in some creative capacity is not taken seriously to assist with necessary needs of survival as well. I’d like to see more of this in progress.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My work is located on INSTAGRAM via profile: Renee Rodriguez Fine Art Photo. I’m currently updating a brand new website as well. My book, “Redemptive LOVE” will be published and launched by February 2019 inclusive of guest lecturing presentation social awareness Texas tour (educational locations pending). The book has also received invitation requests for shares at Standford University and interest via The International Center for Photography in New York.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 832-364-4968
- Email: reneerodriguezfaphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reneerodriguezfineartphoto/
- Facebook: Renee Rodriguez, Fine Art Photography
Image Credit:
Renee Rodriguez, Fine Art Photography
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