In 2019 I started a project documenting my travels on the Mazaruni River in Western Guyana. The Mazaruni, in the Amazon Biome, is home to the Akawaio indigenous people and is accessible primarily by river boat. From the port of Parika near the capital Georgetown I traveled by jet boat to Bartica where the Mazaruni flows into the Essequibo River. I visited the Akawaio communities of Kangaruma and Isseneru. The Akawaio struggle to maintain their traditional ways of living as gold mining dominates the local economy. The Cargo boats on the river transport the fuel and equipment necessary for mining and the associated entrepreneurial activities.
The Afromestizo are Mexicans living on the Pacific coast in the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca and the state of Veracruz. They represent what is called the “third root” - people of African, Indigenous and European descent. They have been historically isolated and have worked as ranchers, cowboys, farmers and fisherman in predominantly rural areas where they have developed their distinct customs. In 2003, while living in Mexico, I began a long –term project documenting the Afromestizo communities on the Pacific coast. While the traditions in these towns are clearly Mexican, they identify and celebrate in distinct way
Mezcal is an important alcoholic beverage in Mexico culturally as well as economically. While living in Oaxaca, a local producer (Mescalero) invited me to photograph his artisanal production process. This portfolio documents countryside visits to where the agave plant grows and the social interaction involved in production.
Over the years I have returned to the Cost Chica, Mexico’s Pacific Coast to photograph the festival and ceremonies that mark the cycle of life there.
In the Costa Chica community social activities take place throughout the year and are tied to religious, local and national celebrations
