It's been soooooooo fuck'in long since I've written here that it's weird. But anyway, I'm so glad I'm done with at least one aspect of my application to RISD. See, I'm applying for grad school there in the field of photography. In fact, I'm so proud of my Statement of Purpose that I'm gonna post it here. Thanks to David, Mimi and Zac for all their help! *besos!


A PURPOSE IN FULL COLOR



I could start this statement of purpose with something along the lines of: “Ever since I was a child, I’ve had a love affair with the photographic image.” Unfortunately, that woudn’t be the truth. The fact is, I fell into photography when I was in high school. Imagine an all girl’s boarding school in the small and secluded town of Lititz, Pennsylvania, where the most exciting attractions are the chocolate and pretzel factories, the video rental store on Main Street and the weekly trips to the mall. I had joined all the clubs there were to join, and still was left unchallenged. That is until I started to take photography class. I learned how to capture what my eyes saw and my mind imagined. After I got started, no one could stop me! Suddenly my school life seemed much more important, and when I started winning gold keys at the Scholastic Awards, I knew I was on the right path. Then the most amazing thing happened -- I was accepted to RISD.

I remember the process of choosing my major at RISD. I found I was torn between Photography and Film/Video/Animation. Since they’re both related, I decided to go with film because it presented a different kind of challenge for me. While studying Film, I never stopped taking photographs. I began to think of photographs in a cinematic way and of film in a more textured way. From freshman foundation to the day of graduation, I felt like a real artist. I felt I belonged to an important movement. The unique quality that RISD gave me as a student is something I would like to experience again.

Photography has always been a very personal medium for me. It’s me and my camera and a moment or a feeling that is captured. It is very exciting for me to see a picture as it develops in the dark room. Truth and beauty are things that I see in the photographs that inspire me. I want to evoke all kinds of reactions. I love doing portraits of people and I feel that I can always bring out a certain quality about that person. I also like photographing concerts. The adrenaline that I feel when I’m taking pictures is hair raising.

Once, when I was visiting a friend in New York City, I was in SOHO and during the middle of a rainfall, I found refuge in a gallery. It wasn’t just a gallery, it was a photography gallery and it was my destiny. The space is called photographic. After seeing the exhibitions, I started talking to one of the directors and found the conversation to be very fruitful. I had never seen a gallery that showed photography exclusively. That incident inspired me. One of my goals now is to open a gallery exclusively for photographs. There is no such gallery in Puerto Rico at this time and I want Puerto Ricans to respect photographs as an art and buy and admire them as they do paintings.

As a visual artist, RISD’s Master in Photography program will stimulate my creativity. The thesis guidance will also help me in the right direction so I can have a final product that is worthy of a RISD graduate. I want to be able to use the experience to the maximum capacity. I know that in the art world there is no right or wrong. Nothing is black and white. That is why I am also willing to learn from my imperfections. I am a creative being with a vision to offer and I hope to contribute that vision to whoever will take notice.


So that's it folks! Now all I have to finish is the portfolio and the other stuff... eek.

sleepy time for me

later! (much later probably) ;)