Color, Movement, Connection

My Scholarship entry - MOSAIC

Brazil | Sunday, November 23, 2014 | 5 photos

I, Marisela Castañeda, am a daughter of Southwest Detroit. As the youngest of eight children, I am an extension of a larger whole, always thinking of those around me. Growing up we shared everything from our clothes to the bathroom. I learned to be flexible because the space around me was constantly being altered either by me, my family, or by whatever stuff there was lying around. This experience led me to use photography to explore how different spaces change.

I look at spaces. Spaces are the backdrop where everything happens, like the set in a play. You could do the same actions over and over again but when this action is done in one place over another, this is what makes the difference. The space provides the context and the tone. These conversations that happen in a space make a story, a story that is often overlooked, and a story I tell.

I am an artist activist who is passionate about social justice and design, especially public spaces. I try to capture the essence of each space, whether it’s the people or the architecture. Space is so important to us, it is where we are and what we shape, whether if we leave something behind or create something new.