Local Joint 11 | Cusco, Peru

_{Click above to watch Local Joints Episode 11}

I first spoke to Celia on February 7th of this year. We landed in Peru on September 29th.

After all, when you’re asking someone to share their life story with you, timelines fail to account for the time it takes to establish trust.

But, over the 7 months that followed, I had the privilege of getting to know Celia as both a photographer and person. Celia is a devoted mother, daughter (to a sensational single mother), and 1/1 friend.

In our work, it’s often difficult not to become personally invested in the stories. We spend so much time with artists in the lead up to filming, digging into who they are as creatives, but also people. It’s a running joke, but these conversations sometimes become therapy sessions. For the artists, and for us.

My time with Celia was just that. Her story - full of heartbreak and abandonment - was gripping. Each session was an amalgam of laughs, long pauses, and tears.

And, after 5 one hour zooms, it was time to meet in person—in Peru.

When I boarded my flight to Cusco, Celia had just finished an artist residency in her estranged father’s hometown. A residency she specifically chose to find closure to the decades of emotions she’s held onto since she last spoke to him as a kid. I had no idea what to expect when I got there. But, there was no turning back now—we were both committed to telling her story.

^{Here you’ll find some photos from her residency: Celia and her father}

Cusco is a magical place. We met Celia and her mom in the main plaza, where Celia was already taking photos of a parade that was taking place. Her energy was vibrant, and she welcomed the team with Peruvian gift bags filled with local “Cositas.”

Here was a woman, days removed from the emotional journey of a lifetime, moving within the crowds with effortless grace and poise. And her mom? A day removed from hiking Machu Picchu (a casual 8,000 feet of elevation). I was amazed by these two women. Especially since my team and I were not handling the elevation well…at all.

But, that didn’t stop us.

Celia took us everywhere. We even took a taxi to the salt mines - a two hour journey through the Andes mountains that put the beauty of Peru on full display.

When we finally sat down amongst the ancient temple of Saqsaywaman to conduct our interview it became increasingly clear that this one would be different. The magnitude of the mountains, as Celia said, felt like they were giving us permission to be there. To have this difficult conversation about her life.

She spoke about the responsibility she feels for her work. The need to platform brown women, doing badass things. The therapy her photographs provide her, and the inspiration they bring to the people who look like her.

I left Peru the next day, and spent most of my flight home reflecting on Celia and her story. I couldn’t believe the emotional stamina, and courage she had. The vulnerability, and willingness to share was incredible. You can’t connect the dots looking forward, but looking back I now realize that Celia is so vulnerable in her practice because she knows how many people share her story. Her work is a reminder that none of us are alone—in triumph or struggle. She’s a river to her people. A light for those who believe one doesn’t exist.

And, I feel honored to have played a small small part in sharing her light.

Cheers.

Blake, a Frontier Boy

How am I supposed to follow up that one?

I’m not gonna try. Would you?

You’ll hear from me next week though. I caught up with one of my favorite painter’s over BBQ.

Bring napkins.

That’s it from us for now. Talk from the road.

🏃‍♂️ 

-Jack

P.S. Feel free to respond and let us know where you’d like to see us go next.