Photos from Racheal Rios
Interview with Chip, 2021
I moved to Northern AZ in 1987 and set up a black and white darkroom shortly thereafter. For the next 22 years I spent time in the community photographing and having occasional shows of that work. However, it didn’t feel complete in that the people in the photos weren’t seeing the work. A 3 month trip to Brazil in 2009 led to me spending time with street artists who introduced me to the large, wheat pasted photographs of JR which influenced the work I’m doing now.
I was invited by Kylie Walzak to do an installation at your original site in 2010. I returned in 2011 to install work as well. Then Colin Holmes invited me to do an installation there this year.
Well, I’m working on a couple things. I just completed an installation at Fort Garland in the San Luis Valley on Native enslavement from 1492 to the late 1800s. As an extension of that I’m looking at doing an exhibition on the complex history of the Buffalo Soldiers who were stationed at Fort Garland for 3 years in the mid 1860s. They’re recognized and celebrated as Black American heroes but in truth they were freed enslaved people who were seeking acceptance into American society by participating in the settler-colonial narrative of fighting and killing Native people. In order for healing to begin we need to start there.
Hit me up at @jetsonorama on the (Insta)gram or follow my blog – jetsonorama.net. Peace.
Follow, support, and shop Chip’s work by visiting the above links. Thank you Chip for your work!
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