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Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide


Summary: A biographic telling of an artist finding herself through the lens of a camera. Graciela breaks from tradition and social expectations in order to follow her muse.  She shares with her reader her self discovery, her passions, her poetic insight, and most importantly her art.  Through out her life, Graciela's soul flies with the birds that she encounters through her aesthetic encounters, flying away from her everyday life toward her freedom from it.  Depicted through illustrations and photographs, Isabel and Zeke reveal to the reader the beauty of Graciela's artistic and aesthetic life.

Reference: Isabel Quintero, Zeke Peña (2018). Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide. Getty Publications. Los Angeles, CA.

Why I Picked It Up: Having been a photographer myself and a fan of professional photography, I was curious as to who Graciela Iturbide was and what her photography would capture. Plus, the idea that an writer and artist would try to meld two artistic approaches together in one book (photography and drawing) was piquing my curiosity. How would they be able to capture her photos and keep her sense of artistic expression?  Would the illustrations hold their beauty?  And how would they go about telling her story?

Why I Finished It: Reading about Graciela's life and her passion for photography rekindled my own spark for photography.  She reminded me of when I held the camera in my hand and enjoyed capturing everyday life through the lens, while at the same time being mesmerized by its beauty.  There is something in black & white photos that seem to depict the any moment as something substantial, as something historical, and as having gravity. So, when Graciela describes what she sees/feels through her camera, I could very easily relate to her feelings.  Zeke Peña's illustrations do a wonderful job of not only mirroring the photos, but also in helping tell her story, which compliment the subject matter. Reading this book was like reading poetry in a visual format.

Recommendation: Suggested for people who enjoy discovering the lives of artist and reading what motivates them, finding out what they strive for, and what they experience through their creations.  For people who want to find out how to marry two different forms of art (photography and drawings) into one biographical expression then this book can be your guide. Or, just simply for people who want to know about Graciela Iturbide and her art, then this can be a nice introduction. Regardless of the reason, this biography does a mastery job of depicting the art of Graciela Iturbide and of her reasoning for life.  Definitely, a read for the living room couch.

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