Luis Zavala Photography: Recently Added Galleries and Collections

Gustavo Zavala y Charini visit to USA

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:18:19 GMT

Junin_Peru_1988

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:00:34 GMT

Huancaina

AK Swim

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:27:36 GMT

Weddings

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:42:56 GMT

Order Forms

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:31:36 GMT

Photo Samples

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:04:14 GMT

Veronica Casillas

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:13:23 GMT

Imani Ivery

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:46:03 GMT

Sandy

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:58:35 GMT

Black Friday 2011. Boys day out! Season 2, Episode 1.

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:50:35 GMT

OLM Soccer Fall 2011

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:20:33 GMT

Tio Hugo

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:10:25 GMT

Heidelberg Project_Detroit

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:51:19 GMT

History of the Heidelberg project

Twenty-five years ago, artist Tyree Guyton returned to Heidelberg, the street where he grew up on Detroit’s East Side, and found it in shambles, riddled with drugs and deepening poverty. Bruised by the loss of three brothers to the streets, Guyton was encouraged by his grandfather to pick up a paintbrush instead of a weapon and look for a solution.

Armed with a paintbrush, a broom and neighborhood children, Guyton and Grandpa began by cleaning up vacant lots on Heidelberg Street. From the refuse they collected, Guyton transformed the street into a massive art environment. Vacant lots literally became “lots of art” and abandoned houses became “gigantic art sculptures.” Guyton not only transformed vacant houses and lots, he integrated the street, sidewalks and trees into his mammoth installation and called the work, the Heidelberg Project (“HP”).
In 1988, supporters of Guyton helped to organize his effort and the Heidelberg Project was officially incorporated. The Heidelberg Project’s mission is to inspire people to appreciate and use artistic expression to enrich their lives and to improve the social and economic health of the greater community. The HP was born out of Guyton’s own experiences and hardships growing up in a community that had experienced devastating changes. What used to be a diverse, working class neighborhood over the years became a community characterized by violence, racism, abandonment, despair and poverty. Such conditions became the pretext for the birth of what is known today as the HP.
The existing neighborhood is described as one of the most economically depressed zip codes in the country (48207, US Census, 2005) with unemployment rates of 75% and over 90% of people living below the poverty level.
Much like conducting a symphony, Guyton systematically re-arranged the existing landscape on Heidelberg Street by incorporating found objects, the street, the trees, the sidewalks, abandoned houses, vacant lots, nature and even the people! To this end, Guyton’s work was met, by some, with fierce disdain and in the first 18 years became the subject of great controversy and heated debates. Guyton claimed that his art was a medicine—a bitter pill to swallow—for the people and that the pros and cons were part of the process.
The medicine appears to have had a healing effect. In our 25-year existence no serious crimes have been reported on Heidelberg Street. Residents who would never visit the Detroit Institute of Arts or the Detroit Symphony Orchestra have become educated about art and participate in HP programs, festivals and forums. We provide modest jobs and an outdoor space in which members of the community can come together to reflect, play, create and interact with people from around the world. This practice builds a sense of self-worth and pride.
This pride, then, becomes the protection of the Heidelberg Project and is a demonstration of its success. This practice explains how the Heidelberg Project site remains undisrupted in a community that is quite literally desecrated. Twenty four years of renewing the human spirit can now successfully translate into rebuilding the community.

Portraits

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 02:43:40 GMT

Halloween_2011

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:48:25 GMT

BEAR SWIMMING 2011

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:56:35 GMT

Piedras Blancas Light Station

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:40:20 GMT

Point Hueneme Lighthouse

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:49:52 GMT

Point Vicente, Palos Verdes

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:31:56 GMT

Point Fermin Lighthouse

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 01:40:42 GMT

L.A. Harbor Light (Angels Gate)

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 01:16:05 GMT

New Point Loma Light

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:50:01 GMT

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:23:25 GMT

2011_Procesion Del Señor de los Milagros_San Cornelius Church

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:46:32 GMT

Bertha Gomez Wedding

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:13:14 GMT

Customers Page

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:59:02 GMT

Cambria_2004_March_13-14

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 06:13:47 GMT

Costa Mesa December 1999_Jan 2000

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 05:24:13 GMT

Rehearsal

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:33:23 GMT

Lynn's Wedding Day

luis@lzphoto.com (Luis Zavala Photography) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 22:10:32 GMT