Chandler Wigton, our Associate Director of Events & Studios visited Jenn in her studio to learn more about her and her practice!
Jenn Carrillo has been a studio artist at Harwood since 2019. She is born and raised in Albuquerque and holds a BA in Photography from the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. She focused primarily on digital photography in undergrad, but also learned black and white darkroom photography. After graduating and moving back to Albuquerque, she switched back to shooting film primarily. Photography has always been a part of her life, and she took photographs as a lot as a kid, first with disposable cameras, and then a simple point in shoot with film. Her day job is at Picture Perfect, one of the only photo processing labs left in the New Mexico, where she does all the film processing on black and white, as well as color machines.
What new art are you working on currently?
What is your process?
Lately Jenn hasn’t been taking photos quite as much she normally does, but still always has her camera with her wherever she goes. She doesn’t consider herself a street photographer exactly, but most of her subjects are found out in the world. So when the pandemic hit, things slowed down for her and she wanted to consciously explore some other avenues of artmaking and making things with her hands. This includes working with clay, painting, drawing, and making jewelry. One example of this in her studio were some hand built Nichos made with air dry clay and then painted and varnished, which then hang on the wall and house found objects. The found objects in the Nichos are often times objects of remembrance, candles, or things that make up little shrines. She is also making small jewelry, charms, and necklaces out of silver clay.
In terms of her process with photography, her subjects are often on the street, and most of the photos she takes happen organically as she is moving through life and seeing things that interest her. Some of her subjects include cars, flowers, Chicana culture, the urban landscape, and other things that reflection Albuquerque and New Mexico culture. Her family has been here for generations. She uses a few different 35mm cameras and mostly shoots in color.
What do you get your inspiration from?
A lot of inspiration for Jenn comes from everyday life and her home. Color is another inspiration. The work in her studio was of a specific color palette that feels thoughtful and deliberate, with blues and greens playing a prominent role. Jenn likes to have viewers of her photographs tell her what kinds of memories or things that come up for them, before she explains her own intentions, memories, or ideas. She sees photography as a common ground that can bring people together, and that many different narratives or memories can be brought into a photograph by a wide variety of people. Other things that inspire Jenn are memories, and repeated patterns.
What music have you been listening to lately?
Jenn likes to listen to punk and metal when she wants to focus. Bands like Spiritbox, Loathe, and Deftones are examples of music that help her focus in the studio. Other artists that came to mind are SZA, Omar Apollo, and Kali Uchis. One album that she knows front to back, back to front is In Rainbows by Radiohead.
