It has been a long day. We left Tucson at 8:30 this morning and arrived back at 10:30 tonight. Arizona is so beautiful, I am in love with the mountains. I want to hug them. Today we travelled to Naco, Arizona, one of fourteen twin cities along the US-Mexico border. We went to tour Camp Naco, a historical site built between 1919 and 1923 to serve as a US military outpost at the border- you can see the wall of the border from the camp. Camp Naco was home to different military regiments at different times, though all were Buffalo Soldier units- units made up of African-American soldiers with white officers during the units' early years. Within the last ten years, Camp Naco has fallen victim to neglect and arson. This site has a considerable amount to add to the country's remembrance of the Mexican Revolution, the history of our military, and to the discussion on interaction between the United States and Mexico.
I am an Anthropology major and an Art minor, with a focus in photography. I work in black and white, medium format film. I am very interested in the use of photography for furthering peoples' understanding of events, and other people and cultures. Photography has become something dear to me, and it is quickly becoming my favorite way to tell a story. Later in our trip, I will have the opportunity to go back to Camp Naco and take pictures of the camp, and allow those photographs to function as another way to tell this story. This site is in desperate need of attention- not just to rebuild and assign purpose, but for people to acknowledge its importance in the country's history. I hope that my photographs might contribute to the spread of that story.
Since taking my first photography class at Hendrix, I have been very interested in the intersection of anthropology and photography, and how I could combine the two. This opportunity with Camp Naco is exciting for me for a few reasons. Yes, it is super awesome that I am getting to take photographs and raise a little awareness about this site. However, this project has opened up some bigger questions for me. As we toured the camp today and I looked for views that would make beautiful pictures, I had to ask myself constantly what my intention would be with each photograph. I wrote a paper at the end of this past spring semester about how the intention behind a photograph can change the meaning of that photograph, and how that meaning affects those that view the work. Armed with that knowledge, it became obvious and important to me that this project could not just represent Camp Naco as it is currently, in a state of disrepair, but in a way that could be viewed as beautiful. If repaired and built up in the way those in charge of the property hope, this site could become a center of community and education for Naco. I hope that if my intentions and photographs present this site as something worth looking at even in its current state, people will realize the potential behind this space.
Today was challenging. When we left the hotel this morning the group had a pretty defined schedule, but from the beginning things did not go according to plan. I think this group of women is pretty good at going with the flow and adapting to unplanned events; though the day was stressful because of the need for the use of those skills, I think we all learned a lot about each other. Today's challenges allowed us, all independent ladies with different perspectives and opinions, to have disagreements and then agree to get over them and work as a team. I am very excited to move forward over the next week and a half, and to learn and grow with these women.
When I applied for this trip, I had hoped to get to expand my anthropological experience and spend time with one of the most inspiring mentors I've had. We are not half-way through the trip, and I realize that I have access here to that and so much more. This trip is allowing me to think about how many ways I can use anthropology in the world to help others, and in what ways I am most qualified to help. I am learning to work with people in a hugely collaborative space, closely and with a unified purpose, but from different perspectives. I am learning that what I thought were my limits in compassion and empathy are expandable in surprising ways. I am so thankful for this opportunity and the women I am working with here.
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