About this project

The Blog http://www.paulettewaltz.com/kickstarter/

Volcanoes

Ever lived on a volcano? I did, and I loved it. For 2 years, I lived on one of the most active volcanoes in the world in Miyakejima, Japan. See it on Google Maps. Here I taught language and photography, and here I discovered how people living near volcanoes have such indomitable spirits. Every 20 years the volcano speaks up and shakes up life in different ways- covering a village with lava, causing a mass evacuation of the island for 5 years, or necessitating residents to have gas masks for high levels of sulfur dioxide. Living here means you must accept the unpredictability of the environment and life.

The Concept

Volcanoes remind us that nothing is permanent- not even the ground we walk on. The sooner we relinquish control and accept the impermanence of life, the sooner we make room for things like joy and love. This approach is the lens through which I am creating my photographic body of work over 6 weeks in Nicaragua, a land rich with volcanoes. I am here exploring the volcanoes, the surrounding land and people- whose stories and legends embellish the stunning scenes.

Valentines

Since it is the month of February, and my birthday happens to be on Valentine's Day, this year I wanted to create new associations with the misconstrued holiday. We've all seen how the day often equates to obligatory gifts, awkward dates, or fears of being alone. I hope to let go of any previous notions of what the day should be and will do things stemming from the right intentions. I encourage you to do something different or out of your comfort zone too. On this day, I'm launching this project and doing a Valentine's activity at a school near a volcano.

The Photographs

So far, I have been to four very active volcanoes and have been photographing life around them. Some photos are scenes that admire the grandeur of the ever-changing land. Others capture the rhythm and color of daily life, which includes a spectrum of emotions, hardships, and celebrations. All of the photographs acknowledge the impermanence and beauty of each moment.

The Journey

The most important part of this project is bringing you along. I'll be updating you here and on my blog. I hope that you'll follow and comment on my journey or your own! Volcanoes and Valentines Blog

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