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My name is Jorge Gonzalez-Graupera, and I have been accepted as a 2024 Artist-in-Residence at Deering Estate. I am a filmmaker and a photographer, and my residency will allow me to explore and develop my work in Photography. In various ways, people have consistently played a central role in my work, which becomes most apparent in my latest film, the Emmy-winning short documentary In Situ: John William Bailly at the Deering Estate. The film hinges on the energetic personality of its titular protagonist, and it likely wouldn’t have worked as well with someone else. It was a collaborative piece; after decades of working solo behind a camera, it is a good place to be. It didn’t start that way, though, and it doesn’t end as such, either.
When I first picked up a camera at the encouragement of a perceptive photography teacher at FIU who asserted, “You’re not a painter; you’re a photographer.”, I quickly fell under the spell of its power to reveal, not only my perspective of the world but also how I perceived myself. The way light transformed an everyday urban landscape (in the case of the former) and how it engaged my subconscious through the imagery I pursued (in the case of the latter), made it a powerful tool to communicate the interiority of my lived experience. While my film work adopts a more structured approach with an abundance of gear, crew members, and scheduling considerations, the creation of a still image has remained a more personal undertaking, challenging to thematically pinpoint and elusive to explain. The process retains an element of mystery or what I might somewhat self-consciously term “magic,” where it’s just me and the camera, seeking out the abstract impulse compelling me to release the shutter.
In particular, I suppose it’s the sense of a place and what it is we psychologically project on a location. On one hand, there is the awe-inspiring experience when we encounter a remote and distant landscape. On the other hand, there is the socio-cultural aspect of what we leave behind in our shared spaces such as the chairs randomly strewn in a classroom or the curated pathways we walk upon at a national park. Confronted with unspoiled nature, we are untethered from the world outside, expanding into the universe. Simultaneously, we are moved by striking photographs depicting environmental collapse. In both instances, creative material emerges from our marked absence or our impact on the natural environment. Every individual actively or passively engages with this dynamic, revealing something personal about themselves in how they respond to their surroundings.
During my interviews with John William Bailly, the inaugural Charles Deering McCormick Fellow Artist in Residence, for our film “In Situ,” I discovered that he hadn’t always prolifically painted scenes from nature. It was his time at the Deering Estate that birthed this new facet of his artistic expression, aligning seamlessly with his personal nature. I aspire that through time and multiple explorations, I too will uncover a facility for capturing the hidden magic at the Deering Estate, offering others a glimpse into its mysteries and wonders through my photographs.
The Deering Estate Artist-in-Residence Program (AIR) seeks to continue the legacy of art patronage by supporting artists who work in various disciplines and media.
The AIR Program offers professional visual, literary, performing, and cross-disciplinary artists the opportunity to pursue innovative projects and studio work, connect with other artists, and engage the public while interacting with the historical, architectural, intellectual, archeological, and natural elements of the Estate’s inspiring environment. Since 2006, we have welcomed over 90 shared and collaborative residencies representing a broad scope of contemporary and traditional artistic practices. For more information on the Artist in Residence Program at the Deering Estate, please visit the website.
About the Deering Estate
Deering Estate, located at 16701 SW 72 Ave. in Miami, is a 21st Century house museum, cultural and ecological field station, and a national landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, owned by the State of Florida and managed by Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department. Deering Estate is designated as one of seven Miami-Dade County “Heritage Parks” which have a vital role in our community’s history, environment and in providing recreational and cultural experiences.
Cultural Arts Programming at the Deering Estate is made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, and The Deering Estate Foundation, Inc.
About the Deering Estate Foundation
For those who treasure the Deering Estate, who advocate for its preservation and wish to invest in its future, The Deering Estate Foundation provides opportunities for individuals and corporations alike to partake in membership, signature events, and one-of-a-kind experiences, all in service of providing vital funding and support to the Deering Estate. Through these efforts, the foundation fulfills its mission to uphold the legacy of Charles Deering’s cherished 1920s-era property, to provide funding for the cultural, educational and recreational experiences it offers, as well as its significant scientific and archaeological endeavors to conserve its diverse flora, fauna and the eight native ecosystems that thrive on its 450 acres, and to ensure its longevity as a prized American heritage site. Established in 1989, The Deering Estate Foundation, Inc. is a community-based charitable 501(c) 3 Florida Corporation and the philanthropic partner of the Deering Estate.
