I have never considered myself an artist, but am definitely a creative. My main motivating factor in life is to build community and create opportunity for others to make connection. I fell into the artist community when I arrived in San Antonio in 2000 and began hosting art shows, innovative meet-ups and promoting the arts. With partner Rick Martinez, I opened a book store and gallery (Libros at Gallista), then a video store (Planet of the Tapes) and then an outdoor cinema (Slab Cinema). I have been taking photographs since long before digital and had my first public show in 2001.