CONTEMPORARY TRIBAL MARKINGS: FIND YOUR INNER WARRIOR AND REPRESENT YOUR TRIBE.



Patrons agree: Tony Cordoza and Gina Rivas-Velazquez have elevated the portrait by breathing new life into the process. Their models are screaming, “I am a warrior!”



Contemporary Tribal Markings portrait series is a traveling exhibit and on-going collaborative effort between commercial photographer Tony Cordoza and visual artist Gina Rivas-Velazquez. For many years both Tony and Gina have independently enjoyed success as commercial artists in their respective fields, but recently and even now as the recession looms, they were forced to re-examine the challenges in their approach to creating new work and exposing it to the world. Their solution: join forces, shine a spotlight on their skills and invite the public to take notice.



In April of 2010, Tony was preparing to shoot a portrait series when his wife suggested that he collaborate with her friend Gina, an artist who had just added “Face-Tag” body art to the list of services her company offers. Gina’s artwork is influenced by her rich Creole and Mexican heritage, so after a brief discussion, a tribal theme for the series was undisputed. She was to design a collection of tribal face art and Tony was to capture it as she brought it to life.



Gina researched tribal designs from Africa, South America and Australia visualizing what her subjects would look like. As the models were transformed, it was clear how each person brought something different to the series. They became warriors, evoking inner grit and charm. Some snarled and growled at the lens while others simply stared. For some the experience was comical, for others it was cathartic. Each person became someone uninhibited and free from whom they usually are.



It is this transformation - the process, which elevates these portraits to a new status. Tribes are based on our relationships, our lifestyles and the roles we play. Imagine that each tribal design is a representation of how you identify yourself – perhaps as a parent, a student, an artist or a doctor. Only you know what your markings mean. Embrace them, make them yours and discover your tribe.