Jorge Narvaez is currently attending UCSD and finishing a bachelors of
arts degree in ethnic studies, with an emphasis in visual
arts/photography, literature and music. He remembers the first time he
picked up a camera, and how interested he was in understanding the
dynamics of the photographic frame. Furthermore, learning to grasp
photographic conventions and how people, places, animals, and
structures can be captured through this art medium to create a
narrative for a story. Jorge has been shooting, writing and playing
music independently for for more than 5 years. He is also interested
in the social engagement of photography, including the emotional and
psychological conditions of the subject matter in the image in
relation to society. This can be found in any image from a family
picture and the history behind it, to the symbolic smile of a bride in
a wedding; they express a story. Jorge has been interning for Zea Mays
Productions for almost two years in numerous projects including
photographic documentary for Reality Changers, special events with
theater group Izcalli, La Entrada Project, Rebuilding Together San
Diego and other special events across southern California and Mexico.
Jorge has also participated in photographic research through
University of California San Diego’s McNair program where he is
working on a project involving women’s identity and transborder
culture. He has also participated in the Mexican Migration Research
Program in which he traveled to Yucatan, Mexico with world-renowned
professor Wayne Cornelius. He is an active member of the UCSD Art
Collective as a photographer, and has presented his photographic work
both on Chicana and university faculty identity in various spaces
across UCSD and San Diego. Jorge has recently received the Chancellors
Undergraduate Research Scholarship to continue some of his
photographic projects. Most importantly he attends to his two
beautiful daughters, which are his biggest inspiration to become a
better human being. In the future Jorge plans to teach photography to
first generation students and become a university professor of the
visual arts.
