I was going to write this nice little intro about how I saw Christine’s photography online, about how I liked her photo subjects and how she used her talents to empower other people but who can talk about a person better than themselves? So here is Christine Cruz’s bio to fill in the rest. You see what I did there?
Christine Cruz is an artist born and raised in Staten Island. Her primary discipline is photography, which she has sought to perfect in the last three years. Her photographic works range from scenic, to portrait, and everything in between, though all of them encompass an unspeakable and unique magic whether it be through her elaborate set design skills, exquisite use of light, or her ability to connect with her subjects on an intuitive level.
One of her recent and elaborate undertakings was the 2018 powerhouse project titled "Project Alice", which received a Staten Island Arts DCA Premier Grant, and was widely received by her peers and community. Project Alice was a photography driven project with a grand finale consisting of an immersive theater-like art exhibition. Through fantastical imagery and story lines similar to that of Alice In Wonderland, Cruz explored serious societal topics such as drug use, suicide, and "coming out" as LGBTQ in today's world. She constructed lush sets, and transformed the reformed church in Port Richmond into a surreal wonderland with real actors for participants to engage with.
Christine has also orchestrated several theme based photoshoots, such as her 2019 personal project titled "The Future Is Female", where she orchestrated 10+ women to participate in four unique sets that she constructed on her own, along with assembling a team of behind the scenes professionals (hair stylist, make-up artist, assistants) to ensure a high end shoot, in one long day.
Her Latest installation "Remember their Names" which received a significant amount of media press, was made in a 3 month timespan and highlights Black Americans that lost their life to police brutality in a more than 800 floral arrangement memorial.
A New project she is working on will be released in Nov 2021 is called “Far From Home” a photography series about a celestial being landing on Earth (Staten Island) during 2020.
Aside from her many projects, including her most recent launch of her "Lets Get Weird Creations" sculpture line, and her highly sought after event photography business, Christine is busy being a mom and role model to her eight year old daughter, Rylee, A loving partner to her fiancé Kevin and giving treats to her bunnies, Bubbles and cosmo.
- Now that we got the professional stuff out of the way let’s get a little history, how did you get into photography? What led you to start taking photos?
I think I have always been attracted to photography, the ability to freeze time has always stuck with me ever since I was little. It wasn’t until I turned 30, I started to really explore photography on my own. I was going through a really horrible time in my life and I needed an outlet. My Best friend Jess Romero ( @_.jmonet._ ) who is an urban landscape photographer would always take me with her on her long walks exploring and I would just use this crappy phone camera but it stuck with me. I enjoyed it so much, being around nature and just exploring really helped with all those depressed feelings I was having. It wasn’t until working at my daytime job Trader Joes where I met this Amazing Korean woman who I built a friendly relationship with who ended up gifting me my first DSLR camera that changed my life forever. That one act of kindness made me into the photographer I am today and I’m forever grateful.
- You seem to focus mostly on portraits, is there any particular reason? What draws you to a particular subject?
I love landscape photography the most actually, but take a lot of portraits because I love to tell people’s stories, I love to showcase my subjects at their best. Every session is so different and I try my best to really make my clients feel safe, comfortable but also have some freaking fun!
- How do you approach or think about taking a photo, especially a portrait? Do you have to get to know the person?
I am ALWAYS anxiety level 1000% before a shoot. I probably am more nervous than the client. Once that person walks into the space it all goes away, I love making people laugh so I always try! Sometimes just being a good listener to what they are feeling or thinking helps too. Most of the time clients have never been in front of a professional camera before so giving them direction and reassurance really helps their self esteem and in return you will get more from them. I also try to get different expressions and angles and really try to find the best one for my client, so I move a lot! It's like a work out every time I have a session.
- Can you talk about the women's empowerment photo shoots you do, how this started and how you develop the layouts (not sure if I'm phrasing that right) of the shoot?
The Women Empowerment shoots started back in 2017, I was just starting out as a photographer and really wanted to get better and practice. At the same time I was really struggling with other women who would discourage me and try to put me down. I just felt so alone and didn’t understand why women can be so cruel and competitive towards each other.
This really made me start thinking about wanting to do the opposite of that and build a team of women who all have different strengths and come together to create, inspire and build each other up. It started with just five women and we are now in our 3rd year and it's up to 15 women. I couldn’t do it this year because of COVID but I am still planning on doing more in the future and having more women involved.
Each year is a different theme, last year was called “A DREAM COME TRUE” and it was based on my dreams I’d been having that year. Combining elaborate sets, makeup and hair artists, I was able to create different dream-like sets all around my house. A lot of my work is inspired by my own emotions and experience. That’s why I believe people can connect with it so deeply. It is usually an all day process with lots of women, clothes and food. It’s usually the best day I have all year.
- What is Let's Get Weird Creations?
@LetsGetWeirdCreations is my novelty Sculpture store I started for people who like strange and unusual trinkets. All hand crafted and also sometimes features guest artists as a way to give back to the struggling art culture. A portion of the proceeds go to a charity of their choice. Each novelty trinket comes with a story and energy aura to help you in your life journey.
- What would you say your creative process is?
I would say my main process in creating anything is based on my emotional state. Where I’m at in my journey in life, most of everything I create is based on personal feelings either from me or the subject.
- Do you think being an artist, a photographer, lets you view the world differently? Why? How?
Absolutely, I am always looking for light shadows, reflections, and color everywhere. When I see anything that pleases my eye it literally makes my heart skip a beat.
- Would you say it causes you to interact or to see people or places differently?
I am so inspired and humbled about life in general and people’s stories. Being an artist has taught me to be a good observer and listener and talk less. People just want to be seen and heard. As a photographer I am always looking at my environment as an opportunity to create.
- How do you think creativity can help the world today?
Creativity is Innovation at its finest when you're able to step out of the box and make something that can connect millions of people with just images, words or paintings. We underestimate this as a society. There is power and unity in the arts. Having a creative outlet is a mood booster and also inspires others to create like a chain reaction.
- Does being from Staten Island influence you in any way?
Absolutely! I think growing up I didn’t fully appreciate living here as much as I do in my thirties. We have the best of both worlds out here having that urban/suburban type of living. So much nature to appreciate and good food to eat.
- Why do you think Staten Island has the reputation it has?
Staten Island has such deep rooted history, good and bad, but the one that is most apparent is its historic racist past. This island is living two completely different lives. It has this reputation because it’s an issue that still exists today. Until we see this Island as one we won’t see any change.
- Do you think that the Island is changing at all or is it set in its ways?
It's hard to say, I think 2020 really brought a lot to light. Also a lot of the younger generation is more involved, which is amazing to see them care about something. I think the first step in healing is to acknowledge what we are doing wrong so we can correct it and make it better. Until we do this I don’t think we can change.
- What would you say is the major lesson you have learned so far from being an artist?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is DON’T undervalue your ART or yourself. I think as artists we are sometimes our worst critics. It's hard to break that when you're seeking perfection with your craft. You don’t suck as much as you tell yourself. Appreciate the things you do right and don’t forget to celebrate the small victories and enjoy the journey.