Isabella Quinn Rodriguez — vapavisual.com

Isabella Quinn Rodriguez
University of California - Santa Cruz

Art statement:

In this body of work, I wanted to investigate the photographic medium of storytelling through a series of photographs similar to the work of Director Chris Marker in La Jetee. The story I am telling is one that has been passed down for generations in my family about my great-great grandmother, Luisa, who gets a visit from a spirit who tells her it's her time to go. She asks for more time and gets everything in order with her husband Placido. I took the photos with lighting that gives a poetic and sweet meaning but also used other techniques to represent the mystery behind the Spirit that visited her. I don't want the story to be one of horror that will scare people, but a tale of love and acceptance of death when it’s your time to go.

Image 1: It was just before sunrise, the roosters hadn't started crowing.

Image 2: A spirit pushes the door open of the dark house and enters the bedroom.

Image 3: Luisa and Placido are sleeping in bed as the spirit watches over them. Luisa was suddenly awakened by the presence of the spirit.

Image 4: Luisa turns the lights on, she looks for what it is and sees a shadow move. She calls, “Who is there?”

Image 5: Luisa is not afraid of the spirit who tells her it is her time to go, she asks for a little more time to get her affairs together.

Image 6: Luisa gets up and begins to gather her things she wants to be buried with as her husband Placido wakes up asking her what she is doing.

Image 7: Luisa tells Placido that it is her time to go and she wants to be buried with her bible, wedding photo and in the orange dress.

Image 8: Luisa tells Placido that she wants to write each of her adult children a letter since she will not be able to say goodbye to them.

Image 9: Luisa hands the letters to Placido and tells him to make sure they receive the letters and to assure them how sorry she is not being able to say goodbye and that she loves very much.

Image 10: Placido and Luisa embrace thanking each other for their wonderful life together. They have been married for forty one years and their love, trust, respect, and understanding have always been so strong.

Image 11: All of a sudden Luisa hunches in pain. Placido helps her to bed so she can rest. He asks if she wants anything to eat. Luisa says she has a craving for soup.

Image 12: Placido chops cilantro in the kitchen to add to the soup he is cooking for Luisa.

Image 13: As Placido cooks, Luisa rests as the spirit comes and tells her that her time is up and it’s time to leave.

Image 14: Luisa passes away and her spirit leaves her body and follows the spirit.

Image 15: Placido finds Luisa dead and he cries next to her body letting her know how much he loves her.