Lacy began organizing recreational hiking adventures and photography workshops for those on a student's budget in 1991. With his adventure company, Lost Dutchman Expediciones Fotograficas de las Barrancas y los Rios, he continued photographing the wonder and tragedy of cultural integration in the U.S. and reporting on his journeys into Mexico's Copper Canyon. Mixed with the serious implications of this out-of-date land racing to catch up are humorous stories, such as the hilarious confusion over a Ganesha pendant from India, which Lacy brought to the rugged canyonlands for its power to remove obstacles, and a local girl's hope that an Indian woman's elephant would be found nearby in the great canyon. He has published the journal stories from Copper Canyon on the Internet at www.houstonculture.org/canyon.
The adventures come alive with the addition of his pictures. Lacy explained one of the photographs in the fifth canyon journal, "A man I photographed in the remote Mexican village of Batopilas, Señor Manuel, told us, 'I support the tourists.' (He said this) not because we came to his little tienda to spend a few pesos each day, but because others in town believed as outsiders we were exposing their cartel way of life. Ten teenage children were killed in a shootout with Federales as they transported marijuana out of the canyon. I can't document (the tragedy) in retrospective, but I can show the relevant photographs I have made of the place and people, and relate pertinent stories with the illustrations."
In addition to the educational field trips, Lacy became a curator for cultural music programs on KTRU, Rice University Radio. The topics covered regional traditions, like Tejano music and the Mardi Gras Indians, as well as traditional music from around the world.
Lacy noted, "Music and visual images, particularly photography in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, are common to our experience with different cultures. You really need both (photography and music) to begin your understanding or develop your interest in other cultures. With the World Music Show I can take people on an educational adventure without leaving Houston."
IN THE PHOTO ABOVE Señor Manuel y el gato blanco observe the slow pace of activity in Batopilas. Lacy made this photograph as he observed the similar posture of cat and owner.
Lacy commented, "With everything I do, I try to encourage people to improve their quality of life by helping them become culturally literate and open their world to great diverse interests. KTRU is an important place where people develop their ability to think independently. The expeditions and photography presentations I organize foremost have an educational benefit."
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CONTRASTING VIEWS LIFE DURING WARTIME PROPENSITY FOR VIOLENCE RIOTERS AND THRILL-SEEKERS THE VAPOR JETS RETHINKING ADAMS TRAVELS WITH SHIVAS AND ANGELS SEEING THE LIGHT A 9-1-1 WAKE-UP CALL |
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