As a volunteer for FotoFest's Literacy through Photography program, Lacy observed a small child expose a difficult contrast in her life with pictures of colorful flowers growing in front of her house and a written essay about her fear of sleeping at night because of gun shots in her neighborhood. This inspired Lacy to found an organization, the Houston Institute for Culture, to promote the work of artists communicating ideas about their culture or society. "Life is difficult to comprehend where people have little or no self-expression," Lacy indicated.
Lacy expressed an important belief, "Color is used to represent the beauty of life in many cultures, especially in celebrations and festivals. Color is more present in other cultures. Compare the American dollar to the Mexican peso or Indian rupi. Color is powerful symbolically and we are attracted to it, almost unexplainably." He has created an extensive volume of photography of colorful cultural activities in Houston and throughout the region.
To encourage others to make personal documents of their own interests, Lacy began teaching photography classes, particularly lighting and decisive exposure, which were first offered through his non-profit organization, Houston Institute for Culture. He published a definitive photography guide on line at www.houstonculture.org/fieldguide for those who participate in the organization's workshops. Classes are listed on the Internet at www.houstonculture.org/class.
IN THE PHOTO ABOVE The spectacular intricate head dress of a classical Indian dancer reveals the cultural value placed on this ancient art.
| SECTION |
|
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 |
