A teacher but a photographer first, Carla Shapiro explores the human condition.
In her photographic projects Carla Shapiro of course points her lens at ‘others’ but more courageously she also points the lens at ‘her’. Her project Does Yester Remember Me details her own life, living with depression.
Living in the idyllic and beautiful setting of the Catskills we discuss lifelong passion for photography and the need to give back with her art.
I am not sure if I should say this, but I think I was born an artist, so I had to do it. My father was like you can’t be an artist it’s not a legitimate career. I said in my mind “fuck you dad”
I adored my older sister. I remember she took a photography class and set up a dark room in our basement. I waited outside the darkroom for her to come out so I could look at the pictures. I remember being so excited. I could not belief it. I just loved every ounce of the whole process.
I graduated in college with a design major. My parents would not allow me to take photography. Afterwards I was able to take one class in photography. I was able to see the work of names like Diane Arbus and Robert Frank -amazing photographers-I knew I had to be a photographer.
My depression is something I never wanted to share with anybody-mental health is still taboo.
I decided to photograph my depression. It’s not like I am depressed all the time, but I do have depression related to chemical imbalances. My two sisters were depressed, my grandfather was hospitalised for depression, my uncle was hospitalised, so it is hereditary.
When 9/11 happened, I was teaching in Brooklyn and so we saw the papers falling from the sky when the planes hit. It affected me so deeply with so many people dying. I knew I needed to do something. So, I hand copied all the obituaries of everyone that died from the New York times.
For the whole obituary there were 3000 of them. It took me five months four-hours a day and I did not miss a day. My handwriting never changed and a pen company who I really liked contacted me wrote to me and gave me a case of pens so I could keep using them.
At my studio over the stream, I hung up all the obituaries for a year. I called the project Obituaries to Prayer Flags-a lot of them fell off but a lot of them washed off.
I am really enjoying photography and it is very cathartic for me. I love being a photographer, I love taking pictures. My favourite time……when I am getting up and take images when I am not even fully awake. Then it comes so much from your inner self.
If you are facing any issues concerning mental health always seek professional advice.
For the 9/11 work, Obituaries to Prayer Flags a Nikon Film camera.
For the depression work, The Sand That Makes the Pearl, I use a Canon 5D
Timeless Tasks, I use a Wooden Pinhole Camera
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