Some people see life in black in white while others manage to view it through a wider spectrum dripping with color, nuance and altered perspective.
Either point of view can be enlightening to an outside party, a refreshing change from one’s own lens.
For years Chula Vista freelance photographer Steve Wood provided pictures to The Star-News. Often they were captured moments of community events—outdoor festivals, ball games, community meetings.
Some of the images he shared, while not particularly newsworthy, were memorable when viewed as a whole.
One group of photographs involve nails found on his jogs through the neighborhood. Another revolves around something the privileged among us might dismiss as mundane: sunsets and sunrises.
Living in Southern California we have the luxury of taking these natural daily occurrences for granted. So much so that in the case of sunrises we sleep through them. As for sunsets, we may just be so relieved to get through the workday that we tune out everything else around us.
But in moments of quiet and reflection Wood’s images have given me an opportunity to appreciate what I have been missing. And the motivation to be more present—in the moment—when I can.
That’s the underlying beauty of his, and other artist’s, work. They remind us that life exists outside of our own redundant experiences. They afford us a chance to experience something when we are too busy or distracted to live.
Wood and dozens of other artisans will be showing and selling some of their work at Chula Vista’s Second Annual ArtFest at City Hall Aug. 10.
The free event, in its second year, is an attempt by the City to develop the art scene. It’s a community that is under appreciated by the rest of the county, and perhaps even locally.
Chula Vista’s festivals have been hit and miss for a variety of reasons, most notably COVID.
But hopefully as communities continue their march toward normalcy the ArtFest will find its footing and establishes enough success that it’s forced to move to a larger venue, providing more opportunities to appreciate more perspectives.
