[Creative Roots🌎 ] Let’s Visit the Bronx - Through Ana’s Lens 📷 🌆
Meet Ana Carmona-Pereda, a sophomore PMA student whose passion for photography and theater lies at the intersection of her home, family, Mexican-American identity, and social justice work.
When I asked Ana Carmona-Pereda where she’s from, her response had nuance - and a story.
“I’m from the Bronx, and I was born in South Carolina...but when I introduce myself, I always say I’m from the Bronx,” Ana stated, undoubtedly proud and nostalgic as she sat in her dorm in Ithaca.
She described to me her favorite place at home: the rooftop of her apartment building in the Bronx, where the whole world seems to be right at her fingertips.
“I could see the city landscape and I could see it merge into the Bronx. Right next to my building there’s a park, so in the summers I could see everybody doing what they love to do and I see people leaving when it gets dark. You can hear the people down the block throwing their own little parties…or the old guys playing dominoes.”
Ana is a sophomore PMA student with a passion for photography, theater, writing, and storytelling. Her roots lie in her family, Mexican-American identity, social justice work - and it all ties back to the rooftop of her home in the Bronx.
🌆 The Bronx as Creative Roots
“I grew up in a mixed-status household, both my parents aren’t documented, and I’m the first to be a US citizen. Growing up, I didn’t really understand what that meant for me or what it meant for my family.”
She recalled memories of political talk in the neighborhood about immigration and deportation, especially leading up to the 2016 Election when Ana was just a freshman in High School.
Ana described to me her source of inspiration as being fueled not by anger, but by love for her community and drive to bring injustices to light.
“The main reason why I love storytelling is because I get to tell the rest of the world that their perception of my neighborhood is not what they think it is. There’s so many brilliant people from the Bronx and in recent years there’s been a light on the creative aspect of the Bronx - so many creators that we’re seeing rising. I know I’m not the only one seeing that. But at the same time it felt like no one was talking about the issues that we’re facing.”
Ana aims to capture what she sees as the true essence in the Bronx: the simultaneous joys and hardships she knows students face.
“I went to public high school in the Bronx, and it was not the best high school ever. I saw how the education system is not built for BIPOC students - how we don't receive enough support, how in the summers it’s easy for students to drop out because of a lack of support.”
Yet she also described her High School as a blessing, as it opened up a space for her to explore theater and relate to other students who face similar struggles.
“They really pushed me to talk about my neighborhood and really put it on the table, like ‘this is what’s going on in our neighborhood, now what are you going to do about it? What steps are you taking? You are the future.’ I realized that a lot of the time it was up to us.”
Her High School paired with the DreamYard project, which supports Bronx youth in developing their creative voice. Through the program, Ana was able to delve into theatre and acting.
Her journey begins with the Bronx - a place where she sees an intersection of community, social justice, and creativity.
✨ 🏙️ Behind-the-Scenes of a Street Vendor
One of Ana’s first big creative projects was a photography series centering around her mother, who works as a street vendor in NYC. The project was done as part of a larger series in the Bronx Documentary Center.
“Growing up I would always go with her to sell food downtown in Manhattan. I never really took the time to realize what story was being told there - it was always just part of my life to go with her.”
“I remember taking my camera with her one day and just taking pictures of her while she was giving food out to construction workers...When you’re growing up no one tells you to stop and think about how you’re living. But in those photographs I was able to personally reflect and analyze my emotions and understand why this story has to be told.”
Ana explained to me how her project was influenced by the rise in exploitation of local vendors. The violence towards street vendors got increasing attention with videos on social media, particularly in Los Angeles. This also led to increasing protests, and Ana saw her series as its own form of protest.
“It made me think about other communities like mine. I have friends who have family who are undocumented, and it really shapes our lives and influences how we go about things in life.”
😶🌫️→📷 BBC Project: COVID-19 and Mental Health
One of Ana’s most recent projects was a collaboration with BBC News. During April and May of 2020, when NYC was under strict quarantine rules, she photographed her family and opened up their one-bedroom apartment for the entire world to see.
She captured moments of going to the laundromat, standing in line for groceries, and her mother giving her brother a haircut.
This past semester she followed up with the series to show what had changed in her life after one year. She chose to focus on mental health in the Cornell community.
“Personally, I never spoke of mental health or even thought about it that much. Growing up in my house, mental health is not something you talk about. You either have to toughen it up, or you keep it moving.”
In a series of photos, Ana focused on what she described as the “privilege of having time and space.”
With her blanket wrapped around her, she walked around her dorm room trying to find a way to shoot some self-portraits. She ended up in her closet, with a small lamp and camera in hand.
“I found it so difficult to connect to people around me and just being by myself in that space - I felt like I could do what I wanted to do. I could cry if I wanted to.”
⏩ 🌎 💫 Looking Forward
Over the next few years, Ana hopes to collaborate with other students and delve into portraiture at Cornell. She also hopes to expand the space for BIPOC in the PMA Department at Cornell.
If you’re looking for one last lesson from Ana, she has some parting words of wisdom:
“Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. Take risks and don’t be afraid to approach people within the industry...Sometimes you might feel like “they know more than I do” - but you have to believe in your own strength and your own vulnerability. It’s okay to be open, and that’s what makes your work more powerful. The more people can see your vulnerability, the more they can get where you’re coming from.”
By Ainav Rabinowitz
CC Writing Lead
Ainav is a junior in Arts and Sciences majoring in Government. She is a writer, artist, and podcast-enthusiast with a passion for politics and history. She can be reached at alr287@cornell.edu.
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