Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Motivational Shooter: Photographer Wes Billingslea with a photo of a Mexica warrior. The photo is from his personal photo project of the last couple of years in covering a community of Mexica.
Photographer aims to educate with his portraits of the Mexica
By Suzanne Barnecut
There's no "ex" sound in the word Mexica. The word, which refers to all the indigenous peoples of Mexico, is properly pronounced meh-SHEE-ca. And its pronunciation is one of the many things about the culture that Willow Glen photographer Wes Billingslea is trying to set straight in his upcoming photography exhibit, "The Mexicas," which opens Jan. 5.
Billingslea became interested in the Mexica, more commonly referred to as the Aztecs, when he learned about them about five years ago from his boxing coach.
His interest in pre-columbian Mexico became more interesting to him than boxing.
"A champion I was not," Billingslea said of his boxing skills. Rather, Billingslea and his coach, Huitzilin Kuauhminani, championed a friendship instead of victory in the ring.
The two friends are a good example of people from diverse backgrounds using their differences and strengths in cooperation to complete a single task. Kuauhminani was born in Mexico and moved to the United States in 1971. He considers himself an indigenous person to Mexico. Billingslea was born in Germany, raised in Arkansas, and has lived in San Jose for 20 years. He doesn't speak Spanish.
Kuauhminani describes his true "assimilation" into America in terms of coming out of the closet. "If I was going to be accepted here," he said, "I was going to be accepted as a Mexica." Kuauhminani grew his hair long, learned the danza, or cultural dances, and dedicated himself to teaching younger Chicanos that they have an identity and history to be proud of.
"I come from great people," he said. "Their story has not been told. The more I dig, the more I find. They are the deepest roots I have ever found, not to take away from any other culture."
Enter Billingslea, whose photography is a vehicle for Kuauhminani's educational goals.
"I had an interest in the culture itself, and also from an archeological perspective," he said. "I had an interest in documenting it, and from that I got interested in photography."
Billingslea began shooting photos in February of last year, and at the same time started researching the culture, his craft and what kind of message he wanted to convey about a year ago. He had no previous photography experience beyond that, and began by taking classes at San Jose City College. He claimed he went from a "horrible beginner" to having some skill. Indeed, by accidentally networking, he came into contact with Don Cameron, an expert at making photographic prints. Cameron taught Billingslea the zone system of photographing and printing that was developed by Ansel Adams and Al Webber.
So engrossed is Billingslea in his photography that he's getting ready to retire from his job at Ariba, an e-commerce company where he works as general manager of high-tech electronics. He plans to go full time into photography and, with his girlfriend, Melissa Ferrero, move into digital documentary filmmaking within the next year, as yet another way to showcase the Mexica. He plans to have a website up and running in March.
Collaborator: Huitzilin Kuauhminani, Wes Billingslea's former boxing coach, introduced Billingslea to the Mexica culture.
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
While he continues to learn more about the art and craft of photography, he noted, "It all goes hand in hand. It's not just about the photography, but the commitment. I believe in the concepts of truth and light, and photography is about manipulating those. The photos become personal to me. They capture the truth of a moment."
Billingslea is able to interact with people both in Mexico and in San Jose because he is sponsored by the Calpulli Huitzilipochotli, a group of about 10 local indigenous families, all active dancers. A calpulli refers to any family or neighborhood. The Calpulli Huitzilipochotli bears some weight in Mexico, and their positive recognition has opened many doors for Billingslea.
"It's a pretty special honor for me to go into their lives," Billingslea said of the Mexica people. "There's always a little trepidation when I go in, but they invite me into their homes and have really embraced me." He described a striking memory. In one indigenous mountain village, he watched as children played without adult supervision in the town square at 11 p.m. There was nothing threatening about the evening and he felt it was a sight he wouldn't see in America.
Billingslea has traveled to Malinalco, Tepoztlan, Ixcateopan, Chalma and Mexico Tenochtitlan (Mexico City) thus far, and seen ceremonies that aren't open to the public. At one ceremony he stopped taking pictures about 45 minutes into it because he got the "chills." Many indigenous people do believe that a picture will steal an individual's soul.
"It's a very fine balance," he said. "I get to pick and choose what feels right. In some cases, you take a picture in your mind and heart because it's so special." Billingslea takes his photos around the experience of interacting with the people, rather than engaging after his work is done.
The Mexica in Mexico allow him to take pictures because he and the Mexica in San Jose want to educate, not to profit. Increased awareness also aids them as they try to reclaim their rights and access to holy sites from the Mexican government.
And while Billingslea draws lines as to what he'll shoot, he's no tourist.
"I've witnessed some spectacular events, quite frankly," he said. "But it's not for the average traveler with all the donkeys, mosquitoes, dogs, et cetera. Try sleeping on someone's kitchen roof in a small village."
Added Billingslea, "My greatest hope, purely from a photography standpoint, is that when (someone) looks at the pictures, they wonder about the people, that they ask questions."
The show in Pacifica runs Jan. 5 through Feb. 18, at the West Wing Gallery.
Billingslea admitted, "I'm a little surprised at the interest because it becomes so personal to us. But there is a lot of interest." Until recently, Billingslea had only been working towards a six month run in 2002 at the Mexican Heritage Plaza. He and the local Calpulli are also planning to put together a larger exposition, including multimedia, photography, as well as live healers, games, music and dance. They are trying to raise money to help their cause.
"We are just at the beginning of this," Billingslea stated with enthusiasm.
The West Wing Gallery is at 1220 Linda Mar Blvd. in Pacifica. A reception will be held on Jan. 12. Call 650.355.1894 for more information.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
