Ann Trinca Likes to Share: Q&A w/the photographer and curator
Ann Trinca is the curator of Like/Share the current exhibit on view at the shop through August 15th. Over the past ten years living in Napa Ann Trinca has founded a feminist art zine, established two pop-up art galleries, staged performance art and festivals. Her growing photography obsession has taken her across the globe to Indonesia, Buenos Aires, Mexico, and Myanmar. Plus she's even a Board member of the Napa Arts Council.
On top of it all, Ann has an infectious positive attitude that I just love being around. So let's get to what she has to say when we asked her a few questions.
Ann Trinca portrait by Robb McDonough
Tell us a little bit about you and your background in the arts and as a photographer
Photo prints as objects were my first obsession. My mom meticulously made photo albums of our camping trips—cutting the prints into shapes and labeling them with funny quips and memories. I still love to curl up with those albums, and I love to go through other people’s albums, and all of the abandoned prints in antique shops. Somehow I’ve always known that photography is about a moment—one that disappears unless documented.
In my high school photo club I learned about the darkroom and how to manipulate film, but I always preferred my Polaroid because of the instant gratification. It’s not so much the materials and technology that matter to me—it’s all about the hunt. When digital cameras came around, I was like an addict. I could shoot without repercussion and with very little expense. I try to have a camera with me at all times and I keep my eye out for things that reflect my personal experience of the world.
What inspired you to curate the Like/Share show?
Through apps like Instagram and, of course, Facebook I found a great sense of community. As a curator, I love to look at what other people are creating, and I love connecting people. Being able to follow other photographers on Instagram is like open access to their studio. The artists I have met online are so receptive to networking and reciprocating—I realized that there is a wonderful opportunity for interaction and innovation. The words Like and Share now have new meanings because of these apps. They’re not only changing the photo world, they’re training everyone to look more carefully and appreciate different perspectives.
Tell us how the poets are involved with the show.
One of the first shows I ever curated was “Painters + Poets” involving pairs of people already collaborating through literary and visual art. I still hear from the people in that exhibition what a wonderful experience it was for them (poet Daniel Ari in “Like/Share” is from that group of artists). For this iteration, I invited poets whom I admire and others who were recommended, to react to the images taken with cellphones. I wanted to take the moment out of its context and to see if the poets could create a new narrative for the image. They could use any single image or a group of images. I like to think of it as planting a visual seed and then getting back some unexpected variety of plant.
Images: Robb McDonough, Coca Cola; Marissa Carlisle,No Exit from Like/Share
What inspires you as a photographer? What are some of your favorite places to shoot images?
Places that have a lot of history and mystery are my favorite. I am attracted to themes of decay, spirituality, and human interaction, so abandoned buildings or rural structures are great, but I also love street scenes, urban curiosities, and graffiti. I’ve traveled internationally a few times with Solano College instructor Ron Zak which is a dream because he picks the perfect locations that have all of these elements. I get really excited when artificial lighting gives a scene a creepy glow.
AnnTrinca, Antlers from Like/Share (available online)
Who are some of your favorite contemporaries? Do you have any favorite photographers you follow on instagram?
I’m overwhelmed by the amazing talent on Instagram. Some of my latest faves are @punkodelish, @sfurusho, @zefrey, and @Tune_Omatic. I recently discovered that there are “gramer” communities all over the world that post together. I am following @igersitalia, @igerssf, @igersisrael, @igerseastbay. Some are more active than others, and some have meet-ups and contests. Of course I follow all of the photographers from Like/Share: @cmccutch, @nicolembruce, @mikecuffe, @_mgmcclure_, @dustclouded, @morryanne, @rvbridgeman and especially @r_mcdonough.
Check out Ann's website www.Anntrinca.com and follow her on instagram @latrinca
Like/Share features images taken with cell phones. Like/Share is an ongoing exploration of the possibilities of cell phone photography in the art world. As a rapidly growing field, the medium presents opportunities for instant interaction, technological innovation, and deep narrative consequences.
Photographers: Morry Angell Joe Borreson Marissa Carlisle Courtney McCutcheon Robb McDonough Gregory Mitchell Ann Trinca
Poets: Daniel Ari John Barrios Allison DeLauer Cody Gates
Top row: Greg Mitchell, Tree; Robb McDonough, Mennonite
Bottom row: Morry Angell, Monks, Myanmar; Morry Angell, Shattered
Comments
Great interview, from the onset of your career you have been cutting edge, immersed and aware of the essence of precious moments. I so appreciate that alongside these artistic qualities, your management and organizational talents merge into very well curated LIKE/SHARE presentation. All was well organized, artists treated with respect, representative of CP potential with points of variety and range, each quite unique. Thank you once again for the pleasure of working within your community of artists.