Current Position:       Photography Teacher and Graduate Student of Fine Art, University of New Mexico

Formal Education:     B.A. in Fine Arts: University of California, Santa Cruz
                                      September 2000 to June 2004

Experience:
           
Editor in Chief, City Paper Magazine, Riga, Latvia
May 2008 to August 2008

Artist in Residence, Strasbourg, France
February 2008 to May 2008

Assistant Film Editor, FA Film and Vides Film Studios, Riga, Latvia
November 2007
                       
Artist in Residence, Andrejsala, Riga, Latvia
October 2006 to November 2007
Collaborate with local artists and participate in various events as part of a growing artist development in Riga, Latvia.

English Language Copy Editor, Foto Kvartals
January 2007 to November 2007
Edit English translations for the quarterly Latvian magazine on Latvian, Baltic, Eastern European and international photography and visual culture.

Foster Children Photography Instructor, Ziemeli Foster Home, Latvia
January 2007 to February 2007
Voluntarily taught a one month course to a group of foster children in Riga, ages 9-18, about photography by giving Polaroid, 35mm, and digital camera demonstrations, history silde shows, and collage and storytelling assignments.
August 2007
In collaboration with the Latvian International Summer School of Photography, I conducted a cyanotype photography workshop for the Ziemeli foster children, ages 5-13.
Both workshops ended with exhibitions of the children’s work.

Photojournalist Internship, The Tico Times, San José, Costa Rica
March 2006 to September 2006
Worked as one of two fulltime photographers at the leading English language weekly newspaper for Central America. Responsibilities included photographing news events of regional and international interest, creating photography essays, and conducting and writing personal interviews for publication.
                                                                 
University of California course on site in Thailand
July 2004 to September 2004
Photography course focused on respectfully photographing and interacting with foreign cultures.

Porter Photo Guild Administration, University of California, Santa Cruz    
October 2003 to June 2004
Maintained processor, monitored lab, aided students, and organized a print sale.

Northern Illinois University Study Abroad, Salzburg College, Salzburg, Austria
March 2003 to June 2003
College credit courses in advanced photography and German.

Movie Theater Manager, Nickelodeon/Del Mar Theatres, Santa Cruz, California   
March 2002 to July 2005
Opened and closed theatre, handled customer complaints, and supervised other employees.

Awards and Grants:

Fulbright Scholarship, United States of America Department of State
October 2006 to September 2007
Granted award to conduct an independent photography project.

William Hyde and Susan Benteen Irwin Scholarship
April 2004
Awarded by art department faculty at University of California, Santa Cruz, as acknowledgment of personal effort and successful resolutions evident in work.

William Hyde and Susan Benteen Irwin Project Grant
October 2003
Project grant awarded through the University of California, Santa Cruz, to document California landscape using a 4x5 camera.

Publications and Exhibitions:

Bitter Sweet
April 3, 2009
Juried Group Show, Johnson Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Ten
December 12, 2008.
Group exibition, The Agency, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

At First Sight
September 9, 2008
Multimedia group exhibition, Jonson Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Art // Response
April 24, 2008
Multimedia Art exhibition, CEAAC International Artist Workshop, Strasbourg, France.

“Roisin, The Beasty Girl,” Beast Magazine
March 2008
Comic Photo Essay depicting Andrejsala, Latvia. Beast East, Issue 9, RED.

Family Portraits
August 3, 2008
Photography exhibit participant, Rock Paper Scissors Collective, Oakland, California.

Foto Otto
June 20, 2007
Photography exhibit participant, Three-room apartment, Leipzig, Germany.

"Bumming around in Andrejsala," The Baltic Times
December 6, 2006
One page photo essay with images from Andrejsala in celebration of Andrejs' Name Day event, and to publicize the growing artist location.

"Walter Ferguson, Costa Rica's Calypso King,” The Tico Times
July 28, 2006
Featured article with interview and photographs.

William Hyde and Susan Benteen Irwin Scholarship Show
May 19, 2004
Art show participant, Sesnon Gallery, UC Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz, California.

Technical Knowledge:
Photoshop, Quark, Dreamweaver, Mac and PC platforms