In Good Company: Carolina M. Rodríguez
An ongoing series of short interviews with artists that we work with or admire called “In Good Company.” Answers are lightly edited for length and clarity.
We are pleased to highlight Carolina M. Rodríguez, whose photographic style is both airy and bold, with a colorful punch. Enjoying the vibrancy in her work, DeGroot approached Rodríguez for a corporate client opportunity to artfully capture the Illinois Medical District, University Village, and Little Italy.
Where do you currently reside: Splitting time between LA and Chicago
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Degrees: N/A
Favorite Chicago Scene: Walking along the Riverwalk downtown
Favorite Chicago Food: Jibaritos! (for the best: Jibaritos y Mas on Fullerton)
Favorite Model of Car: BMW E30 M3
Pandemic Binge Show of Choice: I May Destroy You
Can you describe your photography style?
Emotive and often ambiguous moments wherein I focus on light, shape, and exploring my environment through ordinary scenes
Photography is a tool to record or capture detail, what do you try to get your audiences to notice?
It gives me a lot of joy to bring awareness to simple details that get overlooked in our daily lives. I love my audience to be reminded that noticing beauty is meditative and we need only stop and tune in to see it.
Can you describe your photographic intuition, or process, as you worked to capture these specific neighborhoods?
I began by researching what each neighborhood is known for historically. From there, my process lends itself well to walking and taking note of environmental idiosyncrasies that require being fully present. I gave myself many opportunities with each neighborhood, exploring at different times of day to fully appreciate the way landmarks appeared with the changing sun.
Are there any notable stories behind any of the photographs that were selected?
In the decade I’ve lived in Chicago, I had’t spent much time in the neighborhoods I photographed. This opportunity felt like checking off a bucket list of sorts.
Around the corner from the Polish sausage stands in University Village is the original Maxwell Street. I recall standing there for quite some time, reflecting on the historic market that once stood in its place, its influence on the city of Chicago, and how much has changed since then.
Who are some other photographers, or artists, whose work has been inspiring to you as of late?
During quarantine I discovered photographer Paul Fusco’s work, specifically of Robert F. Kennedy’s funeral train which he rode abroad from New York to Washington. The images capture a nation in mourning as Paul snaps photos of Americans watching the train pass by. I contemplate those images frequently— the sense of collective grief and loss they depict remind me a lot of these Covid times.
What moments are you most excited to capture after the pandemic is over?
I’m most excited to travel to Mexico, where my father is from. My sense of wonder, love of photography, and ancestral identity always feel incredibly activated when I’m there.
Carolina M. Rodríguez