A few weeks ago, we asked artists through the Pacific Standard Time Facebook and Twitter pages to share their thoughts with us. To highlight some of Southern California’s up-and-coming talent, we’ve spoken with a few of these artists and asked them about their work, how they draw inspiration from Southern California, and their thoughts on Pacific Standard Time. The sixth artist in the series is Jamora Crawford, another young photographer who the artform and geographic location as a point of departure for larger, interdisciplinary work.

Can you describe your art for us? What media do you focus on to express yourself? What is your process?
My art is interdisciplinary. I use photography and text to create documentary works. Since my art is based on a lot of research and fieldwork, it is important to me to make my process transparent. Right now I am doing a lot of street photography in Downtown Los Angeles. I go to places that are rarely visited by foot or by public transportation. I collect stories, interviews, and found objects while I photograph. I want viewers to be able to look through these materials and sift through the different layers of my investigation as it progresses.

How does Southern California inspire you? What about it inspires you? How do you see it reflect in your work, if it does at all? How did you end up in Southern California? What do you find to be the most inspiring part of Southern California?
Southern California is home. I grew up in Ventura County, just 30 miles away from L.A. I was very lucky to live in a place that was diverse and multicultural–spanning from the farms of Oxnard and the quiet suburbs of Ventura to the richly dense city that is Los Angeles. The people of California are the most inspirational to me. I am interested in how people come to California and the ways in which they struggle to work and live here.

California is embedded in my work, especially its history. I think a lot about how the Spanish influence continues to live on in our current society and how this history is perceived or portrayed. It’s also interesting to juxtapose California history against contemporary issues such as discrimination and deportation.

What do you, a Southern Californian artist, take from Pacific Standard Time?
It has been very inspiring to see artists of diverse backgrounds and not just of one canon. Since my work revolves around California, Pacific Standard Time has helped me find others who have done work that is similar to mine. I also feel that Pacific Standard Time has been a great opportunity for the younger crowd to see that California can produce great artists and artwork. Maybe new artists will blossom from these exhibitions.

What is your favorite Pacific Standard Time show or event?
I loved Under the Big Black Sun at MOCA. There was such a variety of artwork to experience–sculpture, painting, photography, performance art, etc. The exhibition also included some historical clips to provide background behind the art. I felt so involved. Because there was so much artwork, I literally spent an entire day investigating each of the pieces and getting sucked into the exhibition. I found so many new favorite artists that I never knew of before. That’s the best kind of exhibit.

Thanks Pacific Standard Time for being amazing!

For more on Pacific Standard Time and Featured Fan Artists, check out the Pacific Standard Time blog!