From Knitting To Photography

We wanted to take a moment to formally welcome our newest Proyecto Latina team member Thelma Uranga. Last year, we featured her and now she is back as our photographer. She's getting ready to take off to Guadalajara, MX for some fun and photography and will return with a photo narrative of her trip.

Thelma Uranga is a photographer interested in the tensions inherent when looking at cultural identity within contemporary American society. Thelma received a BA in Studio Art/Photography from Illinois State University in 2008. During her time in Bloomington-Normal, her photographic work focused on the area’s youth and their cultural duality as children of immigrant parents living in America. In 2008, Thelma was recognized by the Center for Visual Arts at Illinois State University when she received the University Galleries Award in Photography at the Student Annual. In 2007, she participated in the Pilsen Open Studio and in the summer of 2009, Thelma served on the teaching staff at Yollocalli Arts Reach, a youth initiative of the National Museum of Mexican Art. Thelma is also an avid knitter; she is the co-founder and main organizer of El Stitch y Bitch: a multi-cultural knitting circle that collectively creates large-scale projects and public works. Currently, Thelma is exploring cultural identity on a personal level through fiber-based installation works and is also interested in documenting the current state of her hometown Cicero, IL, a bustling Latino community.

Contact info: Thelma.Uranga@gmail.com