REYNA DELCID

May 13

Jewelry & Photography: The Coexistence of Humans and the Built Environment

Bachelors of Science degree in Architecture at University of Maryland

Project Coordinator at Orsman Design

Reyna Delcid is a first generation Salvadoran - American multi disciplinary designer and photographer. The youngest of four children and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, she finds inspiration in observing the ordinary interactions between people and their surroundings. In between her years of study, she has been documenting the coexistence between humans and their built environment. After graduating from the University of Maryland’s School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation in 2018, she is now based in Harlem, New York working as a Project Coordinator. Currently, she is also curating her first publication, Fingir, focusing on artists from the Central American diaspora.

Inspiration

What inspired you to start a publication, photography and jewelry?

Photography has always been an interest of mine since I was young. I got my first tiny camera gifted to me when I was 12 and have been in love with photography since. Until I was about 20 years old, I had stopped taking photos but picked it up again as an adult to connect deeper with my younger self. I have always loved observing people and how we interact in different environments and I try to emulate that in my work as best as I can. Pursuing photography led to the idea of starting a physical publication. The experience of holding someone's work, specifically holding someone’s words, is something quite unique and intimate. Merging my architectural skills in different facets of design inspires me, making jewelry is one of them. Playing with shapes and form and transforming them to something wearable has been so much fun! I never know what I am going to make until I sit with my pieces and that excites me. I am always pleasantly surprised when I see the final product -- It is a chance to have some fun and create something without any expectations.

Concept Ring - Opal. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid.

Survival of the Cooperative, Forgotten Lands. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid.

Concept Ring. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid.

Ellicott City Work Space. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid.

Time Management

How were you able to maintain/organize your time especially as a designer?

I personally try my best to make a little time for everything, especially on the weekends. I have learned through experience that taking small steps daily helps me prepare for the next day’s responsibility. It is not about the amount of time it takes to complete a project but rather getting closer to a final product I am satisfied with. Setting reminders in calendars, writing notes in my journals, or even sticky notes around my room, helps keep me organized. Securing down time for myself is crucial to maintaining momentum with various projects while simultaneously working full time. Those are the moments I am able to collect myself, check in with my personal deadlines and short term goals. Eventually those small steps towards short term goals lead to long term goals and finished projects. Making time for personal projects has made all the difference working in the architecture world. It has actually forced me to be more structured and particular about how and where I want to invest my time. The self discipline is worth it!

Ideas

Wow your photography is beautiful! Your works like “Colors!, Meat, and No te Olvides” are so storytelling. What inspired your works?

Thank you! I absolutely love the idea of storytelling through images. In 2017, I visited India and was met with so much warmth, the colors reflect the people. From the architecture to the food, to the fashion, everything I observed was so stimulating. The delicacy of all the hues almost felt surreal, it reminded me of the process of mixing colors when painting. Meat is a series based in Taiwan in 2019. I like the idea of being close to the food we (may) consume and wanted to document an ordinary day in food markets. No te Olvides is an ongoing photo series I began last year in 2020 quarantining with my parents. It is short for “no olvides las manos que nos dieron de comer” which translates to “don’t forget the hands that fed us” in english. This series was inspired by a conversation I had with my mother regarding the state of relationships with our loved ones. I have always been very close to my parents and try to find ways to express my gratitude for their ongoing sacrifice migrating to a country unfamiliar to them. Photos allow me to relive experiences and by documenting everyday movements, they help me feel more connected to humanity, places, moments, and myself.

Colors! Series 2017. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid. — *Colors!* Series 2017. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid.

Meat Series 2019. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid. — *Meat* Series 2019. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid.

No Te Olvides Series 2020. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid. — *No Te Olvides* Series 2020. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid.

Herbert Lanks, Carreta Tipicia, 1955. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid.

Papi, No Te Olvides Series 2020. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid.

Mami. No Te Olvides Series 2020. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid. — Mami. *No Te Olvides* Series 2020. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid.

Ideas

Congratulations on launching your first publication, Fingir! We’re so excited for your exhibition in Summer 2021. Through this publication you aim to “showcase artists from the Central American Diaspora and encourage our community to share untold stories” - what inspired you? What was your biggest takeaway from this project (especially with Entry 1)? What does the future hold for Fingir?

Thank you so much! The definition of Fingir is “dar a entender algo que no es cierto” or in english, to pretend or imply something that is not true.

The inspiration behind Fingir stems from the feeling of pretending in various aspects of my life. Feeling displaced for multiple reasons (in various settings) while living in a country that has caused much of the displacement within the Central American community is an ongoing journey I know many are trying to navigate. I wanted to extend the conversation to people who have been exploring their truth and what that means for them in regards to their identity. I recognize these conversations are extremely delicate and sometimes very difficult to start but I hope Fingir plants seeds for deeper discussion and self reflection -- that is ultimately my goal.

Fingir showcases and elevates artists who are first generation with roots in the Central American diaspora, whose unique cultural identity lies somewhere on the spectrum between two cultures. We want to provide a blank canvas for people to explore the unique cultural identity that lies somewhere on the spectrum between two cultures and what this duality means for each individual experience. Fingir is a physical publication with different editions set to be released every year, each curated around a different theme. Our first edition “No olvides las manos que nos dieron de comer” is focusing on the intergenerational conversations and dynamics centered around our parent’s generation.

Resources

What inspires your works? What tools do you use the most for your work?

I am very inspired by Gordon Parks and Stephen Shore when it comes to my photography. Documenting the everyday just as it’s found is something that I try to emulate in my work. Gordon Parks, being a prominent figure during the civil rights movement in the United States, used his work to make sovereign statements about the state of the country. Photography can be used as a tool if done meticulously. The beauty in work is when it speaks for itself and that process requires diligence and patience, something I really admire about Gordon Parks. Stephen Shore documents the mundane and the ordinary. I think oftentimes within the creative process we steer away from what is true to us, the things that seem unimportant but are actually crucial to the development of our person. His photos remind me of the little things that matter, the things we take for granted. I really appreciate work that makes me feel human and I try to encompass that feeling in my creative process, especially in architecture. For digital photos I use a Nikon D5500 and for film I use a Minolta X-700. Lightroom and photoshop are my go-to for editing. When I am working on book design, I primarily use Illustrator and InDesign. For jewelry or any 3D modeling work, Rhino is my first choice!

Fish, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2019. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid. — *Fish,* Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2019. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid.

January, Washington Heights, NY 2019. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid. — *January,* Washington Heights, NY 2019. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid.

Ellicott City Interior Concept. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid.

Concept Ring 1 - Ring + Bracelet. Image courtesy of Reyna Delcid.

Want to start #Jewlery, #Photography, #Writing? Follow These Steps!

What are the bases to start a publication, photography, and jewelry?

Writing has become such a crucial tool in organizing my thoughts. I keep a small sketchbook with me so I can journal ideas and sketch next to them. Throughout the process, I have to voice my intent multiple times so I do not forget what exactly it is I am trying to accomplish. Being outside with nature has also helped my creative process flourish. Taking photos helps slow time down, it forces me to focus on a moment and understand the power of change within seconds. Both writing and photos help me dive deeper into my curiosities about the world and be less afraid of exploring the uncertain. Allowing myself to make mistakes is the most important part of my process, that is when I learn the most! Separating time to play with ideas without the pressure of a final product is crucial. I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself when I want to execute a new idea but setting time to be present with my skills and interests, I find what process works best for me at the moment.

In terms of rising concerns and problems (in the architectural profession) over the past year, what is one change that you wish would happen and it did not?

I hope one day architecture can be more inclusive to lower income communities. Navigating the financial burden of going to school as a first generation child was already difficult but trying to perform well while simultaneously concerned about financial instability made the process a lot more stressful. Those perspectives are needed in design fields too!