Alexis West documents the abstract in everyday life in her photography and painting, and considers herself lucky to be an artist. “While it’s not always easy, everything I’ve ever held to has been because of and for my art, it’s really that simple.” ALXSw is a tradename, to distinguish her work from others of the same name. Her photo-documentary work has been published in the UK and Canada, and now in the U.S.  Her painting won a President’s Award at the 2009 Florence Biennale. Her photography won top honors at the 2009 Carmel Art and Film Festival, and for that we are proud to feature her here. As an accomplished artist she translates her vision in several different mediums, but whether it is painting, photography, video or the printed word, ALXSw is always committed to the creative process.  “No matter where I live or play,” she says, “ Art is my home. “

TEXTURES

The most compelling textures of our everyday lives are not always the most beautiful, but somehow they speak to our collective memories. These images are not necessarily shared as much as stored in the album of our times; a reflection  of who we are and where we are. They are not grand gestures. In fact, if you aren’t paying attention they are easy to miss. What a shame that would be. It is a metaphor after all. Like a good painting that beckons you in, life’s textures require patience and a willingness to come closer, otherwise you might miss the lovely abstracted split-second moments that form the filmstrips of the world around us.

Publisher’s note: In every issue of the magazine, we include a feature that we call “7 Pages.” The idea is to give photographers 7 pages to tell a story. Sometimes the narrative is literal and sometimes it is more sublime, but it always includes outstanding photography. While this post does not carry the visual impact of the magazine’s lay out, it does give you a taste of a talented artist.