A glimpse at Huntington Park & Florence-Firestoneby: Catherine Rodriguez
Project Description:
This project revolves around small businesses in Huntington Park. These businesses always provided neighborhood support- as well as gave the community a "family-feel" through the unity they created. This project also amplifies the actions these small businesses (actively) take against big corporations and capitalism but also projects the impact the pandemic had on them.
Strangers to Friends: The shop owner Obdulia Espinoza has had her shop Discoteca y Regalos Tierra Caliente for 10 years. When she lived in Mexico she had her own record label and would release music from different Spanish bands! She also released two songs of her own. She sells CDs in the back of the store, but does not publicize her name or the record label anymore because she doesn't want people who know about her and bother her; she prefers a peaceful life now. She was very worried about her livelihood in the future during the peak of the pandemic, she wasn’t sure if she could ever reopen, but she recently opened her shop again after being closed for months. During her reopening, she said that crime increased in the neighborhood which she believed was due to COVID-19's impact on job reduction, but she'd resiliently open up her shop every day for kids to get new toys.
Johnny's Barber Shop: Every time I pass Johhny's Barber Shop, I feel something familiar of reassurance. It makes me feel safe because people of all ages get their haircuts here, and it never changes too much. This barbershop reflects my neighborhood in a good way. It’s not only a barbershop; it is a safe space for the community. The cool design of the barbershop entrance was made by artists in the Florence-Graham community as well.
Loneliness: As you can see, there's isolation and emptiness present in this room now due to the pandemic. One of the employees at the barbershop said that the pandemic affected their business greatly, and in a negative way. He said it felt lonely without customers and is often quiet.
Carol: Carol is the owner of Carol’s Hair Salon, which has been in business for 16 years. Carol said, “Thanks to the opportunities I’ve been given, I have been able to better myself.” She said that COVID-19 has impacted her business since she had to close for six months, but thankfully she recently reopened.
Coffee Break with the Mannequins: This is inside Carol’s Hair Salon. You can see that this is where staff take breaks, drink coffee, and eat snacks. Carol said the favorite part of her job is conversing with her clients. When she reopened, she felt happier and reassured to be able to connect with her clients again.
Hair Snips: This photograph captures a moment in the life of a hairstylist. It also captures the worked-for and very much deserved cosmetology certificate all stylists must get before working. Carol said she loves giving clients transformations they love in her salon; this is another reason why she was really happy to reopen. Carol and her staff take precautions to keep everyone safe during appointments.
La Tortilleria: Each community has unique cultures; which is presented in the shops, people, clothing and even the atmosphere. If you go to a Latinx community like Huntington Park, you will most likely find a tortilleria or panaderia that specializes in making conchas (sweet bread) and bolillos (white bread rolls). As shown, Playa Azul Tortilleria somewhat represents the overall ambience and culture of Huntington Park; although it is beat up and starting to fade it is still standing today, colorful, and lighting up what was once just a dark corner.
Biónicos Sofía: "We have seen changes but thank God it did not affect us too much, and you can see that things are getting better." She has been working at the bionicos shop for two years and said the pandemic made her feel more isolated. When the bionicos shop closed down for a few months she had to look for another job, but she returned when they reopened because to her it was a second home. “Conozco gente cada dia, y peleó con los empleados [riza].”
Maria: Maria Zaragosa and her partner have owned Zaragoza's market for 13 years. She is a lively member of the community. She is warm and welcoming to all of her customers. The pandemic decreased their sales because a lot of people did not want to purchase small items anymore; they needed bulk from larger chains like Costco and Walmart. She understands that families must do what is best for their children, especially low-income families. She told me, “Whatever you want to do in life, just do it. And whatever happens, happens.”
Jarritos: Whenever I want a taste of Mexico, I go to Zaragoza’s Market and buy a Jarritos soda and Mexican candy. The people who work there feel like my chosen family, and they are an important part of the community.
Bread from Heaven: Hopefully you got the joke, since the bakery is called Angel's Bakery, and Angels are from heaven. Anyways, the owners of this shop have an incredible story: they migrated from Cuba when Castro came and things became dangerous in their hometown. Later on, they opened this bakery to make ends meet. Since 1992 this bakery has sold sweet bread that is an all-time favorite to the community. This bread is perfect for any occasion. The owners have shown resilience during the pandemic since they immediately implemented COVID-19 safety precautions and shifted how they normally operate.
Luck During COVID-19: Instead of staying in the shadows during COVID, the store owners of Angelitos Bakery tried to come up with new ideas on how to improve their bakery. Some ideas were to make their conchas more colorful, to keep costs low/affordable, and to update the interior of the shop. Since the bakery was such an important part of the Huntington Park community already, they survived the pandemic. They said they were lucky.
Los Escenciales: When you go to Latinx households, you usually see one or all of the items in this picture in their kitchens. These are the staples of those kitchens so it makes sense that this panaderia which caters to Latinx/Latino folk sells them.
Angelitos Bakery vs. Capitalism: Deanna is the granddaughter of the owner of Angelitos Bakery, which sells baked goods made [only] by hand in the shop instead of mass-produced like in big factories. Deanna explained that at first they were concerned about customers going to the bigger corporate chain stores for mass-produced baked goods like Bimbo bread, but they were happy that customers still came to their bakery. Angelitos Bakery emanates vibrancy and family. The entire bakery is family-owned and everyone working there is close, like chosen family. My mom used to buy bolillos here back in the late 90s as well. So this store has a special meaning to us.
Quinceañera Dresses: Every shop that sells quince dresses has so much liveliness and color. Quinceaneras are an important part of my community and family culture, and these shops are essential to the very popular event for young Latinx/Latinos. I was worried about these stores closing permanently because they were shut down for so many months due to the pandemic.
Biography: I’m currently a sophomore at Alliance HS and grew up in South Central and Huntington Park. I like watching anime, international & A24 films, and documentaries; I love learning from them since they can teach us morals and show certain perspectives we aren’t taught in school. I am also fond of documenting moments or entities we usually take for granted, like the waves on a beach, getting on a city [Metro] train, or someone you love laughing. I want to learn how to best take photographs to capture these interesting moments and objects from my own point of view. I have been a violinist for seven years. I am grateful for the experience because I've had a unique opportunity to learn to play classical music through YOLA of Harmony Project and perform at places like The Hollywood Bowl and Walt Disney Concert Hall. I have enjoyed the aesthetics of photography from a young age. I especially admire photographers like Jo Spence, Anne Noggle, & Michael Wolf who captured working-class life in many different settings globally and the hardships of people around the world. I love art, especially music and surrealism in visual art because it offers different ways to look at the world or a particular thing (even when that particularity doesn’t make sense), and personally, that really resonates with me since I am somewhat a very unclear person myself, but aren’t we all? Some of my own photography is surreal with double exposures but most are of landscapes and everyday life in the city.
