Return to Past and Present - 50 Años de Exilo
Silvia Gonzalez Roman
Silvia Gonzalez Roman is a fine art photographer in the Washington, D.C. area. She has resided and practiced law in and around the nation’s capital since the early 1980s. Born in Havana, Cuba as Fidel Castro was coming into power, she and her family immigrated to the United States when she was less than 2 years old. Seeking the promise of liberty and justice for their young family, her parents settled in New York City where they assimilated to their new environment while always maintaining pride in their Cuban heritage and customs. In these formative years, Silvia witnessed how ties to family and homeland could be severed so abruptly, causing her to experience the impermanence and ephemeral nature of life's moments.
Silvia best describes her life as a photographer as a form of meditation. Time ceases to exist for her as she travels through the lens of her camera, establishing an enduring connection with her subject. This sense of harmony is no less important to her than the captured image. Silvia's intimate compositions and use of interesting perspectives cause the viewer to experience the same stillness and presence she senses in creating the photograph. Her subjects include landscapes, seascapes, architectural compositions and street photography.
Silvia entered the world of fine art photography nearly fifteen years ago. Choosing to focus her priorities on raising her family, she took a break from her demanding career with the Department of Justice. During that time, she rediscovered her artistic self by interacting with other artists and studying photography. While living in Great Falls, she was a member of the Great Falls Studios, a consortium of over 100 artists living or working in Great Falls, Virginia, and was a regular participant in their annual Studios Tour. She has also been a member of the Art League Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Arts Center in Alexandria, Virginia. Her work continues to be accepted in juried shows, often receiving awards. Her images have also been exhibited in a number of local venues. Silvia imparts her passion and deep knowledge of photography with colleagues and photo enthusiasts.
In 2014, Silvia returned to work as a federal prosecutor with the United States Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. and later the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Recently, she retired from the practice of law and is pivoting to creative endeavors. Over the years, she has amassed a large collection of images, including photographs created during her trips across the country in her Airstream travel trailer with her husband and 2 dogs, as well as her many trips to the coast of Maine and her homeland. She is presently working on curating and creating new portfolios of her images.
Art Work
Silvia prints her own work on a variety of fine art archival papers. Her images are available framed or unframed. Her images are also printed on canvas, metal and as acrylic mounted prints. She creates an annual desk calendar and fine art signed notecards from her favorite collections. In addition to traditional printing methods, Silvia transfers her images onto a variety of substrates, such as wood, tile and fine art papers, creating one of a kind artwork.
Portraiture
Silvia loves to capture people in their elements. Whether it is professional headshots or informal outdoor settings, she connects with her subject and creates authentic photographic renderings.
Journey to Improv
In 2012, Silvia participated in a Maine Media workshop entitled Creativity and the Photographer. This slideshow was part of her final project for the class. Continuing to assimilate and create photographs with new perspectives is part of her Journey to Improv.
