Artist

Sharon Seligman's "Bird People" series is a documentation of an indigenous group of people in the Bajio region of central Mexico. For over 70 years, they have survived in poverty by capturing wild birds and other animals in the desert and selling them at stands that line the highway. She began the project from feeling fascinated by the people, and distressed by the plight of the animals. Over the course of three years, she sees a certain sad poetry in the similarity of the people and animals, both sides captives of poverty. She writes, "My goal with this project is to depict the reality of an indigenous people that has found a way to survive in a very harsh environment."

Sharon Seligman will be lecturing as part of the PhotoAmericas photography festival on Wednesday, at 4:00pm in the Billiard Room of the Governor Hotel. Tickets for the public are $5. For information on additional lectures and photography-related events for PhotoAmericas visit photoamericas.com.