__________________________________________________________
INFO: Pete Halupka. 20. Chicago, IL.
http://peterhalupka.blogspot.com/
__________________________________________________________
The Photo Coterie: You lived in Huntsville, Alabama most of your life right? So how has moving to Chicago impacted your life?
Pete Halupka: My mind blackholed when I moved here - it blew up and expanded. Progression is key and where I grew up provides no outlets for such a thing. Minds grow stagnant in a pool of conservative ideals and religion. There is no one to reciprocate one’s urge to thrive. They would rather buy things like cars and bible bookmarks. You will find yourself caught in a web of people comfortable with not challenging their intellect, identity or belief systems. Christianity flourishes and people always seem to be ok with adhering to whatever society asks of them. Anyone who forces themselves outside of this social norm is quickly pointed out and labeled. I was one. I left as soon as I realized these things and refuse to go back.
TPC: How about your photos?
PH: I chased Chicago down for art school. I quickly learned art school is not for me. I had an idealistic perspective about art school being full of people who cared as much as I did. This is completely false. I also thought I would learn a ton. This is also false. If you are reading this chances are large that you have learned everything off the internet that professors would feebly teach you over the course of four years and $120,000. I will say the facilities are nice but it’s all extinct anyways. Extinct but fun. Who the hell needs anything but Walgreen’s scans?
TPC: What do you think the internet has done for photography/photographers?
PH: Opened minds. I try to be optimistic about things like this but I’m generally too optimistic.
TPC: When we look at your pictures we feel that you are taking them to document your life and to show exactly how something is, is that your intention?
PH: I asked myself who I was making shit for about three weeks ago. I answered the question and that answer completely redirected my ideas and life.
TPC: Do you have anything going on in your life right now that you want to talk about?
PH: I am eating way too much Cadbury chocolate.
I am starting a skateboard co-op slowly but surely. I want to provide boards for low income kids scattered throughout my vibrant Mexican neighborhood that I love so much. I have so much support already but I just have to find the right way to distribute these boards. Whenever I skate around Pilsen I get at least one kid asking me to roll on the board and several more staring at the setup like it’s gold. Albie and I had a great experience with a young boy named Brian. We skated with him for several hours. He quickly progressed and I felt the obligation to get this kid a board. As most skateboarders know, if you have a board the chances you want to be involved in a gang or heavy drugs is pretty low. I know way more skateboarders addicted to kickflips than to hard drugs. I just want to contribute something I love and add a bit of positivity to a community I care about. I would much rather do this than pump low key images of me and my suburban white friends adventuring. Self deprivation and lack of confidence about my work aside I do believe there is a balance for both in my life.
Blackhole your mind, dude.
