the work that is being made here is exceptionally powerful in its emotional presence. It’s not gimmicky or shallow. It is created with energy that comes straight and directly from Jeth Weinrich's heart. Deep and pure. And those elements are so rare in this day and age.
Greg gerla - prominent canadian photograher and art collector
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
ALL THE WORK THAT I DO, FILMS, ART, PHOTOGRAPY, THE THINGS I WRITE, THEY ALL HAVE THE COMMON INTENTION TO SHED LIGHT ON THE DARKNESS, TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE SUFFERING WE ARE CREATING EVERYDAY AS A HUMAN RACE.
THIS SHOW CALLED NINE CARDS IS REALLY NO DIFFERENT ACCEPT UNLIKE MOST OF THE STUFF I CREATE THIS SHOW IS LESS IN YOUR FACE ABOUT IT ALL, IT'S MEANT TO BE ART YOU CAN HANG ON YOUR WALL AND NOT HAVE IT BE A BUZZ KILL FOR YOU OR YOUR GUESTS AS YOU SPEND TIME VIEWING IT.
SO FOR THIS SHOW I DECIDED TO HAVE SOME FUN FEATURING THE MEXICAN LOTERIA DECK OF CARDS.
THE STORIES I'M FEATURING, BY THE WAY, ARE ALL THINGS I EXPERIENCED, WITNESSED, WAS TOLD ABOUT IN MY JOURNEY HERE IN MEXICO, AND ALL ARE CONNECTED IN A MORE SUBTLE HUMAN WAY TO THE MEXICAN MAFIA EXPERIENCE THAT EXISTS HERE.
THERE'S THE STORY OF THE ELEVEN YEAR OLD GIRL WHOSE DEAF MOM IS A MAID AT THE JASMINES MOTEL, RIGHT IN NARCO EL CENTRO.
IT'S THE STORY OF HOW THE GIRL GETS AWAY WITH STEALING 10,000 PESOS FROM THE MAFIA WHILE HER MOTHER, WHO CAN'T HEAR A THING, IS TOTALLY OBLIVIOUS TO HER DAUGHTER'S EXPLOITS.
ANOTHER STORY TELLS ABOUT A 17 YEAR OLD KID WORKING FOR THE MAFIA IN JUAREZ BRINGING COCAINE INTO EL PASO USING THE MANY TUNNELS THAT EXIST THERE.
THIS STORY CHRONICLES THE TIME THE U.S. BORDER PATROL WELDED SHUT THE MANHOLE COVERS THAT HE AND THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HE WAS LEADING TO FREEDOM DEPENDED ON FOR THEIR SUCCESS.
THAT STORY IS REALLY ABOUT THE WILL TO SURVIVE, TO NOT LOSE FAITH WHEN THERE IS NO REASON TO KEEP HAVING IT.
AND THERE'S THE STORY OF HOW AN OG FROM THE 18TH STREET GANG IN LA BUT WHO WAS DEPORTED TO MEXICO PAYS FOR HIS NIECES QUINCEANERA.
ALTHOUGH THIS SHOW IS VERY MUCH INFLUENCED BY ALL THE WORK I HAVE DONE HERE AS A FILMMAKER, IT WAS DIRECTLY INSPIRED BY AN IDEA I HAVE TO CREATE A MOVIE WITH THE KIDS FROM THE BARRIOS HERE, NOT JUST AS ACTORS, BUT AS CREW AS WELL, HELPING THEM TO FIND THEIR OWN VOICES AS FILMMAKERS, SO SOMEDAY I CAN BE SITTING IN A THEATER WITH ALL OF THEM WATCHING OUR MOVIE TOGETHER. DREAMS DON'T GET BETTER THAN THAT.
THIS SHORT FILM IS US SHOWING THE KIDS OF MESA COLORADA A CHIP TAYLOR VIDEO THAT WE MADE WITH THEM. FOR SOME REASON IT KINDA BREAKS MY HEART. SO I GUESS IT'S ALSO A TRIBUTE TO CHIP TAYLOR WHO JUST PASSED AWAY THIS YEAR. AND MY DOG JACKSON IS IN IT AS WELL.
AMEN
