Louisiana Trail Riders: Jeremiah Ariaz

"Louisiana Trail Riders" by Jeremiah Ariaz

Loads of people, especially out of town visitors like me, know about the courir du Mardi Gras of rural French Louisiana, sometimes referred to as the Cajun Mardi Gras. Few know about the African American Trail Rides that take place during Mardi Gras and weekends during the year.

I just finished viewing the link a friend of mine sent me about an upcoming show in his hometown of Breaux Bridge, LA, titled “Louisiana Trail Riders,” photographs by his friend Jeremiah Ariaz. LINK https://www.louisianatrailriders.com/photographs/

This guy really gets it - the culture, the history, the pride in a tradition he calls “a sub culture” in southwest Louisiana.

His black and white photos, sharp and velvety at the same time, don’t just show or tell but have an ineffable sense of ‘feel’ to them. The artist’s choice to shoot and print in black and white achieves a delicate balance to show a tradition that is generations old and very contemporary at the same time.

A sense of quiet unassuming dignity is riding easily in those saddles. I feel the pleasure they enjoy from each other’s company, hear the laughter, and I’ll bet the music that might be playing from speakers in a rider’s saddlebag.

Finish looking at the gorgeous prints and I come away with a sense of family, community connections, bonds between fathers and sons, and yes, importantly, women, in the generations old tradition of trail riding. What is so impressive is how Ariaz’s sly documentarian's eye makes the ordinary so extraordinary. A few of these photos could stand alone as remarkable. As an aggregate, they knock you off your feet.

Every group has traditions that define it, keep it alive, show a quiet sense of pride and belonging. You could say this is a celebratory story about race and culture. What I feel after looking at these photos is a strange sense of kinship. I am an outsider looking in, but I am reminded of traditions in my own family that keep us together in the same way that the Louisiana Trail Riders connect in their rides.

The fact that a man not of that culture can see and be trusted and produce such exquisite photographs is a testament to his sense of mission, his deep respect for the people he’s documenting, and the friendly openness of the men who welcomed him along for the rides. Powerful stuff.

 

Comments

[Rebecca Wilson]

Cool!

[Jeremiah Ariaz]

I really enjoyed reading his blog post and appreciate to hear my hope for the photographs has been communicated to an audience. It’s been an honor to share the culture.

Thanks again for sharing!

Jeremiah