Copacabana, Bolivia 1975

Ed Grazda took this photograph in Copacabana, Bolivia, using traditional black and white film. It shows a festival, with a strange object at its center. Take a close look at that construction, which seems to be made of slender reeds lashed together. It’s clearly the work of human hands, yet it’s not exactly ‘high art.’ More to the point, someone is letting off fireworks inside it – an act of labor, of pyrotechnic skill. The act of setting off fireworks in the frame highlights the contrast between celebration and potential danger. There's a musician with a tuba, too, evidence of a sonic dimension to the event. The built environment also contributes to the scene; notice the carefully constructed stone gate in the background. This photograph transcends the traditional boundaries of fine art, design, and craft, intertwining them with labor, community, and cultural expression. This gives an example of the rich traditions of Copacabana, and the way that they can explode unexpectedly.