Treasures Beneath my Tree | Alexandra Cerna | TEDxUArizona

TL;DR

Alexandra Cerna finds profound presence, appreciation, and awe by creating photographs and films that reveal beauty and connection in the world. She traces this visual storytelling practice to age seven, her Mexican-Irish upbringing, her parents’ encouragement, and influences such as mariachi artistry and Frida Kahlo. Her images preserve fleeting moments of love, tranquility, and shared humanity. Read on to discover what “treasures beneath my tree” means.

Transcript

[Applause] when I was a little girl the world was magic filled with wonder w n h w happy [Applause] birthday he a World of Magic filled with wonder everything I touched led me somewhere every new exploration opened my eyes to the world around me even more I remember being so open to the possibility of magic interconnectedness and worlds Beyond imag... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥰 Creativity and wonder experienced in childhood can shape one's lifelong passion for art.
• 😨 The act of creation helps the speaker seek and capture the beauty in the world, even in moments of emptiness or fear.
• 🖐️ Cultural influences and parental support play a significant role in fostering creativity and uniqueness.
• 🛟 Photography and filmmaking serve as a means to connect with others, transcend differences, and evoke deep emotions.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the main message of “Treasures Beneath my Tree” by Alexandra Cerna at TEDxUArizona?

Alexandra Cerna’s main message is that everyone has personal “treasures” that connect them with profound presence, appreciation, and awe. She encourages people to remember the activities and experiences through which they find creativity, magic, and connection with the world.

Q: What does “treasures beneath my tree” mean to Alexandra Cerna?

The phrase represents the creativity, wonder, and sense of magic that Cerna treasured during childhood. It also becomes a metaphor for the distinctive sources of connection and awe that each person can rediscover.

Q: How do photography and filmmaking affect Alexandra Cerna?

Creating photographs and films places Cerna fully within a moment and helps her seek what is most beautiful. Her work connects her to her light source, especially when she feels empty or afraid, and brings forth vibrancy and warmth.

Q: How did Alexandra Cerna’s upbringing shape her artistic life?

Cerna grew up in a loving household that joined the cultures of her immigrant Mexican father and Irish American mother. Her parents taught her to foster creativity and uniqueness while building connections with the surrounding world.

Q: Which cultural and artistic influences inspired Alexandra Cerna?

Mariachi music and artistry from her father’s family deeply influenced her artistic sensibility. Her mother encouraged imagination and introduced her to female artists such as Frida Kahlo, whose color, emotion, and heritage inspired Cerna.

Q: When did Alexandra Cerna begin visual storytelling?

Cerna says she began her story as a visual storyteller around age seven. She made movies with her three siblings, wrote plays with neighbors and friends, and took photographs using the family camera.

Q: What meaningful moments has Alexandra Cerna photographed?

Cerna describes photographing a young Mohawk dancer preparing to cross a stage, a mother with her newborn in a small Moroccan town, and a father and son sharing a tender moment near the ocean. She also recalls briefly locking eyes with a camel in the Sahara, experiencing the encounter as a lasting connection.

Q: How can people find their own moments of profound connection and awe?

Cerna asks people to consider where they place themselves into deep connection, appreciation, and awe with the world. Her examples include creating art, running, dancing, and the connection between a mother and child; the essential step is remembering one’s own box of treasures.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker reminisces about their childhood filled with wonder and creativity, emphasizing the importance of nurturing one's uniqueness and fostering connections with others.

• Photography and filmmaking serve as a means for the speaker to seek and capture the beauty in the world, even in moments of emptiness or fear.

• The speaker attributes their artistic influences to their diverse cultural background and the support of their parents, particularly their mother's belief in enchantment and exposure to female artists like Frida Kahlo.