Behind the Mind

Daniela Arroyave Portraits

SEATTLE ROADTRIP 

“I fell in love with photography by trying to create and capture unique images for my book projects and it has evolved into another art form for me.  As an artist, in writing or photography, I am trying to capture messages and images to move people, to make them remember and notice something about the world or about themselves, that maybe they have been too busy to notice.” 

Jasen has worked extensively with youth in the Boston area, with homeless individuals, and with refugees from Latin America. For the past few years he has been teaching reading, writing, and literacy to adult learners studying to acquire their high school diplomas. He currently works as an academic advisor at UMASS Boston. 

“I write on park benches, I write underground in subway stations, I write in cemeteries, I write about life, I write trying to find life, and yes, the individuals and their environments play a big role in my work.” 

“It’s funny, because when I go speak at high schools, or sell my books in public, people always say, “You don’t look like a writer/author.” I guess that has been my motivation all along.”