Comfort Within Jossiell Gomez .01
PORTRAITS Maya B. R) Miami FL, 2021 Digital L) Miami FL, 2021 Digital R) Miami FL, 2021 Polaroid Francesca R. R) Miami FL, 2021 Digital L) Miami FL, 2021 Polaroid R) Miami FL, 2021 Digital Kimberly C. R) Miami FL, 2021 Digital L) Miami FL, 2021 Polaroid R) Miami FL, 2021 Digital Julian M. R) Miami FL, 2021 Digital L) Miami FL, 2021 Digital R) Miami FL, 2021 Polaroid Jasmine S. R) Miami FL, 2021 Digital L) Miami FL, 2021 Digital R) Miami FL, 2021 Polaroid
Ashley G. R) Miami FL, 2021 Digital L) Miami FL, 2021 Digital R) Miami FL, 2021 Polaroid Zoe G. R) Miami FL, 2021 Digital L) Miami FL, 2021 Polaroid R) Miami FL, 2021 Digital Thalia D. R) Miami FL, 2021 Digital L) Miami FL, 2021 Polaroid R) Miami FL, 2021 Digital Carlos J. R) Miami FL, 2021 Digital L) Miami FL, 2021 Polaroid R) Miami FL, 2021 Digital Valeria A. R) Miami FL, 2021 Digital L) Miami FL, 2021 Digital R) Miami FL, 2021 Polaroid
Comfort Within derived from a time when photography didn’t make much sense to me. All my inspiration was gone. I was on the verge of letting go of my camera until I realized the amount of comfort it brought to me. I then started to wonder… What brings comfort to others? My inspiration came back to me and that’s how this series was born. This project has a lot to do with vulnerability. It’s ok to not feel like yourself sometimes, and it’s ok to rely on specific objects for comfort and happiness. Whether it’s through an image, a book, or a reminiscent scent; we all find our comfort through different mediums. What brings you Comfort Within?
Comfort Within Jossiell Gomez .01
Maya B
I’ll start off with my keys. When I was like 12 or 13, I saw an Audi A3 and was like “that’s the car I’m gonna buy myself.” First car ever. I don’t care what anyone tells me, I’m gonna do it. And it’s what I did, so here we are. I think it’s really important because the past few years I’ve been getting into manifesting and making sure I get everything I want out of life and working hard for it. The fact that something from when I was a tween came to life is just crazy to me. I just love my keys and my car so much. The perfume is my first “big girl” scent. You know how, when you’re younger, you’re trying to find what’s your signature scent or whatever? I saw that Rihanna wore this and I was like oh… I gotta get that. I gotta get it. So, I smelled it one day in person and I was like “oh yeah.” This is my big girl scent. I would always talk to my mom about buying it because it was like $250 and, being 18, I was like “how am I gonna spend $250 on a perfume and I work at Urban Outfitters?” My mom ended up getting it for
me on Christmas one year and I thought it was so sweet. I love this thing. I’ve been wearing it for a while now. My journal is so important to me. I’m always writing in a journal because it helps me with manifesting. I like reading back on them and seeing things that have been able to come into fruition. It’s a journal. It has all your deepest life secrets. It has your sad times and your happy times. As far as my jewelry, I just love jewelry. I think it looks very pretty on everybody. I think everyone needs to have jewelry on. It’s just a nice accessory to have. My bracelet is one of the first things my dad got my mom when they started dating and I love them, so I love that I’m able to cherish it. They passed it down to me. Same with one of the necklaces I’m wearing. The other two necklaces were given to me by my gramps and my brother. I love them both so much.
Francesca R
The SpongeBob brings comfort within to me because, ever since I was a little girl and had any issues or was sad, I would hold him tight. To this day, I still hold him tight near me. It’s definitely like a comfort blanket. I feel like he’s always been there for me and my sad moments, especially when I’ve been lonely.
Kimberly C
I find my comfort within myself. Nature just aids in that too, I feel. But, I told you it isn’t tangible things that bring me comfort. I kinda find it most within myself.
Julian M
Alright, so, I’ll talk about the measuring tape. Measuring tape brings me comfort within because, ever since I was a kid, I’ve seen my grandma, my great grandma, and my mom use it and it’s become such an essential tool for them. My mom, grandma, and great grandma were always into alterations and stuff like that. More so my great grandma. So, to me, it’s kinda like an intimacy type of thing, where you kinda make the clothes more intimate with yourself, you know? Because when you alter the clothes, it becomes yours. When you measure out exactly how tall you are and how long your legs are, it’s your pair. If there were anyone taller wearing that, it wouldn’t fit them, so it’s
all about the intimacy and how it connects with you. You have that personal connection with whatever it may be. A jacket, a scarf, a pair of pants. I would say that’s what brings me comfort, because I think about when I used to be little and when I would have pants or something like that, I would have to get them altered and it would all be done by my family. It just brings me back to those warm moments where there was not a care in the world. When I was just, you know, getting fresh. But, it was more than just that. It’s more than just the clothes. It’s also about all the memories you make along the way with the clothes and who makes the clothes.
Jasmine S
The note is a note that my dad wrote for me when I was in kindergarten and put it in my lunch box. It’s just a reminder that my parents love me, even if I feel like they don’t. The pouch has all of my baby pictures in it. My mom one day decided that she was going to get rid of all of our photos and, while she was at work, I stayed home, looked through all of them, and kept my favorites. My stuffed animal, Cindy, is my ride or die. I’d die for her. I’ve had her since I was like five and I take her everywhere. Took her to college and I literally can’t leave the house without her.
Ashley G
My necklace is lapis lazuli with selenite. It helps me with my throat chakra and helps me speak my mind. The ring is malachite, so it helps me with unconditional love, to spread it to myself and to others. My other item that brings comfort to me is my perfume, which I would say represents me as far as scents go. I feel like it helps me connect with others; leaving an imprint in their lives. When they smell me, I want them to think about me, as well as when I’m not in their presence. My lip gloss is a representation of me, as well. I always wear it everywhere I go.
Zoe G
I feel like a blanket is the perfect representation of comfort itself. I’m obsessed with being cozy. I have a lot of blankets. I’ve collected many over the years. I take one with me everywhere I can, and this one is my favorite. It was gifted to me from my little brother. The other things I’ve brought are my pink Hydro Flask, that I take with me everywhere, and my bonnet/head scarf set. It’s important to me to know that I can drink water wherever I go. When I forget my Hydro Flask at home, I feel so crazy. And my bonnet and headscarf are the epitome of comfort to me. It’s a staple, especially to black women, like myself.
Thalia D
Vamos a empezar primero por el boligrafo. Traje un boligrafo porque desde que era chiquita siempre me ha gustado escribir. Cuando he pasado momentos dificiles en mi vida y buenos tambien, lo primero que hago es recoger el boligrafo. Escribir y expresarme es una manera de procesar mis sentimientos y todo lo que me pasa en la vida. El segundo objeto que traje es un espejo. Yo pienso que desde chiquita tambien he aprendido a mirarme en el espejo y decir que soy bella, que soy fuerte, y que puedo con todo los obstaculos que se me presentan. Hasta el dia de hoy puedo mirarme en mi reflexion y estar feliz conmigo misma.
Tambien tengo una roca; un cristal ahumado. Es bueno para balancear las energias. Soy una persona que soy muy sensible a las energias. A veces cuando voy a algunos lugares y estan pasando muchas cosas al mismo tiempo, mi energia se desequilibra. O estoy muy arriba, o muy abajo. Cuando tengo la roca conmigo me siento comoda y centrada con mi energia y con todo lo que esta pasando alrededor de mi.
Carlos J
Art and music have always been a big part of my life. I chose the guitar because, when I play music, I can lose and find myself in it. A song can help me find peace just as much as it can help me release emotions. I chose the painting because that has always been an escape for me. Whenever I can’t say the words I’m feeling, I find that painting or drawing helps me center myself. To me, these objects represent not only how I express myself, but also a way to know myself better.
Valeria A
The keyboard represents music. Music was my first love. In a way, it helped me heal through a lot and allowed me the space to grow. It helped me express myself in ways I normally wouldn’t have been able to. I just love how music has the ability the connect people. My shuffling shoes are from when I first learned how to shuffle. Shuffling played a big role in my healing journey and has connected me to amazing people. My books have always been my escape. Since I was little, I learned to enjoy the adventures they take me on and the make-believe worlds you’re allowed to create. What better way to travel without leaving your place?
Credits: Shot at HGAB Studios, Miami, May 29th, 2021. Huge thank you to the talent involved for their vulnerability, as well as Yoan Gonzalez and Lili Guevara for their assistance on set. Special thanks to my mentor Karen Mulligan, and Creative Futures Collective. First Edition 2022 © Jossiell Gomez All rights reserved. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system - without prior permission in writing from the artist.
Design Jossiell Gomez Jeff Streeper Printed by PrintingCenterUSA