Alex Ramirez is a photographer, videographer, and musician based in Monterey, California. As a second-generation Mexican-American who retains strong familial and social relationships to his parent’s home city of Oaxaca, Mexico, Ramirez has always been artistically-driven to document his immediate social and cultural surroundings and to share his works with the public of Monterey. In 2017, he published La Paloma, a photo series book that highlights the lives and traditions of Oaxaca’s residents. The publication was shared with the community. Later that year, Ramirez and a collection of other artists founded an independent, non-profit magazine, Neverbored, to serve as a platform for the local artist community. Like many of his projects, the magazine was influenced by Monterey’s skateboarding community, a subculture that has transformed over the years to include more diverse members.More recently, Ramirez has been interested in video production and short films. While he has always documented skateboarding, his latest films present a more intimate look at his personal life and experiences as a young artist of color. He was recently invited to premiere his short film, WASH (2019), at the Tidewing’s first short film event held at The Lab in Carmel, CA. The film was filmed at a laundromat, a place associated with lower-income communities, and serves as a study of social and class divides. The film also examines the frustration that comes with repeating monotonous tasks after a long day of work, a feeling that Ramirez often experiences as a young artist who must also maintain a “real job” to supplement income. Additionally, Ramirez is a locally well-known musician and has performed regularly throughout the Monterey area for many years. His most recent album, Silk, which is available across all music-streaming platforms, describes his experiences navigating through social and cultural spheres.
