Photogenic Pavones
Lily Mayfield has been visiting Pavones and photographing the residents, the many scenic spaces, and the local businesses for years.
Her series “de Pavones” was on display in 2012 in Chicago.
de Pavones Series
Artist Statement by Lily Mayfield
The photographs in this series reflect my interest in the rural surfing community of Pavones, Costa Rica, a small town home to the world’s second longest wave. Even with its attraction for surfers, Pavones remains a rural community, untouched by the typical chain hotels and restaurants you might expect to find in a tourist-driven Costa Rican town with views of the Pacific Ocean. There are many reasons for its protected state: its location near the southern tip of Costa Rica, far from the capitol city of San Jose; the dirt roads into and through Pavones discourage some less adventurous travelers; its lack of connection with the modern world. Until 2008, there were no phone lines, and thus no Internet in Pavones. Due to this recent introduction of modern technology, the town is changing rapidly.
My photographs of Pavones attempt to create a portrait of a place, focusing primarily on its people. I am interested in both the older locals who are a manifestation of the traditional way of life in a rural community, and the younger generation who more rapidly accept change and reflect these changes in their accessories and clothing. Through my continued visits to the community, I hope to create a document of an ever-changing rural surf town.
