BY SHALEEN DESTEFANO
Finding the beauty in decay is just one of Kayla Heersink’s many talents. Her desire to learn the history and story behind an object or place is palpable in her images and is the main reason we were originally drawn to her work. Nostalgia for a forgotten time is a powerful thing. Kayla’s photography reminds of childhood road-trips, drive-in movies and rusty old playgrounds. Her eye for color is refreshing as we navigate the trend of black and white. We have a deep appreciation for her art, as it immortalizes pieces of the world that will not always remain and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to learn more about her process and inspiration.
We were instantly drawn to your work because it captures the nostalgic beauty of forgotten places and objects. Your photos have a beautiful Wes Anderson aesthetic that we really love. How did your journey as a photographer begin?
It began when I moved to San Francisco. I had a dog to walk, an iphone, and the desire to explore my new city. Like many, I was on Instagram sharing the things that caught my eye. I’ve always enjoyed categorizing and hunting for certain recurring themes. I’m fascinated by things like vans, hand painted signs, building facades and bright colors. In SF some of my favorite things to seek out were #sanfranciscovanclub, #garagedoorsofsf, #painteddrivewaysofsf, and #carsmatchinghouses. It’s crazy how much of someone’s personality is being expressed through differences in a van, a painted garage door, or any other customized things you’ll encounter. I’m interested in the people behind the creations, and sometimes make up little stories in my head about who they might be. In 2017, I read a New York Times article about Julie Gebhardt, a woman who was famous for her San Francisco “door traits,” and knew that she was a kindred spirit. I reached out wanting to join her for a walk one day. She was so gracious, and invited me to became part of an amazing group of photographers. She and I became fast friends, and once or twice a week we would choose a different neighborhood to leisurely walk, exploring with phone cameras in hand. We shared editing tips, secret locations, coffee, and communal hashtags. This time period fostered a lot of creativity where my style developed more specifically into a version of what you see today.
Do you ever work with film? When working with digital, do you ever leave images raw, or do you work your magic in the editing process?
I very rarely use film, but that’s mostly because I’m less familiar with it. A friend gave me a camera that I’m currently learning to use. They say the best camera is the one you have on you, and for me that’s always been my phone. I edit all my photos just using apps. I think editing them is just as much fun as taking them. I always edit right when getting back from a day out taking photos because I’m so excited to see what I’ve captured. I hardly look at what I’ve taken until I get home. I think the magic of editing is the revealing of the unknown. I’m not a purist when it comes to the edits. Since I’m completely self-taught, I have no objections to “improving” upon an image as I see fit. Most of my images simply have brightening and color enhancements, but every once in a while, I’ll have a vision of something that would make a scene even better, and I’ll edit to my mind’s eye.
Are you originally from Denver?
I was born in Denver, but grew up in Monte Vista, Colorado. It’s a dot on the map in the San Luis Valley, in southern Colorado, about 4 hours south of Denver. The San Luis Valley is the largest alpine valley in the world, roughly the size of Connecticut. We’re surrounded by the San Juans to the west, and the Sangre de Cristos to the east. The SLV is home to the Great Sand Dunes National Park, which is a MUST for anyone living in Colorado. We have two of Colorado’s best roadside attractions – the UFO Watchtower, and the Alligator Farm. There are many local breweries. Here you can enjoy several hot springs, of both the clothed and unclothed variety. Monte Vista is home to Ski Hi Stampede, the oldest pro-rodeo in Colorado, which celebrates its 100th year this year. Monte Vista also has the Movie Manor, a vintage drive-in where you can watch the movie from your hotel room or your car. The Frontier, another old drive-in has just been reimagined as an “experiment in hospitality and art with an outdoor theater” by Denver’s Continuum Partners, who’re best known for the redevelopment of Union Station. Should I keep going, or have I convinced you to visit? I moved back to Monte Vista in 2019, and have enjoyed seeing the place I grew up with new eyes. I love sharing photos from the valley because it’s not a familiar place to most people, and there’s a lot of undiscovered beauty here. If you haven’t been to the SLV, I highly recommend a little weekend road trip of your own. Reach out when you come. I’ll send you to my favorite spots.
Your images often capture places that we’ve never been to. Are these road trips planned or random?
A little of both. A lot of times I’m checking out small towns that are within easy driving distance from where I live. Sometimes I know ahead of time where I’m going, and other times I’ll set out with no place in mind. Lately, I’ve also been taking longer road trips to destinations just a bit further away with my amazing photographer friend, Risa Friedman. It’s nice going out with someone who doesn’t mind turning around the car if one of us spots “something.” We both have families that will only go along with a little bit of that behavior. She and I have been to Trinidad and Pueblo, CO, Albuquerque, NM, and Holbrook, AZ. We’ve got a running list of where we’ll go next. Marfa, TX is on the schedule for fall. I find it’s always a surprise seeing what’s been captured through our combined perspectives at the same location. We always end up exposing something the other didn’t see.
Have you ever had the opportunity to meet the people from these towns?
Yes, it tends to happen pretty organically. Someone will see me taking a photo, and wonder what I’m doing, so that often gets a fun conversation started. I find most people really love sharing interesting tidbits and other possible photo locations that I wouldn’t be aware of otherwise. One of the best, was when I was taking a photo of a saloon facade on historic Bucket of Blood Street in Holbrook, AZ. A woman came out and offered to show Risa and I the 1880s-era secret tunnel beneath the building that was used to smuggle money and women safely to the building next door, at the end of a night of gambling and drinking. So freakin cool!
Denver is brimming with amazing local artists who use their mediums to make a statement. When you’re looking through the viewfinder, what story do you hope to tell?
I’m a very nostalgic person. I’ve always preferred living in older homes character, even if they need more upkeep. Things like built-ins, brass doorknobs, stained glass, handmade furniture and real hardwood charm me to the core. Once at my place in San Francisco, a small renovation was needed, and a single porcelain tile covered with gold fleur de lis was exposed. It had a message written on the back from the original owner, Miss May Jones. It had her name, address, and written in cursive said, “Oh you kids. Peek a boo.” I live for that type of discovery. I also obsess over finding the perfect vintage clothing items – the specificity of searching for an acid washed Jordache jean skirt with the bow detail gives me great joy. I adore old cars, and they’re some of my most frequent photo subjects. There’s an international group of photographers who all post #asundaycar pic, and I’ve been participating for years. I love the absurdity of that ritual, and the community of car geeks who take photos of vehicles parked around the world. So much of what we see online is new and perfect. I want to show the beauty of something old and nearly forgotten. I like a photo where the viewer can share a twinge of nostalgia with me. Many of the places that compel me are disappearing, often to be replaced with something new and sterile. In my most well-known photo, I was able to set up a scene of the famous #mondriancarSF parked in front of the Mondrian house on Ocean Beach for an EPIC cars-matching-houses situation. Since then, the house has been sold and re-painted a depressing pale blue. I don’t know what kind of monster buys the iconic Mondrian House, only to paint it. But I guess at least it’s blue, not black or grey. I’m thankful that I’ll always have a photo and the sweet memory of the way it was.
What inspires you and what do you admire most in other artists?
I’m inspired by bright colors and anything with an obvious human touch. Weird customizations are my favorite. I love scenes that look like they should be in a movie, and I always have my eye out for anything #accidentallywesanderson. Symmetry in buildings and quirky signs for the win! In other artists, I admire the endless curiosity and devotion it takes to create a body of work. There’s also something so wonderful about watching the evolution of any artist’s practice. It’s an unknowable trajectory that’s always fascinating.
Where can we find your work and do you have any upcoming shows?
I post on Instagram @ghostface_kayla. I don’t have any upcoming shows, but am always happy to accommodate custom prints. Hopefully in the near future you’ll see a collaborative book from Risa Friedman and I where you can encounter our different points of view from the same locations.
We have a feeling this is just the beginning of your journey as a photographer, Kayla. We look forward to seeing what treasure you will unearth next behind the viewfinder.