Catherine Herrera

Catherine Herrera is a San Francisco-based filmmaker, photographer, artist and writer of Native Californian, Latina and European American descent who became disabled after a needle aspiration injury during a blood draw. The resulting disability shifted Catherine’s practice to add installation & public art. In 2023, Catherine was selected an Unlock Her Potential Mentee in Documentary Filmmaking, and her documentary film/project Martins Beach has received a Puffin Foundation filmmaking grant, a Creative Corp - 18th Street Arts Center Fellow, and selections from her photography were selected for ‘Landscapes of Survivance: Contemporary Native American Photography’ from September-18- October 27, 2023 at the Art & Art History Gallery, Santa Clara University.'

Education:
I studied filmmaking through Sundance Collab, the University of Southern California, courses in filmmaking & art, Production training through Bay Area Video Coalition, photography through self-learning, supplemented with courses through Centro de la Imagen while working on assignment as a photojournalist in Mexico City.

I am a self-taught in drawing, painting and sculpture.

Teaching Experience:

  • Before COVID, I had interviewed and began talks for beginning teaching the Spirit Doll workshop for a S.F. Arts organization that continues to remain close as of September 09, 2020.
  • Unversity High School

Artistic Discipline: 
Film, Photography, Installation, Sculpture, Painting/Drawing.
Expertise: 
  • August 2019 -- Commissioned to sculpt and create a life-sized Spirit Doll and perform in public for Carmina Escobar's Feast of Beams Public Art Performance at the Santa Cruz Lighthouse with Indexical.
  • Feb-April 2019 -- Triton Museum of Contemporary Art exhibit of Spirit Doll series, and artist talk.
  • Jan-June 2019 -- de Saisset Museum – exhibition of photography and Spirit Doll series.
  • 2023/24 -- Creative Corp Fellowship for Martins Beach in partnership with 18th Street Arts Center, Puffin Foundation Filmmaking Grant, 2023 Unlock Her Potential Mentorship.
  • Sept-October 2023 -- Landscapes of Survivance: Contemporary Native American Photography, Curator Elizabeth Hawley, Art & Art History Gallery, Santa Clara University..
Disability type: 
Physical / mobility disability
Address: 
San Francisco, CA
Phone: 
(415) 574-7432