the existence of mediums and subjects — an interview with artist and mental health advocate, Macy Castañeda Lee

interview by Kyla Rain

I could spend the rest of my lifetime trying to find the right words in which to describe Macy Castañeda Lee. For someone woven so carefully into the lives of so many, how do you begin?

Writing about someone you care about so deeply is a difficult task in any case, but when met with an individual as accomplished in interdisciplinary works as Macy, I have found it nearly impossible to complete. This article has taken on countless forms in the last several weeks of revisions and procrastination – some of which read better than others, with a few versions resembling more of a two page resume than anything worth reading. I’m not quite sure where we stand now, but through my many attempts to write this interview I’ve come to realize that, in situations like this, all you can really do is begin. To start over and begin again. And again. And again. Grasp for sentences and paragraphs that at some point will fold into love letters, peel back the layers of a person as many times as needed until you are able to accept that full satisfaction will never be met, because describing someone like Macy in as few words as this will always be a goal just out of reach. 

With that said, and this being the final published piece, please enjoy the following interview with an individual held very near and dear to my heart.

To begin our interview, I prompted Macy with two different forms of introduction. First asking for them to introduce themselves in a formal sense, formal meaning, how you would usually introduce yourself in an interview – your major accomplishments and tangible pieces of self. Following that, I wanted to dig a little bit deeper into this idea, asking for three elements that feel pivotal to them as an individual, unrelated to work, school, and other traditional markers of identity.

Our formal response:

Macy photographed by Trâm Anh

I’m Macy Castañeda Lee, a Filipino non binary photographer, curator, and advocate for mental health, neurodivergence, and special education. I am currently based between New York and Manila. I focus on expressing what I care for through art and outreach, really focusing on Filipino grassroots communities. At 15 I founded a mental health youth led non-profit, Talang Dalisay, which is aimed to help Filipino communities with mental health and special education services. The Talang Dalisay team also focuses on facilitating programs for communities in and out of Metro Manila through schools, organizations, and public centers. In New York, I lead an independent gallery and event space called Worlds Through Minds which is a global group of photographers who gather together to advocate for mental health and culture related initiatives. 

And something more colloquial:

I’m a very naturally adventurous and curious person. I deeply value traveling as a big part of my self discovery and enjoyment. I love talking to strangers. I love photographing a lot of the things I do. I value spending a lot of time by myself. I value journaling and reading voraciously. I exercise my wonder, curiosity, and imagination consistently in all of the things I do. I think that empathy, integrity, compassion, and open mindedness are essential. 

With an extensive exploration of creative, social and cultural work crafted throughout their career thus far, I inquired further on the root inspirations that continue to guide Macy forward. What were they when you first began? How have they changed?

The very main root of my work really comes from my advocacy for children with special needs. My older brother with autism has taught me so much about important values like patience, empathy, and resilience. From my experiences growing up with him, I was inspired to reach out to more people with disabilities. I cultivated a strong community in the Philippines when I started this endeavor and found that there are more ways to be able to spread this important cause. I found that many things are deeply intertwined with each other. A lot of the kids I have worked with are deeply interested in art, literature, and the environment. In more recent years, that is how my work has transformed to a lot of visual language and culture for the grassroots communities I work with. 

Now, my initiatives and projects are rooted in advocacy and art. My organization in the Philippines has a consistent system of reaching out to special education schools and facilitating outreaches for the students, and a lot of my fundraising for communities in the Philippines come from gallery fundraising events in New York.

Conversation dove deeper as we continued to explore the underlying why behind the worlds that Macy creates.

Elaborating on that aspect of interdisciplinary work – what do you believe is the importance of cross communication between each of these touchpoints? (Touchpoints meaning your realms of expertise: photography, in person events, mental wellness, social/cultural discourse, etc.) What is the importance of this mixed-medium method of communication and documentation? 

I really believe in the power of intersectionality, and have seen it take fruit in the evolution of my work. There is not ever just “one thing” in the existence of mediums and subjects. There are always nuanced relationships in advocacies, organizations, people, and things. A person, for example, is a conglomerate of experiences, knowledge, and time that would take time to fully unfold and understand. That is the beauty of our new and evolving world. Sure, it can be at times more complicated, but it is also what makes it extremely special. 

Mixed medium methods of communication and documentation is one of the most effective ways to storytell and impact people’s lives. To get a message across effectively, it’s important to touch numerous senses to spark emotions and thoughts. The impact that comes with numerous mediums of storytelling is able to entice more action and long form work for certain causes. It compels one to think more deeply about the “how” and the “why” in what we do. 

“There is not ever just ‘one thing’ in the existence of mediums and subjects. There are always nuanced relationships in advocacies, organizations, people, and things. A person, for example, is a conglomerate of experiences, knowledge, and time that would take time to fully unfold and understand.”

What types of work do you find yourself the most emotionally impacted by? How have those works informed the ways in which you create yourself?

I’m emotionally impacted by work about people's ongoing mental illness, the disabled and neurodivergent community, and healthcare access. I find myself reading so much news about these related issues, and books that are able to provide comfort and insight on its history and cultural evolution. Growing up a third culture kid, I also have noticed that these specific issues look different in different countries. These works have informed a lot of my personal practices through what I prioritize in my daily life. I’ve made my mental health my top priority by being able to divide a lot in my life through digestible nuggets; being able to pace down as soon as I feel overwhelmed or anxious with certain things. A lot of personal reflection has helped me as well, my growth in the realm of self awareness has drastically improved from when I was a teenager. Recognizing how far you have come and really making time to honor yourself and others is also something that has given me so much space to give more to other people. 

Having worked closely with Macy via online collaboration, and finally in person on an event this past November, I had a bit of my own personal motives when guiding this conversation forward. Discussing community both in an abstract measure and a physical sense, I wanted to inquire further on the similarities and differences between these two distinct experiences. Needless to say, the questions began to pile one on top of the other…

Thinking about both the events you have thrown and the online community you have brought together. Have you noticed anything special about either of these forms of organization? How do the ways people interact differ in each of these environments? What is your favorite aspect of interaction in each of these? Would you say one is more impactful than the other? 

Yes! In person and online events are both very different in terms of organization and impact. I think that with online work it’s a lot of impact with words and testimony. A lot of the past online projects I have done were seminars, talks, or workshops. For Talang Dalisay, I’ve done themes for different Zoom based talks and workshops. There, I invited speakers from different backgrounds to come together to speak on those topics and simultaneously run a campaign that is able to champion future action for that cause. So far, it’s been very successful but I personally prefer in person events. In person events have been so amazing to plan because you get to really connect with people on a personal level. Being able to see people in person and getting to know their personal stories is so rewarding. People often have shared with me how some of these events have also personally connected them with opportunities and new ideas, and I believe that is the best thing about hosting in person events. Also with outreach, in person events are the best way to get to know and connect a community. 

Spending time with Macy means witnessing first hand their talent for documentation. As someone so attune to the lives of those around them, scrolling through Macy’s portfolio of documentary photo work is like stepping into the life of another. With this, I wanted to dedicate at least one section of this piece to the importance of this work…

Where do your emotions tend to reside when documenting those around you? What do you find yourself naturally drawn to in these forms of storytelling?

Documentation is memory and history, and I am constantly practicing this throughout my photography career. I see my personal photographic work as one of the most important ways to express myself and my advocacy. In my time doing this, I have formed deeper open mindedness and empathy for people of all walks of life; even from seeing other work and witnessing other photographers’ point of view. I’m so extremely drawn to the humanity of documentary photography’s way of storytelling the brutal and waking realities of people and society. It invigorates and inspires me to keep pushing forward in life and giving back to a larger group of people. 

“I have formed deeper open mindedness and empathy for people of all walks of life; even from seeing other work and witnessing other photographers’ point of view.”

And finally, one can’t help but ask, what is the most surprising thing you have realized about yourself through your work? The most surprising thing you’ve realized about the world? 

I’ve been realizing my pattern of resiliency through hardship and I really appreciate that about myself! With the world, I’ve realized that it is always important to always ask extra questions and be skeptical about certain things to be able to attain the knowledge that you truly need. I’ve also learned to always brew things slowly, to take time, and to always keep an eye out for yourself. Prioritize you in this world!