Much of who we are is rooted in who the people of our past were. The
geographical location, cultural and religious values, as well as social norms
all transcend throughout generations within a family regardless of
circumstance. Growing up, we learn about our ancestors through stories
and feel the weight of the past in every moment spent in the present.
Throughout my upbringing, most of my cultural identity was built around my
Grandmother's Italian ancestry, and as the years went on, I found myself
becoming more intrigued about the people and places I had heard
countless stories about.

Where the River Runs Red is an exploration of both the reality and my
contrasting perception of family and cultural identity through a series of
portraits, landscapes, and still life. This series of photographs represent not
only answers to unspoken questions about my family, faith, and
understanding of identity, but provides context to the foundation of my
entire life.

In 2007, my Mother and Grandmother traveled to the small town of Isola
Del Liri to connect with our only living relatives still residing in the small
town in Italy. Situated between the two arms of the Liri river, our family has
been living here for as long as we can trace back. Although young at the
time, I vividly remember the gravity of the experience for my Mother, and
as time went on for me, I began to be pulled in the same direction - hoping
to better understand our family's lineage and roots.

The task of connecting pieces of the familial puzzle quickly fell into place as
I arrived and began to meet my relatives. In Isola Del
Liri, I photographed them in their natural environments, reflecting the
landscapes and landmarks that have become paramount to their lives. The
portraits speak to a deep rooted connection to the past while maintaining
the continuity of a familial bond, each facial feature a link between the past
and present.

As a series of photographs, Where the River Runs Red is an attempt to
understand my past, my roots, and my perceived ideas of what I consider
to be my cultural identity. Connected by thousands of miles and decades of
the past, the people and places in these photographs represent everything I know.

6x6 Medium Format Kodak Tri-X400 Film.