The first four images in my submission document traces of the lives of the residents of Forest Haven, a facility for the developmentally disabled. Through dramatic and stark images, I wanted to call attention to the plight of those who lived (and died) at the facility. The residents were kept out of view and forgotten by the government and the public. After years of mismanagement and abuse, the families of the residents successfully sued to close the facility and find other housing for the surviving residents. The personal effects of the former residents can still be found blowing in the wind through the empty hallways.
I published a photo essay book, called Bedlam, exploring Forest Haven in more depth.
My fifth image, Isolation, is my response to the isolation and confinement we all suffer during the pandemic, no matter our color or location. Our common condition is the same, stuck in our boxes, looking for a way out.
