Archival pigment print
13 x 13 inches / 33 x 33 cm
2012 - 2024

Barrio Alto delves into the intricate web binding real estate, construction, and socio-economic dynamics. This photographic series presents a narrative through meticulously crafted dioramas, assembled from the medium of cardboard. Each diorama unveils a unique scene, portraying disparities in the construction and cost of housing. The title, Barrio Alto, plays with ambiguity, signifying both an affluent neighborhood and a poverty-stricken favela. Rooted in this duality, the series prompts us to challenge preconceived notions about social and economic status, coaxing our contemplation of the ramifications of urban development and gentrification.

Within Barrio Alto, the lens captures the disparities in housing construction costs across different locales. It seeks to elucidate the role played by materials in sculpting these differences. The series' approach employs cardboard as its primary medium, amplifying the fragility and impermanence of the structures portrayed. This choice underscores the influence of materials in crafting the final product of human habitation.

The title, Barrio Alto, draws inspiration from the song of the same name by Victor Jara. It's a cover, translated into Spanish from the American original, "Little Boxes" by Malvina Reynolds. This anthem encapsulates the American dream of the early 1960s, illuminating cookie-cutter housing, its dependency on affordable materials, and its effect on society.

Barrio Alto was made possible with support from the Broward County Cultural Division. Support has been provided by the Community Foundation of Broward.