Invasive

This photo series explores the complicated relationship between Charlotte's growth and its native people and flora. As one of the country's fastest growing cities, Charlotte has been experiencing growing pains that have put stressors on the entire city, including my neighborhood Plaza Midwood. Gentrification has pushed out longtime mom-and-pops and neighborhoods of single family homes have turned over into apartment buildings or condos. Simultaneously, a lack of ordinances on tree-planting and the increase in construction has caused a shift in our urban canopy from native shade-trees to those that are non-native and do not provide necessary environmental goods. By using a film soup method of soaking a roll of film in non-native Cherry Blossoms, I am concurrently documenting the changes in the people and flora of Plaza Midwood. The disjointed outcome shows the disruption felt by natives of the area, overshadowed by rapid changes and leaving their ghosts floating above.

Each photo in this series documents the changes in long-time businesses of Plaza Midwood. Recognizable names like Hall's Clock Shop, Reggae Central, Nova's, and Rita's float like ghosts around construction and new retailers that can afford the gentrified rents. Each piece shows the emotion Charlotte-natives feel about their rapidly changing city. Feeling pushed out and erased is commonly felt among the human and tree Charlotteans that are effected by gentrification. It is my goal with these photos to give space to these emotions.

All of the distortion comes from the souping process. No editing or photoshop was used.

Shot on a Konica Autoreflex TC with Ektar 100 soaked in Cherry Blossoms