Folklore
The project *Folklore* delves into the rich tapestry of cultural storytelling by exploring the folklore of my own heritage in Britain and the United States, while also weaving in elements from Spain and Lebanon, places with which I share a deep personal connection. By integrating the traditions, myths, and narratives from these diverse backgrounds, I create a unique fusion of stories that reflect my multifaceted identity.
The project is a natural progression from the work done on The Book of Journeys, this idea of the intersection between place and narrative. Without walls or structure, like stories themselves, the project consists of various vignettes exploring fragments of narratives that have captured my imagination. My discovery that my family lived for two centuries in the United States, early colonialists living in wild places fraught with legends, was the genesis for the Pine Barrens series, of which the Jersey Devil legend is part. Here Be Dragons stems from my research into Wisconsin (my home for ten years) and the alleged monsters living within its lakes, which has in turn led to an interest in the First People's belief in a three-world mythology. Another element is a photographic series, Natural Gothic, where I saw nature through the lens of a gothic novel. This, in turn, was influenced strongly by Beirut, a pivotal part of The Book of Journeys and then something separate. Everything, as they say, is connected.
The project is a natural progression from the work done on The Book of Journeys, this idea of the intersection between place and narrative. Without walls or structure, like stories themselves, the project consists of various vignettes exploring fragments of narratives that have captured my imagination. My discovery that my family lived for two centuries in the United States, early colonialists living in wild places fraught with legends, was the genesis for the Pine Barrens series, of which the Jersey Devil legend is part. Here Be Dragons stems from my research into Wisconsin (my home for ten years) and the alleged monsters living within its lakes, which has in turn led to an interest in the First People's belief in a three-world mythology. Another element is a photographic series, Natural Gothic, where I saw nature through the lens of a gothic novel. This, in turn, was influenced strongly by Beirut, a pivotal part of The Book of Journeys and then something separate. Everything, as they say, is connected.
13th son
from The Pine Barrens series
The Birth of the Jersey Devil
The legend of the Jersey Devil is one of the most enduring and eerie tales from American folklore. Originating from the Pine Barrens region of southern New Jersey, the story centers around a woman named Mrs. Deborah Leeds and her fateful thirteenth child.In the first half of the 18th century, around 1735, there lived in the Pine Barrens a woman named Deborah Leeds. She with her husband, Daniel Leeds, and their twelve children. When Deborah found out she was expecting her thirteenth child, she was overwhelmed with dread and exhaustion. According to the legend, in a moment of exasperation and despair, she cursed the unborn child, crying out, "Let this one be a devil!"
On a dark and stormy night, Mrs. Leeds went into labor. The atmosphere was tense and foreboding as the midwives gathered to assist with the birth. The newborn appeared to be a normal human baby, at first. However, within moments, it began to change in the most horrifying way.
Before their very eyes, the infant transformed. It grew at an alarming rate, sprouting horns from its head and talon-like claws from its fingers. Leathery bat wings emerged from its back, and its body became covered in fur. The once-human baby now resembled a grotesque chimera, part dragon, part bat, part beast. It let out a blood-curdling scream, striking fear into all who heard it.
The Devil's Escape
The creature, who we now know as the Jersey Devil, wasted no time in wreaking havoc. It thrashed about the room, attacking its own mother and the midwives, before flying up the chimney and disappearing into the stormy night. From that night on, the Jersey Devil has roamed the Pine Barrens, a terror lurking in the woods, that causes fear and chaos wherever it goes.
Encounters and Sightings
Over the centuries, there have been countless reports of encounters with the Jersey Devil. Residents of the Pine Barrens and nearby areas claimed to hear its chilling cries in the night, see its shadowy form flitting through the trees, or find strange hoof-like tracks in the snow. Livestock were found slaughtered, and crops were mysteriously destroyed, all attributed to the Devil.
Many have tried to capture or kill the creature, but none have succeeded. It seems to possess an almost supernatural ability to evade human efforts, disappearing as quickly as it appears, leaving only fear and mystery in its wake.
Modern Interpretations
Today, the legend of the Jersey Devil is a part of the cultural fabric of New Jersey. It has inspired books, movies, and even a hockey team—the New Jersey Devils. Whether viewed as a cautionary tale, a symbol of unexplained phenomena, or simply a thrilling campfire story, the tale of Mrs. Leeds and her thirteenth child continues to fascinate and terrify, an eternal reminder of human nature’s darker side.
The Birth of the Jersey Devil
The legend of the Jersey Devil is one of the most enduring and eerie tales from American folklore. Originating from the Pine Barrens region of southern New Jersey, the story centers around a woman named Mrs. Deborah Leeds and her fateful thirteenth child.In the first half of the 18th century, around 1735, there lived in the Pine Barrens a woman named Deborah Leeds. She with her husband, Daniel Leeds, and their twelve children. When Deborah found out she was expecting her thirteenth child, she was overwhelmed with dread and exhaustion. According to the legend, in a moment of exasperation and despair, she cursed the unborn child, crying out, "Let this one be a devil!"
On a dark and stormy night, Mrs. Leeds went into labor. The atmosphere was tense and foreboding as the midwives gathered to assist with the birth. The newborn appeared to be a normal human baby, at first. However, within moments, it began to change in the most horrifying way.
Before their very eyes, the infant transformed. It grew at an alarming rate, sprouting horns from its head and talon-like claws from its fingers. Leathery bat wings emerged from its back, and its body became covered in fur. The once-human baby now resembled a grotesque chimera, part dragon, part bat, part beast. It let out a blood-curdling scream, striking fear into all who heard it.
The Devil's Escape
The creature, who we now know as the Jersey Devil, wasted no time in wreaking havoc. It thrashed about the room, attacking its own mother and the midwives, before flying up the chimney and disappearing into the stormy night. From that night on, the Jersey Devil has roamed the Pine Barrens, a terror lurking in the woods, that causes fear and chaos wherever it goes.
Encounters and Sightings
Over the centuries, there have been countless reports of encounters with the Jersey Devil. Residents of the Pine Barrens and nearby areas claimed to hear its chilling cries in the night, see its shadowy form flitting through the trees, or find strange hoof-like tracks in the snow. Livestock were found slaughtered, and crops were mysteriously destroyed, all attributed to the Devil.
Many have tried to capture or kill the creature, but none have succeeded. It seems to possess an almost supernatural ability to evade human efforts, disappearing as quickly as it appears, leaving only fear and mystery in its wake.
Modern Interpretations
Today, the legend of the Jersey Devil is a part of the cultural fabric of New Jersey. It has inspired books, movies, and even a hockey team—the New Jersey Devils. Whether viewed as a cautionary tale, a symbol of unexplained phenomena, or simply a thrilling campfire story, the tale of Mrs. Leeds and her thirteenth child continues to fascinate and terrify, an eternal reminder of human nature’s darker side.
The ordinary can be extraordinary. The normal surreal. It is all about the lens through which we view the world. A walk through nominal rurality in the outskirts of Valencia led me into an imagined realm of fantasy.
