In the summer of 1980, Lisa Barlow follows the curve of Connecticut Route 69
in a beat-up rental car when she sees a giant cross
overlooking the highway. Barlow had heard of Holy Land USA, but
had never seen this meticulous miniature replica of Jerusalem, with
scenes from the Bible illustrated with precepts and biblical quotes engraved in
cement. There was Pilate's house, the inn with a sign saying "No
Vacancy”, a white spray-painted mummified mass representing the woman
of Lot transformed into salt, and a repentant-looking Lucifer locked in a
small dog cage. Built 20 years ago with concrete, plaster,
wire and wood, the diorama was sparingly repaired using
modern materials such as plastic and aluminum coating.
The Staircase to Heaven, cracked asphalt steps leading up the hill,
was surrounded by a cyclone fence, and the Garden of Eden was completely
hidden by thick vines under a metal umbrella. This is where Balow lives
for the first time the city of Waterbury spread out beneath his feet,
church steeples and factory chimneys forming a strange
juxtaposition with the buildings of the Holy Land, a few meters high.
Very quickly, it was not only the fascination with Holy Land that pushed me
to come back to Waterbury. It was the people who captured my attention, my
imagination and, finally, my love. Here is the story of this year in pictures
» Lisa Barlow Barlow's images of Waterbury and its peculiarities
typically American are imbued with a rare empathy and complexity
visual that unfolds with each viewing. "These images touch me like
rarely photographs, in the sense that they actually appear to move,
talking, breathing; there is music in them, songs and stories
that rise from them unexpectedly. Brad Zeller
