La Vida: Cruz Moves to a Housing Project

La Vida, the original book, is a sociological study, by Oscar Lewis, of a poor Puerto Rican family living in San Juan, Puerto Rico and New York. The sub title, a chapter heading in the book, refers to the move the family makes, at the urging of a social worker, from a slum dwelling to a housing project, the caserío in Villa Hermosa. The mother talks about how much worse it is for her in the caserío. Housing projects the world over are notorious for being incubators of social unrest, ongoing poverty and crime. A trap, a prison, a dead end.

La Vida: Cruz Moves to a Housing Project
Book, mirror, locks, judas, plastic lens, found objects, lamp.
5.6 x 23.75 x 15.6cm (9.5 x 6.25 x 2.25in)
2001