The Bridgewater Triangle is a region in southeastern Massachusetts that has been home to countless paranormal experiences, dating back to colonial times. This 200 square mile area is centered around Hockomock Swamp. Hockomock, in Wampanoag, means “place where spirits dwell”. Colonists simply referred to this area as “Devil’s Swamp”. Reports include sightings of unexplained ghostly figures, mysterious lights, UFOs, large prehistoric birds, and Native American monsters. The area is also a hotspot for crime, including cult activity and a string of gruesome murders in the 70s and 80s. Locals who are interested in this folklore believe that the area is an otherworldly portal into another dimension. Other believers claim that the history of war between Native Americans and colonists has cursed the land.
My work, Devils Swamp, is an investigation of my home region of Massachusetts. Is this area truly an otherworldly hotspot, or has the folklore of the Bridgewater Triangle become a way to connect and assign meaning to an otherwise wearisome working class community? My images examine the mythology of this place, and furthermore the residents’ desire to be apart of something greater than themselves.
Devil’s Swamp, 2023