Long stigmatized as one of the grittiest beaches in New York, Orchard Beach or “Chocha Beach” as it is popularly known, is a mile long sliver of constructed shoreline situated in the north Bronx with a history as complex as the borough itself. Built in the 1930’s, “The Bronx Riviera” has served as an oasis for generations of working class families, living in an environment defined by struggle. My five-year journey through Orchard Beach has been a meditation on human dignity. Amidst the activity on the beach I walk in silence, constantly searching for connections that reveal universal truth.
Long stigmatized as one of the grittiest beaches in New York, Orchard Beach or “Chocha Beach†as it is popularly known, is a mile long sliver of constructed shoreline situated in the north Bronx with a history as complex as the borough itself.
Built in the 1930’s by famed architect Robert Moses, “The Bronx Riviera†has served as an oasis for generations of working class families, living in an environment defined by struggle. This struggle, ironically, was rooted in part to Moses’ construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway in the 1960’s, which displaced whole communities and is considered a contributing factor in the extreme urban decay of the South Bronx during the 1970’s and ‘80’s.
From that tumultuous time in Bronx history to the present, Orchard Beach has remained a respite from the harsh realities of this concrete jungle. As evident in these portraits, the spirit of survival remains.
My five-year journey through Orchard Beach has been a meditation on human dignity. Amidst the activity on the beach I walk in silence, constantly searching for connections that reveal universal truths. My process is instinctual, and I find that I am drawn to rituals of youth, love, familial bonds, and cultural pride. Over the years I’ve grown to love Orchard Beach and the people who’ve allowed me into their space to tell this story. I know that I am witnessing history, and I approach my subjects as though the most important thing at that moment is that we are present.