Erika Morillo is a Dominican-American writer and photographer
Episode 456: Erika Morillo and I discussed her brilliant photo/text book Mother Archive: A Dominican Family Memoir, published recently by Iowa University Press. The book discusses Erika’s story growing up in New York and her relationship with her son and mother. It discusses her father’s tragic disappearance and her extended family.
The book is a fascinating look into the complex relationship between Erika and her family. At times melancholic and dark, it contains quite a bit of poignant truth about how families struggle to find their way through interpersonal relationships and intergenerational family trauma. The discussion alludes to how we perceive our relationships and how they function. It is written through the lens of a Dominican/American narrative; the book explores cultural themes and the immigrant experience.
Developed during Erika’s time at the Image Text Ithaca program, the book employs biography, photography, and historical narratives to craft an intensely personal story. Check out her book; I’ve read it, and it was profoundly affecting.
