Project Statement

Chained Rock is a photo-documentary project chronicling Chained Rock, Kentucky, and its people. Nestled at the foot of Pine Mountain, this small town lives under the shadow of a massive boulder, secured by chains put in place by the town’s forefathers to protect against the threat of it tumbling down. Below, a powerful river flows, often rising high enough to breach flood walls and inundate the town. This project serves as an investigation as to why Chained Rockians remain in a place so fragile, perpetually on the brink of destruction.

Through documentary photography, Chained Rock presents portraits of the people, places, and events in the town, complemented by archival images and journal entries of my own experiences in this community. This narrative is enriched with handcrafted objects, created through labor-intensive, traditional methods, participating in the region’s cultural heritage. Chained Rock becomes a place of shared experience created from the earnest building of relationships, as well as intimate crafting of traditional objects from Kentucky’s history. This project aims to connect viewers to the heart of Chained Rock and to foster a belief in the people and the town in which they reside.