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 otherwordly 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.

Alexa Cushing is a photographic artist based in southern Massachusetts. She uses her photographs to explore the mythology of place, creating images that extract a sense of magic from the everyday landscape. Alexa’s work has been a part of several group exhibitions at galleries and institutions such as The Griffin Museum of Photography, Panopticon Gallery, Candela Gallery, and the Oregon Contemporary.Her first solo exhibition was held at Aviary Gallery in the spring of 2019 and featured her project Due West, which examined the mythology of Los Angeles as a dream factory.Alexa’s work has been featured within various independent publications such as Rental Magazine, Incandescent Zine, and Polaris Magazine and online publications such as Lenscratch, Humble Arts, and C-41 Magazine.

For more information, visit: www.alexacushing.com
Interview with Alexa Cushing here