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Blog post for AAMA
1. Amongthe most oftenaskedquestionsishow we gotstartedwiththisproject andwhat drivesus.
Tammy andI have knowneach otherforthree decades,andwhile there wasatime where we hadlost
touch,busyin our ownlives,we reconnectedonFacebook several yearsago.Tammyhadbeen
photographingforover20 yearsat that time,andon a whim, basedonthe interestherkidstookinan
episode of GhostAdventures,she grabbedhercamera,andbrother Josh(the muscle),andheadedout
to the NewYork location.
She loveditthe momentshe steppedonthe grounds,andhasbeenhookedeversince.Whenshe
returnedhome toCentral Massachusetts,she beganresearchinglike institutions close by.While
exploringshe discoveredastrongdesire totell the storyof these places.Thisiswhen she came to me.
It didn’ttake longbefore we hada definitedirectionto ourproject.Tammycontinuedphotographing,
everychance she could,oftenreturningto the locations several times.Inthe snow,orthe blisteringheat
she perseveredwithadesire togetjustthe right shot. We were bothstudentsatWorcesterState
University,andhadthe chance to take a few classestogether.Thisgave usthe chance to talk, and
receive guidance andencouragementfromthe faculty.
We were recentlyaskedif there wasapointwhenwe wantedtothrow inthe towel andabandonour
journey.Forme,itcame whenmymothertookill.Duringthattime,nothingelse matteredbutspending
time withherand the family.The ironyof thisisitwas alsothe catalyst forme to see itthrough. While
our familycame togetherforher,we wouldspendhourstalking,anditgave me the opportunityto
bounce ideasoff those Itrustedmost.Aftera periodof mourningmymother,TammyandI were ready
to move forwardandhaven’tlookedback.
We quicklydiscoveredhowwell we workedtogether.Tammywasincontrol of everythingphotographic
and I,everythingwritten,althoughwe are constantlybouncingideasoff one another.We talkwithone
anotherdaily,evennow thatthe firstbookisfinishedandoutforthe worldto see.While we don’t
alwaysagree,we tryto maintainourrespectfor one another.Ourfriendshipismostimportant,even
more than the books.But I feel that’swhatmakesitwork.
We approachedthisprojectfromdifferentangles. Tammylovedthe architecture,the style of the
buildingsandthe artistryof the physical structure setagainstthe rubble leftbehind.She recentlytold
me how muchit saddensherto see these placesbeingtorndown.If perhapstheyhadtakencare of
these buildingsinsteadof lettingthemrot,theycouldhave beensavedforfuture generationstosee
howbeautiful theytrulyare.
I on the otherhand come at it from the psychological perspective.Iduginto the historyof these
locations.Iwantedtoknowfor whatpurpose theywere built;whattheybecame;andwhatledtotheir
demise.Iexploredthe storyasa whole,withthe perspectiveof the state,the institutionand
administrators,employees,patientsandtheirloved ones.The storyof how the mental healthfieldin
Massachusetts,andinthe UnitedStates,changedoverthe pastcentury,andwhy.Tammy and I spoke
withdozensof people,all withaunique impressionof how the mosthorrific andunimaginable,
alongside the mostwonderful,shapedthe mental healthfieldtodayandwill continuetoas itevolves.
2. Our goal has alwaysbeentotell the story;to letyouin,behindthe scenes.Perhaps,inourownway,
start to change the stigmaassociatedwithmental illness.Whilewe have come sofar inthisfield,we still
have a battle ahead.For those workingtobetterthe livesof others;whoteachthe toolstoa more
peaceful state of mind,Icommendyou.Butto those whostruggle,youare not alone. BothTammyand I
foundthe courage to stepintothe light,andyou can too.