I see this image as a metaphor for the turning point in the cycle of seasons to milder times of acceptance after a harsh winter of tension.
This is part of a series of photographs addressing a relatively unknown immigration "problem" in Ireland. As an American living in Ireland this past year, I noticed a fair amount of xenophobia toward Eastern European immigrants seeking jobs in a Ireland, a country particularly debilitated by the recession.
Yet, Ireland remains a place of hope for immigrants seeking a new beginning... a fresh start... where lives and families of non-indigenous people have the opportunity blossom in a land of opportunity, even in these difficult economic times. Just as spring sees the easing of tumultuous weather and growing pains, summer is always around the corner. This photograph acknowledges the stormy relations between locals and foreigners. With an imminent turn for the better in the global economy within the several months and an opening of the collective mind, these "troubles" will see a resolution.
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