Artist: Rory Doyle

Project: Delta Quinceañera

Description: Rory Doyle’s Delta Quinceañera is “part of a larger body of work documenting Latino immigration in the rural Mississippi Delta over the last five years.” These images of a single Quinceañera, which shepherd the viewer from a Mass held in a young woman’s honor to a “dance party held in Cleveland, Mississippi’s local Army National Guard Armory,” convey the particular mix of grand, joyful celebration and deep, solemn importance that marks the transition from childhood to womanhood throughout Latin America. Though the party Doyle captured had hundreds of guests, his photographs focus mostly on the young woman herself, or on small groups of people among the larger crowd. The effect is one of a profound commitment to conveying the specific faces, lives, and stories of a growing population and the intentional communities these friends and families form.

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  Following Mexican tradition, the celebration begins with a Mass for the quinceañera at Our Lady of Victories Catholic church in Cleveland, Mississippi.

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  The priest directs Mass to the quinceañera.

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  The quinceañera prays to the Virgin of Guadalupe.

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  Parishoners attend the quinceañera mass.

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  The quinceañera looks at her Court of Honor, a group of peers consisting of paired-off girls and boys, respectively known as damas and chambelanes.

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  Family, friends and the Court of Honor Arrive at the Army National Guard Armory in Cleveland, Mississippi.

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  Attendees wait for the dance to begin.

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  The quinceañera and her Court of Honor perform their group dance.

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  The quinceañera is crowned and lifted to symbolize her transition to young adulthood.

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  An accordion player in the band performs a sound check.

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  A light show begins moments before a Norteño band begins the dance open to adults, the quinceañera and her Court of Honor.

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  Dancers enjoy the floor with the quinceañera and her Court of Honor.

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  Attendees congregate outside the Army National Guard Armory.

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  The dancing continues into the late night hours.

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  A young attendee dons his botas vaqueras.

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  The quinceañera's first pair of high heels lies next to the dance floor after hours of dancing.

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Eyes on the South is curated by Jeff Rich. The weekly series features selections of current work from Southern artists, or artists whose photography concerns the South. To submit your work to the series, email Jeff.