Erika Morillo

OLIVIA'S ROOTS

In 2017, I was invited to document a week-long quinceañera celebration happening between Los Angeles and Tijuana, Mexico. What I experienced was much more than a quinceañera party. These are some photos from my documentation of Olivia's Roots.

Olivia looks out the plane window on her way to Los Angeles for her quinceañera party.

The sun sets as Olivia arrives to Boyle Heights, a primarily Mexican neighborhood where her mother grew up and where she escapes the New York City summer heat every other year.

Doña Ofelia, Olivia's grandmother, welcomes us with her homemade chilaquiles and frijoles, the family's favorite.

Homemade chilaquiles. According to Olivia’s mom, nobody makes frijoles like her mother.

East Los Angeles. A vibrant, culturally rich area of LA that encompasses the land east of the Los Angeles River, including Boyle Heights, El Sereno and Lincoln Heights.

La Favorita, a tortillería owned by Olivia’s aunt and uncle Rosa and Alfredo Luévano. Rosa is one of seven children in the Barrios family. Alfredo started working in this tortillería more than 40 years ago and later on became the owner.

El Mercadito, a three-floor indoor shopping center that sells traditional Mexican food, indigenous herbal treatments, household items, clothing and more. They also have live Mariachi bands in the basement. Olivia’s mother has fond memories of visiting El Mercadito with her father, who brought the family there to eat and listen to Mariachi bands, often until as late as 2 am.

Aguas frescas at El Mercadito.

Olivia's family throws her a welcome party before her quinceañera celebration the next day.

Elvira applies mascara before Olivia’s welcome party starts. A tattoo on her left hand reads “Somos o no somos.”

blury-preloadresized-preloadDoña Ofelia makes Birria for Olivia’s welcome party, a spicy Mexican meat stew originally from the state of Jalisco.
blury-preloadresized-preloadThey dance to norteño music and share a laugh after "la mordida", where the cumpleañera's face is pushed into the cake.
Doña Ofelia makes Birria for Olivia’s welcome party, a spicy Mexican meat stew originally from the state of Jalisco.

They dance to norteño music and share a laugh after "la mordida", where the cumpleañera's face is pushed into the cake.

Olivia embraces her cousin Darla.

The big day has arrived. Admitting she rarely wears makeup, Olivia is curious to see how she'll look.

8 month pregnant Nohemi, Olivia’s aunt, gets ready for the Quinceañera party.

Cynthia, Olivia’s cousin, fastens the laces on her corset. On her arm, a tattoo that reads “La vida no vale nada”(Life is worth nothing), lyrics from a popular Mexican song by the same title.
.

Olivia parades her quinceañera dress around the murals of East Los Angeles and El Pino.

Perched atop a hill and surrounded by breathtaking views of the city, El Pino is one of the most distinctive natural Landmarks of East Los Angeles.

Quinceañera service at Lady of Guadalupe Church, where the Barrios family have celebrated weddings, baptisms, confirmations, quinceañeras and funeral services in their family for over two decades.

The Barrios family celebrates into the morning. Here Sophia imitates her uncle on the dance floor.

PEPPY

I asked a stranger in the street in New York City if I could take a portrait of her in her home. This is what I learned about her.

PEPPY

I asked a stranger in the street in New York City if I could take a portrait of her in her home. This is what I learned about her.

OLIVIA'S ROOTS

OLIVIA'S ROOTS​

​

OLIVIA'S ROOTS