The story goes that over forty years ago, Julian Santana Barrera, a recluse living on a small island in the Xochimilco district of Mexico City, witnessed the drowning of a little girl. Several days later he retrieved a doll floating in the canal and put it in a tree for the spirit of the little girl.  As days passed, he found other dolls and put then in the trees. Then as years passed, he put dolls everywhere on the island, not only in the trees but strung up on ropes, and on the outside and inside of the modest shelters where he lived. Of course, exposed to the elements the dolls began to decompose over time.  Living into his nineties, Don Julian died several years ago. His nephew now owns the island and keeps it up for occasional visitors.

Jo Brenzo, a photographer living in San Miguel, and her husband, Gary Berkowitz, a printmaker, began taking groups of photographers to the island more than fourteen years ago.  They have since published a book of photographs and commentary based on research and interviews with Don Julian's relatives.

I joined a group of five other photographers along with Jo and Gary on a visit to the island.  It was an eerie experience.