Cheryl (née Melton)

David Ofori Zapparoli’s work blurs the boundary between a posed portrait and a fleeting moment. This is both a classic portrait and a candid shot. The 45-degree rule provides the viewer elements of a traditionally composed, timeless portrait, yet the photograph captures the sitter in a specific moment. What we see is not a fake smile. It is a nod to the ancestors as her very existence is evidence of their rescue mission accomplished.

Cheryl (née Melton) was born in Alberta. Her father, Otis, was born on a farm in Amber Valley (formerly Pine Creek), Alberta, and her mother, Donna (Lydia), was born in Wildwood (formerly Junkins), Alberta. Her ancestors were a part of the migration story from Oklahoma and other parts of the United States to Alberta between 1906 and 1908.