Nextdoor in Colonialtown

by Ryan Rivas

Ryan Rivas has lived in Orlando's Colonialtown North neighborhood for over a decade. In Nextdoor in Colonialtown, he pairs photos of the neighborhood with conversations assembled from the area's Nextdoor.com posts. The result is at turns absurd and abject, goofy and gothic, paranoid and profound. By displacing his familiar surroundings, Rivas evokes the broader White imaginary underlying colonialism and suburbanization.

88 pages, Paperback

Published October 25, 2022

Reviews

[Josh Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing, high-quality collaboration. There’s much to be said about suburbia and the communities that dwell within. Ranging from sarcasm to hysteria, Rivas’ keen “conversations” keeps you engaged and entertained. Kudos to the publisher for upholding the vibrant photographs. A solid read & coffee table book if desired.

[Benjamin Niespodziany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like a conversation starter. Something I wanted to share with friends and recommend to strangers. Combining photos of an Orlando neighborhood with the area's fragmented Nextdoor posts, the result is cursed, paranoid, hysterical, and strange. Some parts reminding me of my boomer Indiana relatives posting on Facebook while other parts felt like fever dream prose poems.

[Nathan Holic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning art project, and a fun/scary work of literature. This is a must-read and must-own for Orlandoans, but it’s also incisive commentary about the current cultural moment for the nation at large.

Beautiful book. Highly precise. Not a word or a page wasted.

[Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last time I moved I made myself delete Nextdoor because it made me dislike the people who lived around me. This book let me experience the joys of Nextdoor at a healthy remove.