Fountain (Orphan), GIS Animations, and OGR Vitrine. “Going with the Flow: Art, Actions, and Western Waters” at SITE Santa Fe, New Mexico. Exhibition and Outdoor Installation. 2022–2023.
Fountain (Orphan) is a restored cast iron agricultural water well pump, originally utilized in a turn-of-the-twentieth-century farm worker housing encampment. Serving as a tribute to the migrant laborers, many of whom were orphaned children, who arrived by train to work in large-scale US agricultural operations during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the installation stands alone in Railyard Park. Now non-functional but aesthetically striking after restoration and powder coating, Fountain (Orphan) prompts contemplation on our contemporary massive-scale water usage. The artwork serves as a poignant reminder of dislocated farm hands and yields, paying homage to their struggles and histories. Complementing this, M12’s GIS Land Animations utilize data sourced from municipal, state, and federal agencies, universities, and nonprofits entities like the High Plains Water District and Playa Lakes Joint Venture to create dynamic cultural profiles, offering a broader perspective on water depletion in the Southwest. Displayed alongside historical artifacts, photographs, and objects, these animations encourage visitors to reflect on the complex narratives of settlement, extraction, profit, and loss, revealing the ongoing echoes of past challenges in the present. The interconnected themes of water, migration, and landscapes invite viewers to navigate the intricate paths of adaptation and change.
