Abuela’s Garden, 2015
The Barrio Viejo (old neighborhood) of my hometown is home to many Mexican immigrants. Their distinctive gardens are often surrounded by an ocotillo fence, a living fence made of a cactus-like plant. The gardens will contain flowers like marigolds and sunflowers, and foods that remind residents of home. Neighbors share seeds and cuttings, and other fruits of their labor. What a lovely metaphor for migration and transplantation.
Materials include hand-dyed and painted handmade textiles (makers unknown), felted wool ropes, new fabrics, silk sari ‘yarn,’ window screen, felt, and machine stitch. In a private collection.