Saramatraca (Night Blooming Cereus) II

In October 2023, I spent a few weeks in the beautiful Sonoran desert. I fell in love with the region we call Tucson today. Since 2011, I have been traveling to the borderlands in Arizona to join pro-immigrant movements and to stand against the devastating wall. The border wall has been an awful barrier that was erected in 1994, and it has only gotten deadlier for humans and animals alike.

Those who fund and support the devastating border wall will lead us to believe that the desert is a dead region, but nothing could be farther from the truth. The desert is a vibrant ecosystem! There are many plants and animals that are harshly impacted by the border wall. Therefore, when I’m in Tucson, I look to celebrate the desert and all that is alive in it.

During my time in Tucson, I created an art installation at the...