Saramatraca (Night Blooming Cereus) III

I have spent extended time in the Sonoran Desert near Tucson, a region I've visited since 2011 to join pro-immigrant movements against the deadly US/Mexico border wall. Despite efforts to portray the desert as barren, it is a vibrant ecosystem, home to plants and animals severely impacted by the wall. At the University of Arizona, I created an art installation in 2023 highlighting desert species affected by militarization, habitat loss, and climate change. One of my favorites from this body of work is the Peniocereus greggii, or Night Blooming Cereus, known for its rare and fragrant flowers. These cacti bloom in synchronized nighttime flushes a few times a year, with much of the plant remaining hidden underground the rest of the time. This piece is a celebration of what thrives in the harshest conditions and what deserves to be seen, even when the world tries to make it invisible.