Signal Fire returns to the wildlands of the US-Mexico border for a week of experiential inquiry into this very contested area. Our trip will take a “long view” of the region, learning about the geology and biology of the Sonoran Desert and the Sky Island mountain ranges that rise from the cactus forests below. Indigenous Americans have long made a home in this brittle and arid expanse, and learning about how these cultures thrived will attune our eyes to the hidden lushness of the desert. Moving forward in time, we will see how Mexico and the United States have both impacted the culture and ecology of the border, how climate change is accelerating the migration of endangered plants, animals, and people, and how increasing militarization impedes the resilience of all these communities.
This pop-up residency will be structured as a car-camping endeavor, with daily hikes into roadless areas adjoining the border. We will offer readings and discussions to support an artistic response to the experience. We will provide time for generating work as well as support follow-up after the trip. Visiting presenters will help illuminate the subtleties of a place often demonized or dismissed as a wasteland. This trip takes place in a beautiful, but fraught region, with illegal activity and a high law-enforcement presence, as well as very unpredictable weather and extreme temperatures. Applicants are invited to participate at their own risk.
Participants:
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