Daniela Jules Garza joined Lee Lee on a residency at AADK in Blanca to investigate Acequias in la Huerta region of south Central Spain. This area was the last Muslim stronghold of ‘al-Andalus’ likely because of the level of productivity of the farmlands in this area. It later became known as La Huerta or gardens of Europe because it was considered one of the most productive regions for growing produce. While we found functioning Acequia, we were also dismayed at the dismantling of the traditional systems, which are steadily being replaced by European Union funded projects that install energy and material intense drip irrigation systems that do not replenish aquifers. The Sagura watershed, for example, is currently operating at 200% capacity, which means that farmers are simply draining aquifers and setting themselves up to face extreme water scarcity. We also found intense chemical use in the mono-crop citrus orchards that are cultivated in the area. These persistent chemicals not only harm our bodies but taint the water. To culminate our time in Spain, we created a reflection of the research we had completed during our residency. The following series were installed on a continuous loop projected at AADK in July 2023. The images convey how Acequia are being maintained as well as the breakdown of portions of the systems.
Self portraits created by Daniela Jules Garza
Landscape photography by Lee Lee
Poetry by Thatcher Gray
VOICES 