WATER HAS MEMORY
Water Has Memory is a visual reflection on transformation and ecological care, told through the story of one landscape across three distinct time periods. This layered archive weaves together pre-restoration images from over twenty years ago with photographs I’ve taken during the past four years, documenting the ongoing recovery of a desert wetland—known as a ciénaga, a rare and vital ecosystem found only in the Southwest and northern Mexico.
Four years ago, two ranch owners invited me to document the restoration of their nearly extinct wetland—Burro Ciénaga. This ecosystem was once common across the region, but today only a small number remain. The ranchers shared photos from the beginning of their efforts, images that held the memory of a damaged and drying landscape.
Each era in the project is represented differently. The oldest photos are stained and faded, reflecting the fragility of the past—when the land was neglected and dry. The middle layer, rendered in a lighter tone, represents the transitional period, when small interventions were beginning to show signs of recovery. The present-day images are sharp and vibrant, capturing the vitality of renewal, while also reminding us that this moment, too, will eventually become part of the layered past.
The 3D effect of the cutouts creates both literal and symbolic depth, inviting viewers to look through time. Water Has Memory honors the often invisible labor of ecological restoration and celebrates the long-term relationship between people and place. It is both a personal collaboration and a visual record of sustained stewardship. At its core, the project speaks to the idea that healing—of land or memory—is never instant, but always possible.